DIY RV Maintenance: Change Transmission Fluid 

Your Dad is a good man

What a woman -- refreshing to see someone not afraid to try stuff.

2 thumbs way WAY UP. You are the only person ive ever seen do this and not end up wearing part of the old fluid. Great job.

You are a jack of all trades. That pan looked so clean, you could probably use it for cooking dinner.

WOW! What a lady with so many talents.

WOW Pippi!! I am mightily impressed. I have worked on cars all my life and have never changed the transmission fluid myself. As best as I can figure, automatic transmissions work on a combination of alchemy and black magic. The only difference between you and a real transmission shop is that you are not waiting for me to bring a check in so that you can make your boat payment. Thanks for the video!!

Good job Pippi most women wouldn't touch it. But I have been watching your video's so I had no doubts about you getting it done. Great video.

When I was watching the video, my wife walked by and smacked the side of my head. I have no idea why.

Pippi! Is there no project that you will not undertake? You amaze me, little Lady with your knowledge and willingness to attempt anything! Thanks for sharing!!

add DIY on your title. Gotta love a lady who is not afraid to get a little dirty and is eager for learning something she herself can do! Bravo Pippi

Don't forget to stop for a periodic Kim Chee break, to help spice up your day!

very impressive! not only do you do a good and thorough job but you look adorable doing it too.

awesome job that you did replacing the gasket and fluid. It's great that you can show people basic maintenance that is needed on RV'S.

I do swear you are my kind of woman. Changing transmission fluid yourself. You are my boss then.

Little tip: El cheepo foam rubber yoga mats make great under vehicle work mats so you don't have to lay in gravel, and they roll up pretty small.

Great job Pippi. I admire how you take on these maintenance tasks and do a great job describing it step by step. Very useful and informative. I really enjoy your videos.

Pippi if I was 40 years younger I would be chasing you. Your handy as a shirt on a pocket got a great heart and pretty to boot. I enjoy watching your videos they are a lot of fun and very informative . Best of luck to you.

The 4L80E trans pan gasket is meant to be reused (unless torn during removal). If not. Simply wipe it clean then reuse. The most common issue with the 4L80E? The internal wiring harness will crack at the trans connector on the side of the transmission allowing for shift/ing issue/s (limp mode). The fix is to replace the internal wire harness. Simply drop the pan and replace the wire harness. To verify this isn't occurring look at the trans connector on the outside. See red fluid? You shouldn't. It may require removing disconnecting the connector. If you do replace the harness also replace both shift solenoids and turn up the force actuator valve 1/4 to 1/2 turn.

Hello Pippi Peterson I'm from saudi arabia. I am happy to see everything you offer on this channel on RU-vid I wish you continued success.

You have a good grasp of what's going on in the transmission and why it's important to change the oil. That's a job not too many people will tackle. Good job!

I just put the rtv on the pan side and it works great! On my Jeep let it drain after loosening the pan bolts, then took the pan the rest of the way. Once had the pan cleaned, and the old rtv and gasket off I did a once over with paper towels and rubbing alcohol. Then put the Permatex Right Stuff 90 min on the pan side only. Then I cleaned underneath the inside of the transmission and removed an replaced the filters and tightened to spec. Then bolted the pan in place just snugged the pan bolts in a criss cross pattern. Then an hour later torqued the pan bolts to spec in a criss cross pattern. I then waited 2 1/2 hours before adding fluid. My Jeep took 9.25 quarts of Mopar ATF+4. It has shifted smooth and I have had zero leaks. It took about a couple of test drives and an extra 1/4-1/2 of a quart warmed up to top it off. It's better to check the fluid level while the transmission is cold the bottom holes or xxxx or hatch marks and warmed up to close to the half way point on the temperature reading or driving 15-20 minutes the top dot or xxx hatch marks or at least between the marks on the transmission dip stick.

PIPPI GLAD YOU POINTED OUT PUTTING THE RTV on both sides and on the bolt threads, so many think you don't, nut you sure do, keep it up

I LOVE THE SHIRT.

Dang! Good job, girl! I was impressed over how clean you got the transmission pan. Most folks don't bother with cleaning it... bit of a mistake on their part.

I have the same RV as u. 93 fleet wood bounder. Got 55k and I NEED sum1 2 guide me in these transmission THING. Who do I CALL THAT can make that HAPPEN? That LADY WAS so gracefull I CANT BELIEVE SHE change the transmission on our Fleetwood. Im still in. Shock

I scrubbed my van down with degreaser and it turned out really clean. it was hard work but it was a necessary prep before I spray painted it. one thing I recently learned about while out on the road is it is good 2 have a spare belt, or belts, depending on the scheme of your engine, just in case it breaks. mine is a single serpentine belt that can be replaced with one tool and is self adjusting, i believe. it's a 95.

