Transmission Flush

Drain and replace automatic transmission fluid and filter on the 1992 Dodge Viper's A-518 4-speed automatic transmission, restoring proper fluid condition and system performance.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Automatic transmission filter × 1 — Mopar 4606522 or equivalent for A-518
• Transmission pan gasket × 1 — Mopar 4606524 or equivalent cork/rubber gasket
• Transmission drain plug crush washer (if equipped) × 1 — Use OEM specification

Fluids

• ATF+3 automatic transmission fluid (Mopar specification) — 5.5 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake.
2. Allow transmission to cool completely if vehicle has been driven recently (minimum 2 hours).
3. Raise front of vehicle using floor jack at designated front lift point, then support on jack stands at reinforced chassis locations behind front wheels.
4. Raise rear of vehicle at differential housing and support on jack stands at rear suspension crossmember or trailing arm mount points.
5. Verify vehicle is stable on all four jack stands before working underneath.
6. Prepare drain pan and position under transmission pan area.

Procedure

1. 1

   Drain transmission fluid
   Position drain pan under transmission oil pan. If equipped with a drain plug, remove the plug using appropriate socket and allow fluid to drain completely. If no drain plug is present, proceed to loosening pan bolts in step 2. Once drained, if drain plug was removed, install new crush washer on plug and reinstall plug finger-tight (will be torqued after pan service).
2. 2

   Remove transmission pan bolts
   Locate all transmission pan bolts around the perimeter. Beginning at one corner, loosen (but do not remove) all pan bolts in a criss-cross pattern. Once all bolts are loose, carefully remove all but two bolts at opposite corners. Gently pry the pan loose at one corner using a flathead screwdriver to break the gasket seal, allowing remaining fluid to drain into pan. Support the transmission pan by hand, remove final two bolts, and lower pan carefully to avoid spilling residual fluid.
3. 3

   Remove and inspect transmission filter
   Locate the transmission filter attached to the valve body inside the transmission. The filter is secured by 3 bolts. Remove these bolts and carefully pull the filter straight down and out of the transmission. Inspect the old filter for metal particles or excessive debris, which may indicate internal transmission wear. Check the filter pickup tube O-ring or seal and discard old filter.
4. 4

   Clean transmission pan and mating surfaces
   Thoroughly clean the inside of the transmission pan, removing all old fluid, debris, and metal particles. Inspect pan for cracks or damage. Use plastic gasket scraper to carefully remove all old gasket material from both the pan mating surface and the transmission case mating surface. Ensure both surfaces are completely clean and dry with no gasket residue remaining. Inspect pan magnet (if equipped) and clean thoroughly.
5. 5

   Install new transmission filter
   Install new O-ring or seal on the new filter pickup tube if supplied separately. Align new filter with valve body mounting holes and push filter pickup tube into transmission bore until fully seated. Install the 3 filter mounting bolts and tighten evenly in a criss-cross pattern to secure filter to valve body.
6. 6

   Install new gasket and transmission pan
   Position new transmission pan gasket on the pan, ensuring all bolt holes align correctly. Some gaskets are reusable rubber with integrated bolt grommets; others are cork and may require gasket adhesive for positioning. Carefully lift pan into position against transmission case, aligning gasket and all bolt holes. Start all pan bolts by hand to ensure proper thread engagement.
7. 7

   Torque transmission pan bolts
   Tighten all transmission pan bolts in a criss-cross pattern, working from center outward. Torque all bolts evenly to specification. Do not overtighten, as this can distort the pan and cause leaks.
8. 8

   Torque drain plug (if equipped)
   If vehicle is equipped with transmission drain plug and it was loosened in step 1, verify new crush washer is installed and torque drain plug to specification.
9. 9

   Refill transmission with fluid
   Locate transmission dipstick tube on passenger side of engine bay. Remove dipstick and insert transmission fluid pump or long-neck funnel with extension hose. Add 4.5 quarts of ATF+4 transmission fluid initially. This is a conservative starting amount for the A-518 transmission after pan service.
10. 10

    Check and adjust fluid level
    With vehicle still on jack stands and transmission in Park, start engine and allow to idle. With engine running, shift transmission through all gear positions (P-R-N-D-2-1), pausing 2-3 seconds in each position, then return to Park. Check fluid level on dipstick with engine running and transmission at operating temperature. Fluid should read in the 'COLD' range initially. Add additional fluid in 0.5-quart increments as needed to reach proper level. Do not overfill.
11. 11

    Lower vehicle and perform final fluid check
    Shut off engine. Lower vehicle from jack stands to ground level. Start engine and allow transmission to reach normal operating temperature (approximately 5-10 minutes of idling or short test drive). With vehicle on level ground, engine running, and transmission in Park, check fluid level on dipstick. Fluid should now read in the 'HOT' range between ADD and FULL marks. Add fluid as necessary to reach proper level. Inspect under vehicle for any leaks around transmission pan and drain plug.

Reassembly

1. Reassembly is completed during the procedure as pan and components are reinstalled.
2. Ensure all fasteners are torqued to specification and no tools or materials are left in work area.
3. Dispose of used transmission fluid and filter according to local environmental regulations.

Verification

• Start engine and verify no leaks are present around transmission pan, drain plug, or filter area.
• With engine at operating temperature and running, verify fluid level reads in 'HOT' range on dipstick with transmission in Park.
• Test drive vehicle through all gears, verifying smooth shifts and normal transmission operation.
• After test drive, re-check fluid level and inspect for leaks one final time.
• Monitor fluid condition and level at regular intervals over next few days to ensure no developing leaks.

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