Wow, so my first oil change on my 99 xj and I think I just drained the transmission fluid rather than the oil. It took a 14mm socket to undo the plug and sure enough I let it drain; only to find out that there is another plug closer to the front of the xj that looks to be much more in line where I would expect the oil to be!

if it is indeed tranny fluid it is super brown. I have never swapped transmission fluid before. How is this done and did I muck up?

 

 

the transmission fluid should be red/dark brown in colour. that drain plug is on the large rectangular flat pan behind the motor, where as the oil drain plug should be a 5/8 or 15mm bolt, that is kind of up on the oil pan in front of the trans pan. it should be a dark black like colour.

and no, you didn't muck anything up, you will just have to put a quart or two back into the transmission via the trans fluid dip stick tube. start with about as much as you took out, then after you change the engine oil, put on a new oil filter and fill using approx 5 litres.
start the jeep, shift through some gears to get the transmission oil flowing then shut jeep off, let sit a bit and check fluid levels. clean any oil off the dip sticks then recheck.
you're good as long as they're within the safe zone.

 

Appreciate this. And yes, it is definitely tranny fluid that I took out. The dipstick is dry and doesn't smell like oil. I was going to fill with dex/merc III since it's auto. Good call?

 

Checking fluid level of an auto tranny is not the same as engine. Trans shoild be checked after thoroughly warmed up and still running while in park or neutral. If you drained until no more drained, you may need as much as 1 US gallon to top it back off. Many of us do periodic drain and fills in our auto trans, so youve done a good thing for your trans without meaning to.

 

It drained about 2.5 quarts out, so I bought 3 to refill with.

 

i know you are to check it with vehicle running, but if he fills it with the same amount he took out, that should get him back to safe level.

i usually check while running in park or even off and it checks just fine.

dexIII is correct.

 

Transmission pan

Engine oil pan

 

ha, yes yes. Learned which is which the hard way. I guess in the end there is no gaining experience on your vehicle without getting your hands dirty (literally)

 

Considering what you say the trans fluid looks like I'd say it was lucky mistake in your(or the trannys) favor.

 

Yes the mistake worked out to be in your favor sounds like the trans fluid needs to be changed also. Just drain and refill several different times after running for a while till the fluid looks almost like new.