Pippi, you mentioned that your RV is old and Fleetwood referred you to their heritage center. I too have an old rig. It's a 1987 Winnebago. with just a little quick research, I found that thr rig is built upon a Chevy P-30 truck chassis. For any issues with the chassis or drivetrain, I can also inquire of Chevrolet for guidance. I hope that gives you another resource for info on your rig. Keep making the great videos.

Quick tip. That pan gasket is a factory re-useable gasket, and if you don't feel comfortable re-using it, pick one up at the local Chevy dealer next time you decide to change the fluid and filter. They are not that much money-- probably around $30, and far superior to anything you can buy in the aftermarket. Buy one for a 4L80E in a 1 ton pickup truck that's the same year as your motor home. BTW, I admire you immensely !

girl I've got to say you are pretty talented. Thumbs up?

Very well done! You could also mention that if using a wire brush or steel wool to clean the gasket area, you should watch for little bits of steel that can break off and contaminate the interior of the pan. I know your OK though because I see Chase was supervising.

I admire your determination to do your own maintenance and want to commend you for your desire to keep your rig maintained. I have a class C built on a Ford chases and I do my transmission service also. I bought an aftermarket transmission pan that has a drain plug so it makes it so much easier to drain. I change the fluid quite often by draining it and not removing the pan. The filter will last a long time with frequent fluid changes. I change my fluid about every 5K miles and the filter around 20K miles. Some will say that is overkill but I figure it is much cheaper than having an expensive transmission fail. The pan is made of aluminum and has extra capacity for more fluid which is a good thing to help keep that transmission cool. Heat destroys the fluid and bad fluid kills the transmission. It even has fins on the bottom to help keep the fluid cool. I love your independence and the happy attitude you show. Have fun!

Very impressive. Messy job without a drain plug. Better than I would do. Permatex the right stuff makes up for what I miss. Never had a leak yet with it. FYI, it takes 3 days for trans fluid to come out of your hair....lol

Other people pointed out that the converter was not drained. Not sure IF it has a drain plug or not but remember that you only have 1/2 clean fluid so next change should be sooner than if it was all new fluid. The converter drain would be accessible under a cover on the lower front of the transmission below where it bolts to the engine. You might have to "bump" the engine over with the starter several times to get the drain to align with the access plate. That transmission pan was designed to have a drain plug in the side. There is a flat drain area on that oil pan that can be drilled and a drain plug kit installed to simplify future fluid changes. Cost $6-$8. A surgical beanie can do a lot to keep your hair out of the way and cleaner if laying on the ground. ALWAYS wear your safety glasses. Too easy for your arm to brush against something and some crud falls into your eye.

Pippi the Transmission is a 4L80E that uses Dexron III fluid, GM now has a better fluid that is Dexron VI which will retro fit back which is a better fluid to use for large vehicles under extreme use. The thing you might note the old gasket is designed to be a life time gasket it is hard material with ridged spacers in it where the bolts go so you can not over crimp the gasket. Your pan lip surface is flat and designed to accept the stiff rigged gasket, We find that 90 percent of the time when rubber gaskets are used on a flat lipped pan and you torque the bolts it distorted the bolt area of the pan and makes a wave in the pan causing leaks. Great video you did a good job!

Degreaser works well enough, but I have found just as good a result using oven cleaner from the dollar store. There are probably 32 reasons why that is a bad idea and I won't be surprised if someone points out a few of them. It still has worked well for me at a fraction of the price of degreaser from the auto part store.

GREAT VIDEO ON TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE. HOW OFTEN/MILES IS ONE SUPPOSE TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION FLUID? YOU ARE VERY, VERY TALENTED. YOU COULD HAVE YOUR OWN SHOP, PIPPI. YOUR PARENTS TAUGHT YOU WELL.

Hi Pippi, you did a great job explaining what you were going to be doing & why. I admire you for all the jobs you take upon yourself to do on your own. You are quite the young woman....a wonderful example to other young women. I loved seeing Chase...lol I even noticed his reflection on the RV before he came up to you. Gotta love our furbabies. Thanks for the video always wonderful seeing you. Have a great weekend, Stay Safe, Give Chase a hug from me and Happy Travels where ever you go and whatever you do!

