Kingfisher

Yeah!

cruiser54

Like you should leave it in the trans!!!

Lowrange2

Hmm, I had zero issues taking the dipstick tube apart a the OEM joint.

Rollincoal420

I can never get the dip stick tube apart. Ill fight and cuss at it for an hr and a half. When I crawl out to get a smoke, by the time I get back with said smoke, girlfriend done climbed under there and popped it right out. Wtf

djb383

Post #7 shows how to do it in a minute & a half.

cruiser54

Post 17 is the winner hands down.........

riftshighway

Okay, I did a transmission fluid and filter change less than a week ago on my XJ. This is what I learned:

The dipstick tube would NOT come out of the tran-pan, so I ended up unbolting it from the engine compartment and lowering it to the ground underneath the car. I was able to work on it a little bit there (and scrape off SOME of the RTV) but it wasn't my best work. There's only so much you can do while laying on your back with a few inches of clearance. Unbolting the dipstick tube will buy you about a foot of wiggle room.

The transmission filter has a mesh screen. Look closely at the used screen and you'll find tiny flecks of metal--little bits of your transmission. My screen didn't show any signs of wear. Many people make the valid argument that filters trap microscopic contaminants that you can't see. In the case of your transmission, there will be two magnets in the pan...I've got a feeling those magnets are capturing metal flakes more efficiently than a screen will.

In a nutshell, I replaced my transmission filter because I'm OCD, but I think a flush coupled with cleaning the magnets is probably the more economically sound approach. That said, a new filter is only $20, and it gives me a sound state of mind.

djb383

......and I believe there are a number of fine particles circulating around in the tranny fluid that will not stick to a magnet that the filter/screen will catch. For $20 and complete with a new pan gasket, why not.

cruiser54

The screen was described to me by a trans guy as a "catastrophic collector". Protects the valve body from particles which could damage it should the trans fail.

djb383

........and that's probably correct, all I'm saying is for $20-$25 that "catastrophe" can possibly/probably be moved further down the road. All the parts stores carry the filter/gasket kit and it's easy to do so I just sleep a little better at night knowing it's done and knowing how much easier it will be to do the next time.

dmill89

^This,


If you want an actual filter get one of these:





= $25

Kingfisher

Yeah!

djb383

That will definitely prevent a catastrophe.....unless one of those extra connections/hoses leaks/splits. Just kidding, does look good, well thought out.

Put one those finned wrap around filter magnet thingys on the filter and have extra ferrous metal collection and a little extra cooling.

https://www.google.com/search?q=finn...w=1280&bih=595

cruiser54

I'm just thinking of most guys that just need to get old fluid out and new in. Why torture/scare them?

djb383

Agreed, but then lets face it, lots of folks, or at least some, should only be driving used vehicles with a remaining factory warranty.......not an XJ. If one does not want to know/learn any more than how to remove/install a gas cap, they probably should consider something other than the XJ. But then again, the XJ is perfectly suited for someone with a little initiative/willingness to learn, no?