No concerns with running the trans to empty/near empty or even low on fluid while it's running?

 

Well, that's why it's helpful to have a buddy for this procedure so that when you see it start sputtering, you can tell them to kill the engine. It's just the pump going then, not like you're driving it without fluid. That part of the procedure is to be done in Park or Neutral only.

 

In my Opinion it is not a good idea to run the transmission out of fluid while it's running. Internal damage will incur.

 

Well, you could split it up and do half-gallons instead. That would ease any worry of running the trans without fluid.

I just wanted to get it done.

 

I sleep better knowing knowing the pan has been cleaned inside and knowing there's a new filter/gasket in there......and it was so easy.

 

EFI fuel hose would be the lesser of two evils in this application. One can't tell the composition of the hose by the picture. However, once you cut that line, it IS permanent AND inferior. EFI fuel hose is not designed to deal with the temperatures and pressure of trans fluid.

And it is still a weak point. Among other things, it is vulnerable to foreign object damage. Leaving the metal intact is much better. That way you don't have to remember to check it at all. In addition, the worm drive clamps are a weak point, too. What if they loosen up between oil changes? When the hose blows off at highway speeds, a burned up, expensive transmission is next.

 

Here is a link where someone referenced my post about doing a "forward flush" without dropping the pan. Works well, is easy, and doesn't require multiple drops to change out all the fluid.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/tra...4/#post2566375

 

Hm. My dipstick puts up a little fight going in and coming out (I've done the drain-fill-drive-repeat 2x now and obsessively check the fluid anyhow). Should I be concerned about the dipstick issue?

 

That's more or less what I did, except I didn't have a helper to drop new fluid in as the old stuff came out...lol

 

Really??????......it's a dipstick tube, not a high pressure fluid line. No worries here.......about the dipstick tube OR that new filter/gasket.

 

What you've done would have nothing to do with the dipstick problem. Should go in and out of the tube easily though.

 

If there's ever a need to drop the pan on mine I've got just the small tubing cutter to do the mod with. No near as pretty as yours though.

So is yours a "fabric" or metal filter? The ones I've seen on line look to be metal w/a screen over the opening.

 

I have mine professionally done. Yes I pay, but I like peace of mind.

 

Like I said, we did the filter/gasket change over 4 years ago and I've slept since then but to the best of my memory, the filter was an all metal piece with a paper/fiber filter element inside the metal case. On the bottom of the filter, the intake side, is a 1/2"-3/4" hole in the metal case. Thru that hole the paper/fiber element can be seen. Again, from memory, the filter element/media appeared to be paper/fiber, not a fine mesh screen.....kinda similar to the filter media in a motor oil filter.

Bottom line, I've been changing tranny filters in various old cars way before the XJ/AW4. I consider it just one of the many maintenance items to be changed after buying a used car. That's just me and my opinion on how to have a reliable DD vehicle. An old, unchanged tranny filter bothers me way more that cutting a dip stick tube that is already 2 pieces held together with a rubber o-ring.

 

They changed the dipstick tube in 2000 when they went to the coil pack. If it doesn't fit in easy, flip the handle over and try again.

@dbj383 I slept better knowing I've got heavy crude in the crankcase ;-)