I am going to service my tranny soon with a fluid and filter change, iwould also like to change the fluid in the torque converter. Does anyone know if this is possible without removing the converter? I know some torque converters have drain plugs ,but I 'm not sure about the48RE.

 

I did nine last year with DTR help. I pulled the pan, replaced the filter, and filled the pan. Then remove the line at the rear on the transmission. I have read several ideas about how to catch the fluid but I did mine in the field with a bucket, glad I did it goes everywhere. Attach a hose / bucket under the line, have someone dumpin new fluid in, start the truck, I put mine in neutral and the fluid was pumped out in what seemed like 30 seconds, as soon as I saw the flow cough I shut it off. I think the system holds 14 quarts, I put 13 in to fill it up so I was happy with the results.

Do a quick search and you can find more info.

 

A big pan under the tranny to catch the ATF. Loosen all the pan bolts and carefully lower the pan down while ATF is spilling everywhere. (It's the worst part of the job.) Drop the old filter out and install the new filter. Re-install the pan using a new gasket. The pan holds about 4-qts, so put 4-qts of fresh ATF+4 down the filler tube. Disconnect the oil cooler line from the rear of the tranny. This is the line that returns the oil back to the pan after it goes through the cooler. Put a 5/8" ID hose over the end of the dis-connected line and clamp it to the steel line. The other end of the hose is to be placed into a bucket that will hold a couple of gallons. Start the engine and shift into neutral to start the oil pumping into the bucket. (The tranny will not pump oil while in park, has to be in gear or neutral.) Pump 1-gal into bucket and shut the engine off, add 4 more qts of AFT and pump out another gallon. Add 4 more qts and pump another gallon. Now you have exchanged 3-gallons (12-qts). Add 2-qts and pump out 2-qts and you have exchanged the entire capacity of the system (14-qts). While you are pumping oil out of tranny be sure to shift through the entire range of the tranny to get all the old fluid out of the valve body. Check the fluid level and add if necessary. This method flushes the torque converter.

 

If you work on cars whether it be at work or home a MITYVAC 07400 is well worth the money. I make ZERO mess when dropping trans pans. I used too....but not since purchasing a fluid evacuator. Remember when overfilling a trans was a serious pain? ....this covers that too.