I think your videos make simplify things to help people understand difficult task and help them see how it can be done. I am sure a mechanic would have charged you a fortune for that work.

Wow, well done Pippy, you were spot on in regard to cross torquing and gasket technique and you saved a lot of $

Nice job, showing good step by step procedure. Reminded me of a good cooking show. I almost thought your next step would be to “place the pan in the oven at 350 degrees”!! Good with the details also to proceed slowly and do your research before and stop and get answers if need be.

You are inspirational! A couple of safety tips to pass on: Always engage Ebrake before going below. Also, always have your keys in your pocket so no one can start and drive your vehicle while you are under it. I wish you would have kept the part where you top off the fluid just right, and maybe even show how to get some fluid out if you (I) get too much in? Check out sr14 in the Gorge next time you're home.

That RV is in good hands and well maintained. Thanks Pippi for sharing this.

Awesome Pippi !!! That analogy of the transmission was fantastic !! You make working on motor homes look easy!! ;-) Thank you for the video!! Righty Ro!

Great Job. What I normally do is empty my pan and replace with the exact same amount, drive it a day or two and then drain, remove the pan, replace filter, replace pan, refill. This way it gets a bit of a flush. Do this every couple years and you will not have any issue with your transmission. Much cheaper than getting a flush. Next time don't spread the liquid gasket, it will spread when you tighten the bolts and will get a better seal. A nice thick line around the pan and around each bolt. lucky for me mine uses a rubber gasket which doesn't require this step. Looks like you are almost ready for your great adventure.

good video. sometime the lip of the pan may be bent (sometimes just from taking it off). consider a straightedge to see if the pan lip is nice and straight. do not over tighten as this can also bend the pan lip.

I don't own an RV, but on all the vehicles I've owned, I think all of them tell you on the dipstick the type of transmission fluid to use. Give that a look-see on yours.

thanks, i'll check my transmission fluid tomorrow before i leave the campsite.

Pippi, I'm pretty sure the Original Gasket you removed was reusable, and is designed to be reused ,and if you don't reuse it you should purchase one that is designed the same way.The Original Gasket is Bonded it has a thin metal Piece in between the 2 layers of Rubber with dowels{Metal Torque Limiters} and allows the transmission Pan Bolts to only go so far when tightened down all the way to keep from warping the Pan,so you should check and see if that Original Gasket you removed is a reusable Gasket ?

your the best no matter what project your tackling, you have a great outlook on everything , keep the videos coming ! Pat

Pippi I just did this on our RV! I think you might not have removed the old rubber washer from the old filter. They kind of get stuck up there. You may have two there now. Just a FYI. Love your videos.

Kudos to you for tackling this project. Don, New Hampshire.

Hi Pippi, another great video. I finally got round to mailing you today so keep a look out for it as there's a donation inside.

Pippi, You are a Amazing Woman.

nice way of explaining transmission fluid in a simple term.

Awsome job but one thing you should explain is to also when your under the RV just take a look around and maybe you might see something wrong and before it gets worse you can maybe fix it and then keep from it breaking you down when your out on the road, also when you change the filter on the transmission check the fluid in the rearend it is a small plug that is easy to remove but does need to be checked. Thank You and keep posting

I've always been intimidated with changing the trans oil...not no more 👌 thank you heaps Pippi 🌞

Doing it yourself guarantees that it's done right. Good job.

The best way, is having a place (Jiffy Lube, etc) perform a Power Flush. It is done with the engine running......and changes out ALL the fluid from inside the transmission, torque converter, cooling lines, and the transmission cooler tank inside the radiator. I leave the pan and filter alone......since most of the filters I've changed, were just metal screens. As long as the pan is not leaking, I'd rather not mess with it.

So appreciate this well-rounded into to RVs.

you are such a talented girl, I can't believe someone hasn't grabbed you up yet 😀

Pippi you inspire people to give these tasks a try and that by itself just amazes me. I did not notice do you have a torque wrench so you could tell how many foot pounds of pressure to put on the bolts? Great job by the way.

just a few fyi's: the torque converter in the major culprit of heat in an automatic transmission. the sheering of the fluid, that builds the heat. 2. the material in the pan is the clutch material wearing down. not graphite. 3. it looks like you had a reusable pan gasket. much better than the cheap rubber ones they supply with the kit. the original have a metal core with a rubber shell. 4. the magnet catches metal not graphite. graphite is non ferrous. you may not know all the theory but you did the job right. awesome to see you get your hands dirty. good luck on your adventures.

