Torque converter

Michael
the torque converter is part of the auto trans
the oil in the converter will drain back into the trans at least haft way when the engine is turned off. when the trans pump flow dead heads at the relief valve the oil then travels into the converter filling it allowing it to work coming out then through the cooler back to the trans sump
on some converter there is a 1/8" gas plug so you can drain the through a hole in the bell housing.

regards Richard

Hi Mike,

This is quite a job. You will find 2 cooler lines going to the radiator (to cool the trans oil). You need to determine which is the return line into the back of the transmission. Disconnect the return line at the trans and blank off the open entry into the trans (don't forget to do this). You need to connect some extra hose or something onto the return line and put it into a bucket to take the dirty oil (as explained below will need to be quite large to take a reasonable volume of oil).

If you have put 4Lt into the pan of a total of 12Lt you will need to have significantly more oil than 12Lt on hand (probably 15 - 16 Lt). You only get 1 chance because if you stop the flushing exercise explained below the new and old oil will mix and you will be stuffed so you need to have more rather than less (you can keep surplus for future use).

Start the engine and the oil from the converter will be flushed out of the return hose into your bucket. At the same time you need to be replacing new oil into the dipstick tube (probably a 2 person job). You must keep doing this until the oil running into the bucket runs clean new oil. As stated above, due to mixing, this will take more than the volume in the converter.

Once running clean, turn off the engine, reconnect the return line to the Trans, start the engine again and top up the oil level to full point.

As stated, once you start this you must keep going until finished or new oil will be mixed with old. Make sure you have plenty of oil and a big enough bucket.

The only other way is to remove the converter and cut it open (they are a sealed unit).

Good luck

Trevor

hi Mike,

It's not actually as scary as it sounds and a bit of surplus fluid may be cheaper than their labour charge. What I have outlined is exactly what they will do... they just have plenty of oil on hand to use.

You may want to consider a transmission specialist rather than Nissan from a cost point of view, this is after all the background from where my advice comes.

Good to give something back to the forum for a change....I hope I helped

Trev

Mike
The procedure described above is correct and NOT as difficult as it sounds.
Had to do my Surf auto a couple of months ago.
As for the surplus? Why not give the power steering a birthday too. Similar type of procedure and a lot easier with two people (both jobs).

Trans oil should be changed every 40 thouand or perhaps even sooner if you do any towing.

Cheers
Rod