I want to do my trans drain and fill myself. If I drive my front end up on ramps will the 3 quarts drain completely or is that a bad angle?

 

the car needs to be flat to FILL.

 

You can use the ramps, just measure what has drained out and refill with like amount.

 

With my 03 TLS , I have found that draining the transmission fluid, while my front wheels are UP ON RAMPS, will NOT allow a full 3 quart drain, more like 2.25 to 2.50 quarts. When I elevate the front end, just enough (2-3 inches), to squeeze under the car and remove the drain plug, very close to 3 quarts drain out. To make sure I replace the same amount i drained out, I use empty, dry, 1/2 gallon plastic milk containers to compare what comes out, to how much i put back in. This process is especially useful, when you start with the transmission filled to the Correct Level. For me, it's difficult, and very time consuming, to adjust the fluid level, when you find it's Over or Under filled.

 

do we need torque specs when draining and tightening? Or can we just hand tighten and loosen?

 

also couldnt we use a jack on the rear once the car is on the ramps or stands to make it level for full drainage?

 

Yup, depending on the height of the ramps, you'll need a jack that goes high enough.
Just be cautious as the jack or car needs to be able to move when lifting. Either the car will come back, hopefully not off the flat part of the ramp, or the jack will need to roll forward if the car is in park.

 

I had to refill almost 4 quarts.

 

2003 TLS, Drain and refill on ramps, yields almost 2.5 quarts, from my cars transmission. Drain and refill, with car level, yields almost exactly 3 quarts every time. I always measure what comes out anyway, because, for me, it's such a pain to adjust the level, after the fact. For me, it's difficult to read the oil level on the stick. To make the stick easier to read, I painted the bottom three inches of the stick, with black, oil resistant paint, which makes it very easy to read.