Quote Originally Posted by Merlins_Holden View Post
I own the massive shop manual for our car:

1.) No filter, just a strainer
2.) The drain should be on the bottom of the oil pan, just remove the plug and allow the oil to drain. You will want to remove the oil pan anyway, as there are two magnets inside that should be cleaned of debris (per the manual). The drain plug should be tightened to 13 lb ft.
3.) Okay, this is a few answers in one (3/6). You should be flushing your oil cooler using GM J 45096 or equivalent (in our case, DEXRTON III ATF). You must flush the transaxle using DEXTRON III ATF. To do this you must drain the original fluid, fill it up, run it for 5 minutes and then drain again. This car (even when fully dry with torque converter/oil cooler empty) will only accept 6.2 quarts max! According to the table, our engine (with just a drain/flush) will only need an extra 2.2 quarts because you are not actually removing all the fluid. Thus the flush.

The way at which you find the correct level of fluid is by filling it 3/4 full (in reference to dipstick) when the transaxle is cool. You must then run it (while shifting through gears) until at operating temperature. The level of fluid (when hot) should be between the HOT MIN (2) and HOT MAX (1), if it is not reached add fluid until the desired level is reached.

4.) As far as the manual says, no vent other than the dipstick.
5.) Yes, there is a gasket (no black goop)

Hey Newbie, buy a manual. I work in the aviation maintenance business and if you don't follow the manual you get serious repercussions.
Thanks! I would love to buy the "book" on our cars, I have yet to find one though.

I'll run this past dad the first chance I get, and see if he has anymore specific questions. Did you order your "book", or buy it from a store? If you ordered it online, I'd love to pick one up.

Thanks Again,
-Andrew B.