Someone told me today that you should never ever turn an automatic transmission upside down (pan facing up) to service it. He couldn't provide a good reason why. It was just something he "heard". Maybe I am just in the dark.. Anyone else ever heard this? Reason?

 

I've never heard that one. I see pictures of transmissions being serviced upside down all the time.

 

I heard the Earth was flat once; doesn't seem to have affected the Earth much. Maybe the Earth isn't listening?

Ignore it. And since that person is obviously an idiot (or at least, is deeply inexperienced with working on cars, but wants to appear knowledgeable but lacks enough common sense to keep their mouth shut instead of exposing their ignorance for all to hear), ignore whatever else they have to say about cars, as well. Don't even bother arguing or trying to "tell" them differently. Just acknowledge their comment in a kindly manner, stifle your laughter, and move on.

Never argue with an idiot; they will drag you down to their level, and beat you with their greater experience there.

 

Don't turn it upside sown when it's still full of oil. Once you drain the oil, you can work on it any way you want.

Typically it's upside down to do the valve body and it's stood up vertically to do the internal rotating assembly stuff. I usually drop it into a 60L can when I'm putting the clutches and stuff into them.

 

We have them upside down everyday when we build them. its is a little messy if they are full of fluid though

 

That's what I thought.. I was talking to this "expert" (ehum) and mentioning that I will be installing my TCI torque converter lock-up kit in my 700R4. Since it is out of the car I was saying that it would be nice to be able just to lay it sideways and drop the pan. That's when I received this "tip." I thought it was bogus, but I thought I would ask..

 

It's usually easier to install the check ***** in the valve body when it's upside down. The easiest way to do it while still in the car is to use petroleum jelly to hold the ***** in place.

 

I would totally agree with not turning the tranny upside down to service it....... ONLY IF !!!! ITS STILL IN THE CAR .........LMAO...sorry i had too... =)

 

ya that might be hell on the paint job

 

Is it wrong that I giggled when I read this?

 

Installing my DIY lock up kit after rebuilding, I discovered that my new lock up solenoid only works upside up. Won’t click if the trans is not upright.

 

Don't flip a transmission, huh?

Well I also heard people in Australia have to mount their tires the other way around because they're in the southern hemisphere where things spin the other way.

 

I also heard that using headlights in daytime is useless because everybody knows you can't see light unless it is dark.

 

Even though this is an ancient thread (2008) , , , I'll put my two cents worth in to verify that this 700R4 (that was upside down in 2012) is still going strong today

 

This guy turned his transmission upside down and it did not work out well.

 

Yeah you're supposed to keep your transmission shiny side up and rubber side down.

 

I'll accept that reason.