Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

So in response to transmission problems I'm trying to replace my ATF (its at about 40'000km). I want to remove the oil pan to clean the filter and pan (if necessary) but of course there is a cross member in the way of 3 of the pan bolts. This cross member supports the transmissions weight. Can I take this cross member off to get to the oil pan bolts? Or would the unsupported weight of the transmission cause itself damage?

If I can take the pan off I'd like to empty the oil cooler as well. The metallic lines leaving the transmission are the oil feed and return lines, but I cant sort out which is which. The drawings from the shop manual differ from what I see. There is a line leaving the transmission the right side (beside the transmission model number label) and another which leaves more towards the front of the transmission and does a 90 degree bend upwards there.

I'm tempted to just go to a shop to have this done. The model number label says "Aisin AW 30-40LE" which is apparently a super common transmission. On the other hand i'd like to be able to do this myself, I've already bought the oil (Valvoline MaxLife Dex II III IV equivalent) and I have a hard time trusting mechanics.

Also, based on Canadian Tire expertise I'm not bothering with a gasket - the mechanic there said it would be fine to use a gasket maker / sealant - he claimed most shops dont even bother with gaskets anymore...

No real need to drop the pan off the transmission in order to clean the 'filter' - it's a reasonably large mesh that isn't catching fine debris, more like chunks.

Best way to change the transmission fluid in your driveway: drain out what comes out before dribbling (full flow to not quite dribbling); put the plug back in; top up what you drained out (3 litres in for 3 litres drained); drive around the block a couple of times; repeat procedure until drained fluid is no longer coffee-coloured (this is usually about 3 sometimes 4 times).

Or, you could go to some of the quick lubes and have them do it, but they'll need to know the amount of fluid and the type (I don't remember while I'm sitting here banging away on the keys, would have to go look them up). Some will do it, others will not for the same liability issues as cited elsewhere regarding the nature of those shops.

No need for a 'back-flush' because the way the fluid moves around inside the transmission it's supposed to flush gunk downwards into the pan anyway. And if you've got more gunk than fluid, it's a take-the-tranny-apart-to-see-what's-really-wrong kind of an ordeal anyway.