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Draining Torque Converter

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Old Jan 13, 2014 | 12:56 PM
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Draining Torque Converter

Hey guys! I'm back at it again. I'm trying to service the transmission on my 1990 F250 4x4 with the E4OD. I've already dropped the pan and cleaned it. Now I'm trying to find the drain plug in the torque converter. I've already removed the flywheel inspection plate. As I understand it, the drain plug should be at the base of the torque converter, right? I've spun the motor over several, several times and I did not see any drain plug.

Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions, or pictures would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
 
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Old Jan 13, 2014 | 02:39 PM
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Hello, on my '94 f350, there is a 1/8" NPT drain plug on the outside diameter of the converter, not the flat front face. It should stick out like a sore thumb. I had someone bump the starter while I watched the converter. When you do find it, make sure you have a BIG drain pan since the converter holds over 2 gallons of fluid.
 
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Old Jan 13, 2014 | 03:06 PM
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Thanks for the reply. I've been looking for any sign of a drain plug and I can't find anything. I've had my wife bump the starter so many times that it killed the batteries. Is it possible that the torque converter is a replacement? ...a replacement with no drain plug?
 
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Old Jan 13, 2014 | 03:11 PM
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Originally Posted by ChrisMelton78
Thanks for the reply. I've been looking for any sign of a drain plug and I can't find anything. I've had my wife bump the starter so many times that it killed the batteries. Is it possible that the torque converter is a replacement? ...a replacement with no drain plug?
Some replacement converter don't have a drain.
 
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Old Jan 13, 2014 | 03:20 PM
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Old Jan 13, 2014 | 03:48 PM
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Some trucks didn't come with drain plugs on the torque convertors (both OEM and aftermarket)
 
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Old Jan 13, 2014 | 05:17 PM
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Hey guys. I really appreciate all of the feedback and the pictures. That was exactly what I was expecting to see but it simply was just not there. Oh well! No worries!
I reinstalled the flywheel inspection plate and transmission pan. I'm just going to top the old Blue Basturd off and change it again in 15k or 20k miles. The fluid didn't look that bad, but I haven't had the truck long and have just been going through the normal fluid changes. I guess my next endeavor will be the coolant. Thanks again!
 
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Old Jan 13, 2014 | 09:34 PM
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Can't you flush the fluid out of the torque converter by taking off the trans line where it enters the radiator cooler. Stick the line in a bucket (may have to add some tubing to reach). Then start the vehicle up. Have a person pouring ATF into the trans and watch the fluid coming out. When the fluid coming out is red/clean you are done. Hook it all back up and top off the fluid.

Shifting into all the gears while doing this process helps get all the old fluid out.
 
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Old Jan 13, 2014 | 10:00 PM
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From: Mi'kma'ki
Originally Posted by jayro88
Can't you flush the fluid out of the torque converter by taking off the trans line where it enters the radiator cooler.
Changing ATF Fluid in a E4OD and 4R100 transmission
By Mark Kovalsky
 
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Old Jan 14, 2014 | 07:09 AM
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Yep, that is the process I was talking about.....except Mark says to take the return line off the trans and to put the bucket there. I would assume because that way you get the old fluid out of the cooler too.
 
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Old Jan 14, 2014 | 03:29 PM
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Originally Posted by jayro88
Yep, that is the process I was talking about.....except Mark says to take the return line off the trans and to put the bucket there. I would assume because that way you get the old fluid out of the cooler too.
You have assumed correctly.
 
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