Ok, so I have the truck in the title (Heritage) with 25k miles on it. I tow a lot and the tranny is about the only thing on the truck that if it would break I really can't fix on my own. SO, I decide to change the fluid.

To my knowledge, the tranny is 4r75W. The manual say is holds 14 quarts, so I bought that amount of the mercon V stuff (no cheap). I drop the pan and in the bottom is a Yellow plug (looks like a plastic piston) with an O-ring on it. I freaked out, I though either I bumped something with the pan and knocked it out or the tranny was not built from the factor right. A tech told me that it's normal, that this is the plug that is where the dip stick tube normally is, an on assemble they just bash the tube into the plug and the plug end up in the bottom of the pan. So, good info for those who haven't don't it and a good way to know if your tranny has ever been services. I put the pan back on (the gasket says "reusable" and the pan says the same.

Now, I read that the Torque convertor (TC) has a drain plug, since it hold the bulk of the fluid. I rotated the engine by hand and looked all over hell and back through the bottom inspection window for this (after removing the rubber plug). I can see the TC, and I can see the flywheel, but I never saw a plug. I even marked the TC with chalk and went ultra slow and still never saw the plug. So, does this tranny TC have a plug or NOT?!?!?

The bottom of the pan, and around the magnet had lots of very fine dark gray dust. I removed all of it. I never saw the filter though. Is the filter the big flat steel piece that has one tube in the lower pan sump for the pick up, and the other tube going into the upper tranny? It didn't look like a filter to me.

Finally, I had no idea how much fluid I removed (I dump a good deal on the ground on accident). I figured about 5-7 quarts. I put one quart in and check the dipstick and it read full?!?! Now I know that ain't right, so I put a total of 5 quarts in and started the truck. Seems to run fine, but the dipstick after a day is still difficult to read, I think it's just a bit over the hatched area when warm.

So recapping my questions?
1)What's the filter look like?
2)does the TC on this tranny have a drain plug?
3) if no drain plug, how do you change that fluid?
4)Do any of you guys have a hard time reading the dipstick?
5)How much crap in the pan is normal for a truck with 25k on it?

 

You're right about the filter. It's the metal pan on the bottom. Mine just pulled off[4r70] and was not held in place with anything except the inlet with the o-rings. It just sits in the pan and it is a good idea to replace it when replacing the fluid. It should come with a new pan gasket. When I change fluid, I remove the transmission cooler lines and pump out the fluid by running the engine as I'm adding new fluid until I have pumped out about 2 extra quarts more than the transmission capacity. This ensures there was a complete replacement. To do this, you'll have to attach hoses to the cooler lines with clamps and run them into a container that you can gauge how much fluid has been exchanged. You won't have to use both cooler lines if you know which one the fluid comes out of, but I'm not sure which one it is.
The stuff you described in the pan sounds normal. Look for larger shavings as this signals a problem.
If you have a second person to help do this, it is helpful so one person can shut off the engine when the right amount of fluid has been flushed. It's not hard to do, just a little time consuming. Good luck.

 

my 2001 torque converter has the plug. i hear they stopeed that in 2002. you did good so far. i ama firm believer in changing the 5 quarts of oil and the filter in the pan at 25,000 , then again at 65,000 and every 40,000 after that. forget the converter. i have checked and most of the sludge is in the oil pan on the magnet, bottom of the pan, or on the filter housing.

 

On these the only way to change all the oil, including what's in the torque converter, is to have the transmission flushed.
I think that Steve has the right idea....regular oil changes are a good idea.

 

Check out these articles and then choose the one that you think is best for your situation. They have good information. www.alpar.com/eek/alt.html

 

Sorry. That's allpar.com/eek/atf.html It helps to put my glasses on.