1996 Buick Roadmaster Transmission Fluid Change

Before the winter sets in, I thought it a good idea to finally change the transmission fluid and filter on this 1996 Buick Roadmaster. I was not in a hurry to do this job since it had already been done at approximately every 50,000 miles but I wanted to take advantage of using synthetic fluid to prolong the life of the 4L60-E transmission. If the Car Fax and dealer service records for this car are any indication, this vehicle was very well maintained.

Not having a torque converter drain plug got me interested in modifying my procedures to ensure a complete drain with minimal waste. I ended up using compressed air through the filter output hole in the valve body to force about three additional quarts out. Given an overhaul capacity of 11 quarts and having flushed eight quarts, I’d say the compressed air method did the trick. (10/12/2014)