torque converter pre-fill

[FORDification]

OK, settle down, hillbilly67....we definitely can benefit from your expertise and experience, but a friendly exchange of info is always more beneficial than an argument. Let's try to keep it civil, OK?

[hillbilly67]

Sorry Keith. Just statin facts. Didnt mean for it to come across as hostile.

[Maxum96]

Maxum96 #1- We are talkin about the torque converter here, not the transmission. And the bearings and bushings are always lubed with lithium grease for startup. This applies to converters and transmissions. On a used torque, there is always residual oil left. #2-The pump does not suck from the torque, it feeds it. Not filling a torque has nothing to do with knocking out a pump. If there was no oil at the pump, it had to do with the suction side, (pipe, filter/pickup, no oil in the pan, o-rings, valve body, blockage, etc) #3-You state "You'll never cause any increased wear or damage by prefilling."
Yes you can do damage by filling the converter. Simple. Same reason as not to prefill filters on a diesel engine. You are dumping in unfiltered oil. You run the risk of dropping contaminants into your bearings and bushings.

I understand we are talking about torque converters. Don't torque converters have needle bearings inside them? I wouldn't want to run them dry at all. Not prefilling filters on a diesel engine? Why not? Which filters are you referring to? Oil or fuel? I have had a commercial driver's license for over 20 years. I have driven and serviced a variety of diesel engines from little International DT-466's to large Detroit Series 60's engines and most everything in between (including heavy equipment i.e. bulldozers, graders, backhoes, trackloaders, and numerous diesel engines used to power refrigerated semi trailers). Never have I or any mechanic that I've watched failed to prefill the oil or fuel filters when installing them. In fact, failing to prefill the fuel filters will cause you the biggest headache in the world trying to restart the engine because of the air in the fuel system. Not to mention the extra wear and tear on the starter, battery, and injector pump and injectors from running them dry while you crank the engine over forever trying to restart it.


I'm sorry sir, but I guess we're just going to have to agree to disagree on this issue. Unless specifically instructed by the manufacturer to do otherwise, I will always prefill torque converters, filters and other like items while working on automotive applications.

[Maxum96]

OK, settle down, hillbilly67....we definitely can benefit from your expertise and experience, but a friendly exchange of info is always more beneficial than an argument. Let's try to keep it civil, OK?

Keith, just a friendly debate on this issue. I didn't feel hillbilly67 was getting fired up. There hasn't been any name calling or putdowns from either of us. He has his point of view, I have mine. But I don't feel I have anything more that I can add to this argument that's positive, so I'm gonna end my participation in this string. Sorry if you felt we were getting away from being civil.

[69rangerman]

For the record, as a mechanic wanna-be, I deeply appreciate those with actual experience answering my questions. I have learned more about all things auto mechanical since I purchased the ranger in May than I ever thought I could. Most of that knowledge has come from the fordification family. Thanks all my blue oval brothers.

Tom

[ladz]

maxum 96, my trans shop said that word for word and just took it out for the first time last night and no trouble , he said to put in laymans terms no lube, moving parts, meatal to meatal, would you ?

[Jake11]

I'm a 'transmission builder'.

I have to 'eat' the job when it goes south. I fill converters for a reason.
No 'voodoo' science involved. Just quite simply, they can get damaged
with no oil at startup. Yes indeed, it can and has happened.

So, do whatever you want. I don't care. It's your problem.

[gonzalo medina]

There you have it. End of discussion