tranny fluid level?
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2008
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tranny fluid level?
just got done changing my tranny oil (valvoline mercon V if your wandering) when i drove it around time to heat it up and checked it low for the hot range... but when i checked it dis morning cold its full...to add or not to add that is the question
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 10,977
Likes: 5
From: Lancaster, Pa.
I changed just the pan fluid when I did my VB because of no second set of hands but I,m having the same problem as you. I ran it up to temp and topped it off because it was showing a half quart low, then when it cooled of the fluid went way up the past the full mark, bugging the heck out of me, subscribing???
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,881
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From: Wake Forest, NC
Depending on the conditions it can expand, which is why there is a range. Very few transmissions are picky about being overfilled, and even those that are usually just puke it out on the ground. As long as it's in the range it should be fine. To be clear, you check it cold, running and it's higher than hot running?
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,739
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From: SE Florida
The cold reading is completely useless. They should never have put that on the dipstiick. Ignore the cold reading and only check it hot. Don't overfill, that can cause a lot of problems.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,881
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From: Wake Forest, NC
What kinds of problems and how much overfilled would it have to be?
Interesting how much things in the automotive world vary. Some of the GM FWD transmissions, 4t60, required overfilling because they would starve the pickup on aggressive cornering.
I would assume foaming and areation could lead to clutch apply issues or lube problems.
I've honestly never noticed much difference between hot and cold levels, so i'm not sure how much I buy into the amount it can expand. I know some trans dipsticks have quite a difference in the hot and cold marks though. IIRC, the 4r100 like on my truck is rather narrow, say 3/4 of an inch range.
Interesting how much things in the automotive world vary. Some of the GM FWD transmissions, 4t60, required overfilling because they would starve the pickup on aggressive cornering.
I would assume foaming and areation could lead to clutch apply issues or lube problems.
I've honestly never noticed much difference between hot and cold levels, so i'm not sure how much I buy into the amount it can expand. I know some trans dipsticks have quite a difference in the hot and cold marks though. IIRC, the 4r100 like on my truck is rather narrow, say 3/4 of an inch range.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,788
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From: Georgia
Mines the same. When I put the mag hytec pan on i never could get it right. Hot it was in range, cold it was well above the mark. That was about 120,000 miles and 3 fluid changes ago. I have a temp guage and the trannys never over heated. Sooo, as far as i can tell it's not been a problem.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Wake Forest, NC
i wonder if it has something to do with the bypass? Some how sucking up more fluid once it's warm?
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,881
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From: Wake Forest, NC
Hmm, I just realized I was thinking it was showing higher absolute when cold vs hot. Not higher than the cold mark when cold, but at the hot mark when hot. When servicing I'm most concerned with the highest mark on the stick, being the hot mark.