How much ATF can you pump out from dipstick vs. drain plug?

BrianV70 · Post by **BrianV70** » 25 Jul 2018, 17:01

I need to freshen up my ATF. Any easier to pump it out of the dipstick tube than drain it into a pan?

Thanks!

Post by **erikv11** » 25 Jul 2018, 21:07

Drain pan will remove 3.5 quarts, almost exactly. I'd recommend that method, 3 or 4 changes, if you don't want to do the remove-the-hose-and-pump-it-out method. I've never pumped it out the dipstick.

Post by **Clemens** » 25 Jul 2018, 23:03

I highly recommend the drain from the pan. But disconnecting the oil cooler is an easy option as well.

Post by **SuperHerman** » 25 Jul 2018, 23:10

Drain plug more effective and faster.

Think of the drain plug as a paper cup of water with a straw. The straw does not hit the bottom of the glass perfectly flat, leaving a bit of water behind. Adjust the angle of the straw, move around the paper cup ... and you can get almost all of it out. Now just remove the straw and punch a hole in the bottom on the outside edge and tilt the paper cup so the hole is at the lowest point. Everything drains out. If your car is on jack stands front end up - that is basically what you have going on. Realistically the little left doesn't really matter, but it is way faster to just remove the drain plug.

Post by **erikv11** » 26 Jul 2018, 07:22

And disconnecting the hose is more effective and faster than the drain pan, again by far.

But pulling the drain plug is much simpler. Get the car on ramps and breeze through it. Refill with exactly the amount you drain out, use cheap Dex III fluid, I use Supertech from Walmart and do a drain every 30k miles.