KJ 42re fluid capacity (filter change)

XJMA · **Posted:** Fri Jun 02, 2006 6:21 pm

Girlfriends 04 KJ with ~52k on it (she has a long commute to work!) needs a tranny fluid change. Looked in her manual, says it's a 42re

but doesn't give the capacity for it!! It does say to use ATF +4, which she actually picked up at a NAPA! I was under the impression that you couild only get +4 at the dealership! Anyways, I have an XJ and know that if I drop the pan and change the filter it takes exactly 4 quarts, and it takes ~3.5 quarts if I just pull the plug. I'm assuming that it will be close for the 42re, but a friend of mine with a ZJ just recently did his filter and put 5 quarts in after dropping the pan, and it still did not register on the dipstick!! I was called in to consult at this point and told him not to add any more than 5 quarts...even if if didn't show up on the dipstick. This was like 2 months ago, and then just last week he blew open a tranny cooler line!!?????

So you can see why I want to make sure I have a good idea of how much fluid will be necessary!! Thanx!

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:15 pm

DCX's patent recently ran out so they have the atf+4 in the stores. The 04 42rle is 8.8 qts

saxdogg · **Joined:** Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:26 pm **Posts:** 199

ESM says four quarts exactly after a pan drop, but I'd buy 5, put in four and drive around and top off if necessary.

arff

libby · **Posted:** Fri Jun 02, 2006 9:05 pm

I did mine last week and was wondering the same thing. A repair manual I once read said 4.? quarts. I couldn't remember so after draining the fluid I poured it into an empty fluid bottle and came up with just under 5 quarts. That seemed like the best way to me (put in what came out), since maybe every KJ doesn't have a transmission fluid cooler.

japracer4 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 02, 2006 9:23 pm

why not consider going somewhere and doing an actual trannt flush. by doing a pan drop, you are only changing about 25% of the fluid. the torque converter is where all the fluid lies. they make holes in the actual filters anymore that are sooo big that is hard to clog them anymore. just my two cents.

saxdogg · **Joined:** Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:26 pm **Posts:** 199

japracer4 wrote:

why not consider going somewhere and doing an actual trannt flush. by doing a pan drop, you are only changing about 25% of the fluid. the torque converter is where all the fluid lies. they make holes in the actual filters anymore that are sooo big that is hard to clog them anymore. just my two cents.

Actually, you are getting about half....4-5 quarts on pan drop to replace it with an 8.8 capacity=about half...not just 25%. Unless I'm somehow calculating wrong...

JP

XJMA · **Posted:** Sat Jun 03, 2006 12:57 pm

thanx guys, I'll throw in 4 and see where that puts it. She needs a tranny cooler, didn't come with one stock. It's not supposed to get the fluid changed (according to the maint schedule, ha) until 60k, but it needs it like 1k ago!

I'm not a fan of having the tranny flushed, too expensive, and it can blow out seals! Happened to my friends pathfinder recently. It's much easier and cheaper to DIY, plus you change the filter. they usually don't change the filter for ya when they flush. ~1/2 the fluid is good enough to change. if you burnt the crap out of it, just change it again in a week.

japracer4 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 03, 2006 2:58 pm

saxxdog, flushed my tranny today at work and it toon roughly 12.5 quarts. in response to the other post, yes it more expensive to flush because you are doing the whole thing not just part of it. my kj shifts so much smoother now. were there alot of miles on your friends nissan? we wont do them if they are over 100k miles unless we know we've done them in the past on the same vehicle. the meachine we use at work runs off the pressure the tranny builds making it nearly impossible to blow any seals. if it were going to you would be just as likely to blow a seal while normal driving.

saxdogg · **Joined:** Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:26 pm **Posts:** 199

japracer...
I checked again and the SM sez 17.6 Pints (= 8.8 Quarts)
Perhaps that is not including an external cooler?

Also, don't the flush machines push some extra fluid to "clean" out the tranny? I know they load more fluid than it holds because it takes more than the exact capacity to start coming out clean...for example, while the "flush" is happening the capacity always stays the same: FULL. It never holds more, what goes in comes out in equal part. So it technically doesn't hold 12 quarts, but mayeb 12 quarts PASSES THRU it before it comes out "clean"...

Or am I off base, which is def possible! :!:

JP

japracer4 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 06, 2006 7:36 pm

yeah, i think you are on base. it probably holds a little more if it has a cooler. good luck which ever route you choose.

XJMA · **Posted:** Tue Jun 06, 2006 11:18 pm

the extra volume from a tranny cooler is almost negligable. say 1/2 quart at most. You can do the volume calculations with the size of the cooler and the lenght of tube. It's not that much.

However, everyone with an auto tranny should have a cooler. it's the cheapest, best insurance you can get. Or, don't listen to me and have fun dealing with replacing the tranny after 100k

jap, yeah, his pathfinder has like 125ish on it. they made him sign a release. I think the flush is a waste of money, not necessary. you can do the same thing for cheaper ifyou just drain the oil.

KJ 42re fluid capacity (filter change)

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