Great job Pippi ! Thumbs up. ENJOY... THE SIMPLE LIFE

Sometimes the transmission fluid type will be listed on the dipstick. Great video!

Looks like a GM 4L80E transmission. Some of them came with a drain plug in the pan so you don't have to make a giant mess changing the fluid. Well done!

Well done. Thanks for the tip about Heritage Fleetwood

Good tutorial. Doing the job right takes patience.

That dipstick seems to go forever. Lol. I could imaging you taking it out for the first time and thinking where's the end? Lol.

Excellent information nicely illustrated under difficult conditions.

Hi Pippi. Thanks for showing us all this great info. Great video.

Not a ton of gears in autos yes in manuals are all gears, autos are mostly clutches upon clutchs

You NEED a complete Fluid flush. You have only changed a small fraction of your TF. Check your fluid again, it won't be bright cherry red unless there has been a flush. What's the latest on your Solar installation? I very much enjoy your channel.

HI pipí.I enjoy to see always positive.happy and beautyful .and you know to make hall.many winsdow

Very cool Pippi! You are an original. Thank you☺

It is the torque converter that creates the heat and clutches creat the dust from the fiber friction plates. Once saturated with oil it looks like a sludge.

Yo Pippi, when you were a kid did adults always grab you by the cheek and say "you have the cutest cheeks!" cuz I think they did!

Pippi, next time you have a large cardboard box, cut it into a flat pad and lay on the ground over the gravel. It really saves the knees and helps keep parts clean.

Great Job 👍 You go girl !!!! I'am soooooo proud of you. Thanks for the amazing veido. My Husband said your a doer, Very, very, good job..stay safe and take care Sweetie 🤗 Your Dog is soooo cute and you can tell your fur baby loves you 💞 Love your Videos 🤗Donner in Northern Nevada. 🍃🇺🇸🕊️🌎🕊️🍃 May you and you're, be bless, with good health and happiness, Today, Tommow and Always 💫

Great job Pippi! The one thing I would suggest is to buy 2 cans of brake clean. I've run out before towards the end of the job and having the second can handy takes some of the worry out of an already stressful job.

Appreciate your very informative videos always Pippi ::)))

You do a really good job explaining how to do this, you are very talented... thank you.

very important for long summer trips.

Awesome info. I'm a mechanic and you did a better job than i would.

man you good just about with everything if i wasn't so old i would ask you out

i love how you explain things. That said, i kinda cringed when i saw you spray the cleaner with your safety glasses off. Like i tell my wife: "You gotta protect those baby blues"

Pippi, you're so flippin' awesome! I really look forward to watching what you do next. Never a boring video. I wish you did more but your schedule is most important. Chase is looking quite comfortable and loves his mama. He was right there while you were chatting, needing a bit of attention. Blessings to you dear.

Clean ? It looks brand new , good job 👍

another great video to add to my maintenance folder, thanks very much,

Another well done and informative video. Always a pleasure to see a new video up from you,

That was a LOT of gasketmaker you applied Pippi. Don't think you need to be too concerned, as long as you torque-patterned and tightened the bolts to correct spec as you mentioned. But maybe keep an eye on things down there. Over-applying rtv can also have a detrimental effect and actually cause leaks ;) Awesome vid! What's next?

Well explained Pippi!!!

Those safety glasses will do a whole lot more good protecting your eyes. Good for while spraying brake cleaner and while upsized down under the vehicle.

Wow so proud of you Great job!!!

Pippi you are amazing!

You finally did it Pippi, remember a years ago we talked about you doing a video on this. Good job.

Go Pippi. I swear if I ever get an RV I bring it straight to you 😂😂😂😂 ( only kidding )

ur adorable Pippi keep up the good work

NICE JOB Thank-you for the demonstration . You are wonderful, are you still belly dancing?

Good work but you forgot the torque converter very important! The first option is if the torque converter has a drain plug and accessible, the second is the one that I prefer. Second option I had the fluid and filter changed again last week. The mechanic said my model does not have a drain for the torque converter. When I changed the fluid in the past, I would disconnect the transmission cooler lines under the radiator/grill area. Then I would run the engine in park or neutral till it would slow to a trickle. Then turn the engine off. Then I would remove the pan and drain the rest of the fluid. When I told the mechanic this, he told me not to do this anymore as it would damage the pump. In doing this, was I effectively removing the fluid from the torque converter? If not, is the torque converter at least being partly mixed and replenished with fresh fluid from the fluid changes over the years? About 40 % of the dirty fluid is in the torque converter, I hope this helps you.

Great video Pippi! Its awesome to see you doing your own work!