Dangerm

I don't seem to have any visible min or max levels on the transmission plastic reservoir - can someone please give me an idea of where they are ? ie is the max half way up the plastic?

Ben

Having the fluid half way up on mine causes the pump to whine. I generally aim for the flange in the tank.
I have this pita leak that I cant tell where its coming from grrrr. I'll have a look at the breather pipe that PorKen mentions in another thread.

Ben

Lol, I just had to double take your user name, I thought our friend danglerb was back.

Tails

Dangerm,

To allow us to help and give you guidance could you please advise model, year of manufacture and whether auto or manual, as there are different reservoirs fitted to different model auto boxes.

Tails 1990 928 S4 Auto

John Struthers

Pssst.
Over here...
For about $25.00 the Big 3 will sell you that top secret information concerning
the tranny/fluid levels/reservior marks....
Owners Manual!
It's a real handy little publication with Pics, diagrams, fuse charts.
Not the WSM's mind you but real handy.

Dangerm

Ive got a 1982 Euro with an auto. My owners manual doesn't help me at all with this one unfortunately....

Tails

Dangerm,

I have referred to the WSM and on page 38-27, which was printed in June 1982, so I'm assuming it is the reservoir fitted to your 3 speed auto transmission.

The reservoir is a cylinderical in shape with the nylon cap nut fitted to the pipe connected to the pan on the forward side of the reservoir. The slightly opaque cylinder(so you can see the ATF level) has the filling cap on the top and the overflow/vent pipe connected just under the cap on the forward side also. The reservoir has steel sheet rectangular cover (two sides of the rectangle) one side at the back of the reservoir, one at the base of the reservoir (which holds the pipe connecting the reservoir to the auto pan) and one side on the outboard side of the reservoir.

Is this what your reservoir looks like?

If so, then the the outboard side of this steel cover has a recessed square gap cut into its forward side, in the middle and it has another recess cut into cover at the bottom forward side just adjacent to the nylon cap sealing nut There is an "O" ring inside the cap nut which fits over the pipe and seals the pipe to the reservoir.

These recesses are in actual fact the level marks for the reservoir. the top of the recess in the middle is level 1, the bottom of the middle recess is level 2 and the top of the bottom recess is level 3.

Level 1 is the Maximum level when the auto transmission is hot (80 degrees C or 176 degrees F)
Level 2 is the minimum level when the auto transmission is hot (80 degrees C)
Level 3 is the maximum level when the auto transmission is cold (20 to 30 degrees C or 68 to 86 degrees F)

All of these levels are taken when the engine is running with the auto in "N" and the car on a flat level surface.

Porsche Note:

ATF level in the transmission will change with any change in ATF temperature. Max and min marks on tank are in reference to an ATF temperature of 80 degrees C. At a temperature of 20 to 30 degrees C on the other hand, the maximum ATF level will be approximately 30mm below the min centre mark (level 3). This information is important for replacing ATF, which normally takes place at this temperature (cold).

Tails 1990 928S4 Auto

88 Shark

The marks are on the forward side of the reservoir. On the side facing the front of the car. I had to look for a while till I stumbled on this fact.

Dangerm

That's brilliant - thanks for your help!

paalw

Is this true for when the car is in N and engine running (in other words, just started up from cold state)? Or is is true for a non running engine, in a 20-30 degree C environment? Or will they both be the same?

I have just changed oil/filter/gasket in 4-speed auto. Trying to find the correct level while still up in the air. Is that possible, or do I have to drive it a bit before everything stabilizes? I guess the oil in the transmission will not heat up just by starting engine while still in the air?

FredR

The ATF level in a static auto box is false in that the ATF runs out of the torque converter or so I understand. Thus the oil level has to be checked with the engine running and the lever having been run through the range of movements a couple of times or whatever. Thus there are 3 levels shown on the back of the plastic tank sight gauge- the lowest mark is to give the mechanic something to aim for when filling with cold ATF. Then the next level is where the ATF level should be as a minimum when hot and the highest level is the maximum fill level when hot and all have to be met with the engine running.