240 General: Automatic Transmission Fluid Replacement

[highpass]

What is the recommended fluid for the 93 240's automatic transmission? The manual recommends Dex-ii but that's obviously no longer available.

As a side note the service history shows this car (with 127k on it) has never had a fluid replacement. So going by my forum lurking the correct procedure is to replace a quart at a time, once a month for 3 months, then a full flush. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[DW42]

You won't be able to change all of the fluid, because it won't drain from the torque converter. My approach was to use a Pela oil extractor (or you can use any similar fluid extractor) to get out all that you can get (maybe 5 litres?). After a few weeks of regular driving repeat this process. There are many Dexron II compatible transmission fluids out there. I would recommend full synthetic.

A complete fluid change can be performed with the engine running and one of the ATF hoses disconnected at the radiator while you feed in new fluid, or by taking it to an auto transmission specialist who can do it using a machine. I don't recommend either of these -- it takes a large quantity of oil to do a complete flush and isn't worth it. Don't bother removing the pan to clean the filter either.

I used the oil extractor approach 3 years ago on my 1990, which was shifting very late and whining when cold (it was like that when I bought it). After the fluid change there has been no whining, and only a mild and occasional late-shifting problem.

Good luck! Your AW70 trans should last a very long time.

[tannachyallen]

Originally Posted by highpass

........The manual recommends Dex-ii but that's obviously no longer available.........

It is still available. I got a 20ltr drum from these guys via ebay.

http://www.smithandallan.com/product...xron-2-atf-d2/

I use a similar method to DW42 above with a Pela pump. My fluid is now ruby red at every change (about once a year).

Regards,

Dave A.

[highpass]

That's a great help, thanks a lot

[highpass]

Is there a link to a fools pictorial guide to doing the Pela extraction? I have the pump coming this week and am sure it's a simple process, but still.

[tannachyallen]

Originally Posted by highpass

Is there a link to a fools pictorial guide to doing the Pela extraction? I have the pump coming this week and am sure it's a simple process, but still.

Basically get the ATF warm by driving for 15 mins or so. Take out the ATF dipstick and insert the pump hose as far as you can. Start pumping. Once you can't remove any more ATF, measure what you have removed and replace with the same amount of fresh ATF. There are graduations on the body of my pump so its easy to measure quantities. I use a funnel jammed in the top of the dipstick tube to refill.

Dave A.

[DW42]

Admittedly this is lazy, but I use a similar approach to changing power steering and brake fluid: instead of a Pela pump I use a syringe to remove fluid from the header tanks, then replace with fresh fluid. The fluid circulates enough such that doing it whenever you check the oil and coolant will replace enough to get it all looking fresh after a few months. My wife's Toyota turns its power steering fluid very black, and it took doing this every few days to get it looking fresh and pink again. A 10 or 20ml syringe from the chemist will work fine, but don't try making any jokes about all the heroin you plan on doing, because more often than not they don't have that sort of sense of humour down at the chemist.