what IS this thing

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carole

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was a computer nerd when i was working, so troubleshooting is sort of built in... i actually have an ODB thingy but that forscan (forscan? really? unfortunate name) sounds kinda neat, and free's always good! don't need it right this second... but then again, maybe i do and don't know it!.. just came up from blowing some grease into the ball joints - wow... you need mitts like Lou Ferrigno to squeeze grease through those tiny little needles. Hamfisted, can i assume this #$%^&U 'Carl' is the same dude that decided having zerks was BAD idea? who makes these decisions??

but to get back to the original question, why would you WANT to drain the torque converter? assuming it would be to get all the stuff out when you're draining the transmission so there isn't any old stuff in it? i can get under the truck and do all this stuff on the ground without jacking anything up, but technically, would parking it on a hill facing up drain it into the transmission pan? (yeah yeah, i know parking on a hill, but TECHNICALLY speaking)
 

Gregg Eshelman

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The torque converter holds a lot of fluid. Can't even get much fluid out with the transmission removed and tipping the converter around to drain out its center. So without a drain plug a fluid change only gets about half the fluid.

If the fluid is really old and dark and there's no converter drain plug it can be a good idea to drain, put the pan back on, fill with fluid and run it for a bit to circulate through the converter, then drain and fill again. Costs more but will have much less of the old fluid mixed in.

Another option is a transmission flush but that can have downsides like loosening gunk that's comfortably stuck in corners doing no harm, or leaving some of the flushing agent behind to dilute the new fluid.
 

Cooper

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I have the same issue. Its most likely what I have a front main seal leak. Just keep an eye on the fuilds but you can drive it fine as is.
 

Ulver

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It's wild that some torque converters don't and some do have drain plugs.

One important thing to mention is that if you don't see a drain plug when you take the rubber cap off, that doesn't mean you don't have one. It may be hiding. Put a mark on the torque converter, then get a ratchet/breaker bar and spin your crank pulley bolt (clockwise), and you'll start seeing the torque converter spin with the engine, and watch for the drain bolt to appear.
 
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carole

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holy smokes... the person that decided NOT to put a plug on it must be the same donkey that decided to save 47 cents and not put zerks on ball joints etc. i finally had to break down and buy a dewalt grease gun to use that needle thing... my little girly hand just isn't strong enough, and you need one hand to hold the needle from popping out of the boot. kind of an expensive toy, but i live alone in the middle of nowhere and one thing i've learned is if something is too hard, you'll just stop doing it....
 
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