tranny question

[Dannymik]

I felt a little motivated today, so I dropped the pan on the tranny. I didn't count how many 10mm bolts hold that motha succa up, but its alot! Anyways, I cleaned out the inside of the pan and whatnot...the fluid wasn't that bad looking(31K miles on the GP), but the magnet had a nice amount of sludge on it...I remove the magnet to clean it off. Well my dumb ass installs the new filter and bolts the pan back up there...then adds 6 quarts of Napa ATF fluid...finally noticing that I forgot to put the damn magnet back in the pan :oops: :x . Now I'm sitting here pissed off and embarrased at the same time. My concern is how important that magnet is...will this cause any immediate problems? Since its such an easy, but VERY MESSY job I can see me changing my fluid about once a year(I average a little under 12K a year)...changing the filter every 25K-30K miles. Can I hold off til my next pan drop to put the magnet back in or should I do this asap? I'll post pictures of the inside of the pan once I get things cleaned up...my garage is a little messy right now(fluid on the concrete floor). Thanks for any help!

[THe_DeTAiL3R]

I would drop the pan, and try to catch as much of the fluid as possible to reuse it. Magnets are there for a reason, I imagine not having one for a short time wouldn't do anything but I wouldn't wait till the next pan drop myself.

[Dannymik]

I would drop the pan, and try to catch as much of the fluid as possible to reuse it. Magnets are there for a reason, I imagine not having one for a short time wouldn't do anything but I wouldn't wait till the next pan drop myself.

 

thats why I'm asking...obviously I'm not going to be doing that today, but I guess I'll have to change my fluid sooner than I would like to!

[JoroCorona]

Yeah, Your going to want the nagnet in there. It pulls grit out of the fluid so it doesn't damage the pump or the torque converter

[MonteC]

put that magnet back in there ASAP.

[Dannymik]

a few pictures of the pan after 31K miles on it.

 

 

 

 

 

[MonteC]

looks normal to me, just get the magnet back in that pan.

[Dannymik]

looks normal to me, just get the magnet back in that pan.

 

well, I will have to drive her for a day or two until I slip it back in there...more mess for me, but at least it cleans up!

[THe_DeTAiL3R]

Looks like a normal healthy transmission. Hell, I would have thought that for a first time the magnet would have had more crap on it.

 

If only my 4T60E looked half as good....

[sl3196]

Wait a second, you only put 6 quarts in? I thought it took 8 last time I did it.

[JoroCorona]

Dude, that is one healthy tranny. That amount of grit is to be expected after break in. I'd say thats about as good as the trans could possibly be. Now put that magnet back so it stays that way.

[GnatGoSplat]

You could always be lazy and slap a magnet to the outside of the pan!

 

The tranny just looks like it's in OK condition to me... if the color on my monitor is adjusted correctly, the fluid looks brownish red. That means the tranny has been running a bit on the warm side, like all GM FWD trannies do. I thought that color was normal until I checked the fluid on a 4L60-E (RWD) tranny once. GM RWD trannies are definitely more durable, IMO.

[Dannymik]

You could always be lazy and slap a magnet to the outside of the pan!

 

The tranny just looks like it's in OK condition to me... if the color on my monitor is adjusted correctly, the fluid looks brownish red. That means the tranny has been running a bit on the warm side, like all GM FWD trannies do. I thought that color was normal until I checked the fluid on a 4L60-E (RWD) tranny once. GM RWD trannies are definitely more durable, IMO.

 

your kidding me right(about being lazy)...I'm probably going out there right now being I had a half day of work. I'm sure the fluid is a little burnt due to the temp, but not near as dark as my Cutlass when I changed it(73K). In that last pic of the pan almost completely dry, I did wipe off some of the normal blackish wear from the breakin period.....OK I need to go out there and get my hands dirty again!

[GnatGoSplat]

Nah, not kidding, a magnet on the outside would probably work fine as long as it didn't get knocked off!

[Dannymik]

Nah, not kidding, a magnet on the outside would probably work fine as long as it didn't get knocked off!

 

Its tempting, but I think I should just do it the right way(I don't have the best of luck).

[Dannymik]

well, after removing 85% of the bolts I was able to wedge a screwdriver in between the pan and the chassis(being careful not to tear the gasket) and slip the magnet back in there. This time I lost another 4 1/2 - 5 quarts of fluid which I trashed..I figured that you don't completely replace your fluid with a pan drop, so it wasn't a big deal to use the extra quarts I had laying around. I used ATF Napa fluid...I really wanted to use Valvoline or Pennzoil, but they were not on the shelf(at Napa). I'm still leary on synthetic fluids for the tranny, I guess I've heard too many horror stories. All in all it was alot easier the 2nd time around and I should be good til next year(fluid only). Those tranny filter kits are $27 at Napa which seemed a little high...they give you a shitty gasket that I refuse to use...the stock one was in very good condition.

[sl3196]

Wow I think I paid under $15 for my filter kit from napa. Didn't use the shitty cork gasket that came with.

[Dannymik]

Wow I think I paid under $15 for my filter kit from napa. Didn't use the shitty cork gasket that came with.

 

go figure...it must be a NY thing to charge us yankees more

[sl3196]

Just did mine today and the pan still looks great! Not a spec of metal chunks or anything. 110k on it too.

[Dannymik]

Just did mine today and the pan still looks great! Not a spec of metal chunks or anything. 110k on it too.

 

you must be driving like an old lady

[streetdreams]

you could cut corners and put a biggazz speaker magnet or a few earth magnets in group on the outside but really its a brand new car and obviously the magnet is very important. its your only defense of free floating metal shavings/particulates. hey its the weekend, what a great excuse to spend saturday morning in the parts store and have a job to do

[Dannymik]

if you guys read the post at the top of the page you'll read that I put it back in on Monday...it bothered me too much to just sit on it!

[Turbo231]

I know you put the magnet back...I'm just debating the point cause that's what the forum is for...

 

How important is the magnet?....yes, it captures metal particles, but the filter does that too...now, long term, like 10, maybe 15 years for a filter (which the manufactures have to design for), this is a good thing, but since you're going to change your filter regularly, like every 30k (3 years)...I wouldn't have been so concerned...throwing a speaker magnet on the pan would have done fine job too...I don't know if you checked it out, but the pan magnet isn't the strongest thing in the world. Not pounding on your transmission only helps things.

 

Ben.

[Dannymik]

I know you put the magnet back...I'm just debating the point cause that's what the forum is for...

 

How important is the magnet?....yes, it captures metal particles, but the filter does that too...now, long term, like 10, maybe 15 years for a filter (which the manufactures have to design for), this is a good thing, but since you're going to change your filter regularly, like every 30k (3 years)...I wouldn't have been so concerned...throwing a speaker magnet on the pan would have done fine job too...I don't know if you checked it out, but the pan magnet isn't the strongest thing in the world. Not pounding on your transmission only helps things.

 

Ben.

 

all righty Turbo!

[GnatGoSplat]

I don't think the magnet is all that important. It wouldn't surprise me if it's a rather recent addition in the history of automatic transmissions.

 

They're putting magnets on engine oil drain plugs these days too, but for years cars didn't have them. I always thought it would be a good idea to replace my drainplug with one with a magnet though.