Ruger
FRF Addict
Having completed this project, declared victory, and cracked a beer in celebration, after-action wisdom needs to be imparted, particularly about refilling the transmission with fluid.
I measured 5.5 quarts from the drain and as aFe claims that their pan adds 7 quarts of capacity, I decided that the right course was to pour in 12 quarts and then check. Made sense to stop a half quart low, right? No. I wound up with about a half quart of expensive synthetic transmission fluid on the garage floor. As this is an unfavorable outcome, I consulted with Chris at FreedomMotorsports.
Chris e-mailed me the procedure. Yeah, there's a procedure. The manual for the 2011 Ford Mustang, which also uses the 6R80 transmission, says to add 3.3 quarts and then start the engine. Run the transmission selection lever through all gears, stopping at each for 5 seconds, put it in Park, and check the fluid level while it's idling. The effect is to burp all of the air out of the system that was introduced when it was drained. This is a cold transmission check. It says to add fluid until the fluid level is in the "A" range on the dipstick, and then you're ready for a hot transmission check.
To do a hot transmission check you have to drive the truck to bring the transmission fluid up to full operating temperature, which is stated as 190 degrees Fahrenheit. At that point you repeat the check with the engine idling in Park, and the goal is to put the fluid level at the top of the "B" range on the dipstick. Okay, that's the procedure.
This is what I learned. For the cold transmission check, do not fill above the BOTTOM of the "A" range on the dipstick. If you do, you'll have to remove fluid during the hot transmission check. I also learned that the claimed 7 quarts of additional capacity of the aFe pan is a bit high. I think it's more like 6 1/2 quarts.
So be conservative when you refill the transmission at first. What you ought to do is add about 9 quarts (3 per the procedure and 6 for the additional capacity of the aFe pan), and then do the cold transmission check before you drive it and add to the bottom of the "A" range on the dipstick. Drive it, and then do the hot transmission check and add fluid until the level is at the top of the "B" range. Again, all dipstick checks are done with the truck idling in Park on a level surface.
SAFETY NOTE: Bring your high pain tolerance with you. YOU WILL GET BURNED. There is no way to avoid burned knuckles because of the close proximity of the transmission filler/dipstick to the right side catalytic converter - not if you're doing this on the garage floor, and I think it's also unavoidable even if the truck is on a lift. If you wear gloves you will discover that the dipstick is frustratingly difficult to maneuver in the close confines you'll be working in. I used a leather glove to remove the cap and dipstick, but had to work bare handed to insert and remove the dipstick into the filler hole. As you have to do this multiple times to incrementally arrive at the proper fluid level, you will burn the same places on your hand more than once. As a result, you will be very glad when the project is complete.
I would say that this project is not for the faint of heart, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone but a professional until aFe corrects the bolt hole alignment problem. Major kudos to Chris at FreedomMotorsports for the information, coaching, and support.
Any questions?
I measured 5.5 quarts from the drain and as aFe claims that their pan adds 7 quarts of capacity, I decided that the right course was to pour in 12 quarts and then check. Made sense to stop a half quart low, right? No. I wound up with about a half quart of expensive synthetic transmission fluid on the garage floor. As this is an unfavorable outcome, I consulted with Chris at FreedomMotorsports.
Chris e-mailed me the procedure. Yeah, there's a procedure. The manual for the 2011 Ford Mustang, which also uses the 6R80 transmission, says to add 3.3 quarts and then start the engine. Run the transmission selection lever through all gears, stopping at each for 5 seconds, put it in Park, and check the fluid level while it's idling. The effect is to burp all of the air out of the system that was introduced when it was drained. This is a cold transmission check. It says to add fluid until the fluid level is in the "A" range on the dipstick, and then you're ready for a hot transmission check.
To do a hot transmission check you have to drive the truck to bring the transmission fluid up to full operating temperature, which is stated as 190 degrees Fahrenheit. At that point you repeat the check with the engine idling in Park, and the goal is to put the fluid level at the top of the "B" range on the dipstick. Okay, that's the procedure.
This is what I learned. For the cold transmission check, do not fill above the BOTTOM of the "A" range on the dipstick. If you do, you'll have to remove fluid during the hot transmission check. I also learned that the claimed 7 quarts of additional capacity of the aFe pan is a bit high. I think it's more like 6 1/2 quarts.
So be conservative when you refill the transmission at first. What you ought to do is add about 9 quarts (3 per the procedure and 6 for the additional capacity of the aFe pan), and then do the cold transmission check before you drive it and add to the bottom of the "A" range on the dipstick. Drive it, and then do the hot transmission check and add fluid until the level is at the top of the "B" range. Again, all dipstick checks are done with the truck idling in Park on a level surface.
SAFETY NOTE: Bring your high pain tolerance with you. YOU WILL GET BURNED. There is no way to avoid burned knuckles because of the close proximity of the transmission filler/dipstick to the right side catalytic converter - not if you're doing this on the garage floor, and I think it's also unavoidable even if the truck is on a lift. If you wear gloves you will discover that the dipstick is frustratingly difficult to maneuver in the close confines you'll be working in. I used a leather glove to remove the cap and dipstick, but had to work bare handed to insert and remove the dipstick into the filler hole. As you have to do this multiple times to incrementally arrive at the proper fluid level, you will burn the same places on your hand more than once. As a result, you will be very glad when the project is complete.
I would say that this project is not for the faint of heart, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone but a professional until aFe corrects the bolt hole alignment problem. Major kudos to Chris at FreedomMotorsports for the information, coaching, and support.
Any questions?
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