Hello,
I have been reading some differing opinions, and am trying to get a unified consensus on the amount of Dex/Merc III everyone refills after a simple drain and fill on a AW4. On my 98 I have drain plug, so there is no need to drop the pan to do a drain and fill; however as I understand it earlier versions did not have a drain plug. Please include if your aw4 has a drain plug or not along with the amount of fluid you personally refill. Please do not comment if you do not have personal experience with this subject. Thanks!!

 

My 2000 AW4 has the plug. For a simple drain and refill, Should be almost 4 quarts, put in 3.5qts get the trans to temp and start checking fliud from there..

Just for fun here is a pic Cruiser54 has of a filter from a AW4, you can see how they are just a thin screen.
no need to really change them unless the fluid looks real bad. But then again a few good drain and refills will help with that also.

 

I believe I used most.. if not all of that 4 quart jug.

I like that advice above... 3 1/2 and check!

Remember to check in Neutral, running at operating temperature.

 

I just did 5 pan drain and refills on my '92 over a period of time. Mine has the plug.

I took out, and replaced, with 2 1/2 quarts each time.

My advice to you is to drain once, then measure it in to some old oil or tranny fluid bottles.

Assuming yours was at the proper level to begin with, put back in what you measured out.

Start the engine and let it idle before you start refilling. If you don't, it will come out on the ground before you replace what you drained.

 

All AW4s have a plug.

 

I guess my confusion comes in where some people are saying 2.5 quarts, while others are saying 3.5 quarts. On drain and fills I have done in the past I have filled it up 2.5 quarts, I just don't understand how many others can fit another quart without being overly full.

 

I have gotten 3 quarts out of my AW3, but I usually get about 2 quarts. Never made any sense. I think it was because it was parked on a bit of a slant the time I got 3 quarts. I just fill it up 1.5 quarts then check it via dipstick until it reads good.

 

Assumption is the mother of all f#ck ups.

The OP should check his level first at operating temp before doing any draining.
My (ex) shop overfilled my trans by about two pints (1 ltr). I didn't know because I didn't work on my Jeep back then, and ASSUMED they probably knew what they were doing.

Of note when looking at the dipstick level: keep in mind it only takes 500 ml (1 pint or....well, whatever parts of quarts you measure in) to go from " add to full" (although that wont be stated on your transdipstick, that only has two holes).

Since the threads around my drain plug were starting to wear down and I didn't trust it to last several more drains and refills, I looked into and then did the forward flush of the AW4. Can be done by just yourself (but help is handy) and done in a few minutes. Changed out virtually ALL ATF and am now done for the next 50K.

 

cool. now there are 1,000,002 threads on this subject. where is the thread showing how the OP says, "I did something on my own and learned [insert fact]"...?

 

From 87 to 92 when I was at the dealership, 3.8 quarts was the refill amount. After that, who knows?

 

just go ahead and round that up to a gallon without draining that extra little out of the container

OP, I also like to shift the transmission into drive, neutral, reverse and back to neutral after adding fluid for the first time before checking the dipstick.

 

For others in the future searching this subject, I have attached a page out of a very trusted source for a 1999 Jeep XJ. Item number 4 under the subject heading "Refilling after overhaul or Fluid/Filter change" lists that 2 quarts should be initially added with more added to fill it up to the the full mark. Hope this helps others.

 

Do what firestorm said.

My Jeeps trans fluid was charred when i bought it..

Went through about 15 quarts total with drain and fills. Probably more than needed but whatever

Just pour the old fluid into empty oil bottles, and put exactly what you took out, back in. Its extremely simple, and if your fluid level was already correct (Definitely check first), then thats a good way to ensure that you still have the right amount.

Second, most of the guys on here say no reason to replace trans screen/filter, because it is just a screen. Do yourself a favor, and have it replaced, after you drain and fill enough to get red fluid.

I went through all the drain and fills, and my shifting was better, but still klunky and not where i wanted it. I changed the trans filter, and boy, its like night and day. Great improvement, and a cheap insurance for your transmission.

 

Come on. Really? Let's see some photos of clogged up screens.

It was the last drain and fill you did.......

 

I dropped my pan and changed my screen when I first bought it. I yelled a few expletives when I saw it was just a screen and not clogged whatsoever...

I kick myself for not even reading into that one.. too much time on the newer model vehicles with actual filter elements...