Transmission fluid or not!

[DanJT]

Ok so I am I am learning about the new JL/JT's so again school me on the transmission. Today I started the Fluid/Filter change and when I cracked the bolt
it popped and I thought i broke it, But i didn't and unscrewed the fill hole screw. Now I've watched videos and have not seen what happened when removing the screw. There was about 2.5-3 quarts of whatever it was that shot out of the hole. I didn't know if that was normal or no, but.... it smelled like a combo of burnt oil and differential gear oil. But it was like pouring a oil water mix out. With all said and done it filled my 7 quart oil pan on up, and that's not including the lake on the driveway that shot out. I had to stop mid job because of the the Typhoon type storm we have. Is This normal? When I changed fluid in the differentials it
was the same way. I'm thinking It was drove frequently through water crossing. So what's your take?

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[Hootbro]

On a cold engine, there will be about 1.5 to 2 quarts that will come out the fill hole. This is what drains back out of the torque converter when it sits and cools down. Then there is about another 4 quarts sitting in the pan below the fill hole level.

I have done two changes in my other Gladiators and the first one took 6.5 quarts and the other one 5.5 quarts. 7 quarts sounds a bit high to me but I guess it is possible if you properly followed the initial fill quantity and then ran it to temp, did the shift through the gears and filled again.

 

[AmosMoses]

Do you have pictures of old trans fluid? How many miles would you say it had been driven with this contaminated fluid? If the diffs had water in them then I think you may be right about your transmission.

 

[DanJT]

I bought this 2020 used, it currently has 118,568 miles and I'm pretty sure the fluid has never been changed. it has been seeping fluid out back hence the gasket change. I will get some photos tomorrow if it is not still raining.

 

[Planerdude]

On a cold engine, there will be about 1.5 to 2 quarts that will come out the fill hole. This is what drains back out of the torque converter when it sits and cools down. Then there is about another 4 quarts sitting in the pan below the fill hole level.

I have done two changes in my other Gladiators and the first one took 6.5 quarts and the other one 5.5 quarts. 7 quarts sounds a bit high to me but I guess it is possible if you properly followed the initial fill quantity and then ran it to temp, did the shift through the gears and filled again.

Actually none should be coming out of the fill hole when cold. At 90-110 degrees the trans fluid should be just starting to trickle out of the fill hole. With the engine running. The fill hole is not a drain hole. Dropping the pan is how you drain it.

 

[DanJT]

Actually none should be coming out of the fill hole when cold. At 90-110 degrees the trans fluid should be just starting to trickle out of the fill hole. With the engine running. The fill hole is not a drain hole. Dropping the pan is how you drain it.

That's exactly what I thought, but yes several quarts of something shot out as I removed the fill hole blot. And It's hard to explain the texture and smell of the fluid that came out. I've changed many a transmission gasket and fluid, but I have never experienced this. I'm worried about what's still in there, so I ordered a PPE pan and plan on doing several fluid changes simultaneously, Maybe 1,000 apart until it comes out clean.

 

[Planerdude]

That's exactly what I thought, but yes several quarts of something shot out as I removed the fill hole blot. And It's hard to explain the texture and smell of the fluid that came out. I've changed many a transmission gasket and fluid, but I have never experienced this. I'm worried about what's still in there, so I ordered a PPE pan and plan on doing several fluid changes simultaneously, Maybe 1,000 apart until it comes out clean.

If you do have coolant in your trans fluid, the source is the transmission heater on the rear of the trans on the drivers side. It is bad and needs replacing. If your not sure, send a sample to Blackstone to test it.

 

[Hootbro]

Actually none should be coming out of the fill hole when cold. At 90-110 degrees the trans fluid should be just starting to trickle out of the fill hole. With the engine running. The fill hole is not a drain hole. Dropping the pan is how you drain it.

Wrong, on a cold engine and transmission like overnight sitting cold, fluid will drain back out of the torque converter and being above the fill hole line. When you remove the fill hole plug, that fluid will come out and level out at the fill hole. That remaining fluid is either sucked out the fill hole or exits when the pan drops.

Like I said, I have done two of these transmission pan drops and filter changes and both times, fluid came out when the fill plug was removed.

Shown similar here:

 

[Planerdude]

Wrong, on a cold engine and transmission like overnight sitting cold, fluid will drain back out of the torque converter and being above the fill hole line. When you remove the fill hole plug, that fluid will come out and level out at the fill hole. That remaining fluid is either sucked out the fill hole or exits when the pan drops.

Like I said, I have done two of these transmission pan drops and filter changes and both times, fluid came out when the fill plug was removed.

Shown similar here:

2 questions. 1- Is it wise to check the fluid level before draining, and maybe on a yearly basis for that matter, to be sure it has the correct level to begin with and is not duluted with coolant??
2-Is it better to have the fluid cold prior to changing, or at the 90-110 degrees range?

 

[Hootbro]

1- Is it wise to check the fluid level before draining, and maybe on a yearly basis for that matter, to be sure it has the correct level to begin with and is not duluted with coolant??

If the fluid level is initially set per procedure at temp and fluid cycled through all gears, it is not necessary to recheck the fluid level unless you have leaks. It is a sealed system and should not be burning off. As to coolant, I really have not seen that to be a common issue with these transmissions of coolant getting mixed into the trans fluid.

2-Is it better to have the fluid cold prior to changing, or at the 90-110 degrees range?

When changing the fluid, you want it cold and left sitting overnight so the maximum amount of fluid is removed when drained. The 86-122 degree range is only for setting the level after initial refill.

 

[Killroy Was Here]

@Hootbro always has solid information, so it's good to pay attention when he helps out!

 

[DanJT]

If the fluid level is initially set per procedure at temp and fluid cycled through all gears, it is not necessary to recheck the fluid level unless you have leaks. It is a sealed system and should not be burning off. As to coolant, I really have not seen that to be a common issue with these transmissions of coolant getting mixed into the trans fluid.



When changing the fluid, you want it cold and left sitting overnight so the maximum amount of fluid is removed when drained. The 86-122 degree range is only for setting the level after initial refill.

Thanks for the instruction sheet, I'll need it when I put it all back together!

 

[Hootbro]

Thanks for the instruction sheet, I'll need it when I put it all back together!

One thing about the OEM instructions is that it mentions driving wheels off the ground until it shifts into second gear, you can do it on the ground with foot on brake and manual shift into second gear.

Here is the pan drop and filter instructions:

 

[DanJT]

One thing about the OEM instructions is that it mentions driving wheels off the ground until it shifts into second gear, you can do it on the ground with foot on brake and manual shift into second gear.

Here is the pan drop and filter instructions:

Thank you sir, kindly appreciated!

 

[SanTan38]

JMHO……. Just make it easy on yourself. For normal driving, go and have the local valvoline quick oil change place do your transmission fluid flush and filter change in about 20 minutes while you sit in your jeep and jam to some Conway Twitty… Do this every 40-50k miles. It’ll be the best 350 bucks you spend.

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