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When cold, the fluid level is at the top of the sight window between the min and max.
But when warm - started engine for 2-3 minutes, went to all the gears and left at neutral,
the fluid level is about a 1/4 inch below the lowest level of the sight widow.
Does this seem right? All the write ups I saw seem to be on the reverse of this - meaning
it should be at the lowest level on the sight window when cold and at the top when warm.
By cold, do you mean with the engine NOT running? Without the engine running, the fluid level will always appear high.
What you refer to as warm sounds like the cold level, engine running but fluid not warm. 2-3 minutes at idle does not get the fluid warm.
It takes a few miles at least after the engine is fully up to temp for the trans,
mission fluid to reach full operating temp, many (ten to twenty) in cooler outdoor temps
By cold, do you mean with the engine NOT running? Without the engine running, the fluid level will always appear high.
What you refer to as warm sounds like the cold level, engine running but fluid not warm. 2-3 minutes at idle does not get the fluid warm.
It takes a few miles at least after the engine is fully up to temp for the trans,
mission fluid to reach full operating temp, many (ten to twenty) in cooler outdoor temps
Yes, cold when engine is not running. I guess I'm confused on how to check trans fluid. :-)
Anyway, so should I take it off the stands, drive car until normal operating temp and then put it back on the stands to check correct fluid level?
Or could I just warm the engine up while on stands and on neutral or park?
Thanks.
Assuming your car is level on the stands, you should be able to start the car and let it run for a little bit, cycle it through the gears, and it should be at or near the lower "cold" level. From your first post, it sounds like you might be a little low. The level will rise as the temperature increases and at full operating temp be between the min and max mark.
Personally, when I change the transmission fluid I I let the car run for ~30 minutes and cycle it through the gears every once in a while for it to get to operating temp. Ideally a person would take the car for a spin and then check it, but that's a PITA when you're using lift bars and jack stands. About a week later I'll check it again with it at operating temp and sitting on the ground just to make sure all is good.
Assuming your car is level on the stands, you should be able to start the car and let it run for a little bit, cycle it through the gears, and it should be at or near the lower "cold" level. From your first post, it sounds like you might be a little low. The level will rise as the temperature increases and at full operating temp be between the min and max mark.
Personally, when I change the transmission fluid I I let the car run for ~30 minutes and cycle it through the gears every once in a while for it to get to operating temp. Ideally a person would take the car for a spin and then check it, but that's a PITA when you're using lift bars and jack stands. About a week later I'll check it again with it at operating temp and sitting on the ground just to make sure all is good.
The cold level doesn’t really tell much, other than if there is fluid in there.
Fluid warm should be between min and max, but you will need to drive it to get it to temp.
you can look through the fender well to check the level.
03-26-2020, 11:59 PM
Transmission fluid level - is this right?
