545RFE Oil Change

Endurance · **Posted:** Thu Nov 29, 2007 8:44 pm

I know how to change my engine oil, but I never changed the transm oil myself. I am guessing there is a plug on the bottom of the transm pan, but where do you refill it? And what are the capacitys? I checked the Amsoil website, but they are a little unclear about capacitys for the 545RFE.

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 29, 2007 8:52 pm

No plug in the trans pan - unless you add one. You're in for a treat. Changing trans fluid is potentially very messy. Refill is through the dipstick tube. Since a trans doesn't completely drain, refill quantity can vary. I'd want at least 8 or 9 quarts on hand.

Endurance · **Posted:** Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:51 pm

OMG are you serious?! Where/how do I do that? I guess I could order a gasket from lubelocker and then just do it myself.

crackercrd · **Posted:** Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:52 pm

I just have mine flushed. The dealer wanted $190 for the "BG" flush that comes with a 150K mile warranty. I had it the same service done at a small shop for half of that.

The BG people claim that if you have your trans serviced with thier stuff before 36K and every 30K after that they will warranty the trans for 150K miles.

I have no connection to them, so this is not a self serving plug. I have a little over 50K not with no F37 or any trans problems.

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:03 pm

Dropping the pan is the worst part. Take out all the pan bolts except one at each corner. Loosen the ones at the corners a turn or two and then try to get the glued on pan to break loose. The bolts stay in at the corners so you don't drop the pan full of fluid when the RTV sealer turns loose. Once you break the bond of the sealer, loosen the two pan bolts on the downhill side and let that end of the pan come down. At some point, that whole end of the pan will pour trans fluid like Niagra falls. Loosen the two bolts in the uphill side of the pan and let it droop and drain more. When you have the last two bolts about half way out you should have drained most of what is in the pan. Hold the pan back up against the trans and remove the last two bolts. Then you can lower the pan while keeping it level.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:12 pm

Some of the "Jiffy Lube" places do a power flush...but it takes a bit more fluid to accomplish the feat...it will replace all the old fluid tho.

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:15 pm

The quick lube places I've talked to don't offer the correct ATF+4. They have Dexron and some additive that is "just as good as ATF+4." I'm sure there are exceptions, but that was my experience.

RTStabler51 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 30, 2007 1:09 am

It can be messy, but you just have to be patient. As someone else stated loosen all the bolts, but leave each corner in. then take the back to out, and slowly let the pan down and fluid will eventually come out. Changing to the PML will make trans fluid changes easy!

flash7210 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:15 am

When I was a tech, I would always encourage customers to do the T-tech
transmission flush. It was really easy to do. Simply pump 12-14 qts ATF
into the T-tech and hook it up in series with the cooler line.
Start up the engine and let the tranny do the work. The tranny will pump
all its fluid into the T-tech thus pushing fresh ATF back into the tranny.
Kinda like a blood transfusion.
The only drawback was having to pay for 12-14 qts of ATF instead of the
usual 4-5.

Definitely worth it in my mind.

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Fri Nov 30, 2007 10:02 am

I had the filters change and flush with 16 qts of atf +4. I'm glad I had it done even though it cost nearly $300.00 at the stealership.

Uffe · **Posted:** Fri Nov 30, 2007 10:59 am

OMG - I'm so happy I bought mine after a 100,000kms service (includes all fluids changed).

I just have to do some engine oil changes for a few times before I will touch that auto fluid change. Engine oil changes are easy, same goes for air filter. Fuel filter is a bit worse but still sounds much easier than that auto tranny fluid change :S

Going to check my service manuals to see when to expect to change tranny fluid :S

CATCRD · **Posted:** Fri Nov 30, 2007 11:29 am

When I did mine it took about 9 quarts to refill. I changed both filters in the tranny at that time and added a drain plug to the pan. I got the kit at NAPA and substituted copper washers for the cheap plastic washers that came with it. Now I can do it more frequently now that it's so easy. I refilled with Redline C+ ATF which is for ATF+4 applications.

545RFE Oil Change

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