Engine on or off to check transmission fluid?

[PatrixUSA]

96 Toyota Camry SE V6. Engine on or off to check transmission fluid?

The reason I ask is because I just had an oil and filter change at the dealership. Vehicle has been off for over 3 hours. Decided to check fluid levels. Checking the transmission dipstick with the engine off, the fluid level is at the HOT mark. Fluid is not hot to the touch. Has the transmission been overfilled? Does the engine need to be running when checking the transmission fluid?

Thanks for all input.
PatrixUSA

[nodrogkam]

welcome.

well here's whats up, the tranny fluid really doesnt expand or contract as much as manuals state. I've been confused at how the fluid level is always above the hot line for all our cars, including brand new ones. Checking with the engine on is what they tell us to do, but it makes little or no difference. not even if the car has sat for days or has just been driven on a long trip.

My haynes manual has told me when i do a drain and fill to only fill up to the cold line, but upon asking my mechanic he says its fine as long as its between cold and hot. I noticed that keeping the level just below the hot level makes my transmission shift the smoothest.

I've discussed this topic quite a bit and got many varying opinions etc...all i can say is that as long as the fluid is between hot and cold, its fine.

[touringcamry]

The recommended way to check the fluid with the engine warmed up, running, and on a flat surface. My guess is because the fluid circulates when the engine runs and is warmed up and drains back into the pan afterwards.

[PatrixUSA]

Thanks for the reply nodrogkam.


I would think when the engine is running, fluid would be circulating through the transmission and therefore the dipstick would reflect a different fluid level. Does this make sense? I guess I'm really asking if the COOL mark on the dipstick is meant to reflect where the fluid level should be when the engine is running but still COOL or when engine if off and the transmission is COOL. I guess the best way to test this is to start the enigne and recheck, heh?

Mainly, I want to make sure it hasn't been overfilled.

Thanks for the further info touringcamry, I think I'll start the engine and recheck cold and after warmup to see where level is at both temps.


Thanks.

[nodrogkam]

i totally understand your question.
Cool means engine off, car is cool. My Haynes repair manual states that i should only refill the fluid up to the cool level after i've drained it. Therefore that level reflects the level of fluid when cold. Supposedly it expands after the car has been driven and it will reach the HOT level. I have not found this to be true.
I have found that once i let the car sit for a few days the level rises when i check it (cold, no start, no driving). I supposed this is because all the fluid from within the tranny has dripped down to the bottom of the pan. My fluid level always stays within the HOT zone.

[touringcamry]

I'm really confused now because I just remember that the hot marks are higher than the cold marks...My current car does not have a dip stick for the transmission...So I haven't seen one in a while.

[GaryS]

I have always used the Cool fill mark as a temporary mark so that you have a measurement after draining the ATF out of the pan. Once you fill to the cool mark, drive the car until the engine is warmed up along with the transmission. Ten miles ought to do it. Then, with the car parked on a level surface, engine running, pull the stick out, wipe it off and reinsert. Pull it out to check the level. Fill slowly until the Hot mark shows full. Any other way will give an inaccurate reading. The odd thing about auto trannys is overfilling can do damage almost as bad as underfilling.

Go with what the manufacturer says, not rumor, not someone else's technique, not what your uncle Elmo says!

[nodrogkam]

^ totally correct. I didnt know about filling it to hot after driving it around but that gives it more accurate measurement.
So is what you're doing what the 'manufacturer says'?

touring - the hot mark is higher than the cold mark by about an inch. your camry doesnt have a dipstick for the tranny? thats hard to believe. is the hole plugged by a rag or something?

[Axel Kain]

just to snub all this useless babbling....
start car, allow it to warm up, cycle through all gears(while sitting still, on the brake) then put it in park, check trans fluid at hot, if its full then, then take it back to dealer saying its too full.

its so simple, yet highly misunderstood. cool means a cool engine, but running, after you have cycled through the gears. check fluid...

the transmission actually pumps the fluid through the entire system, using the fluid to cool, lubricate, actuate, and engauge internal parts. so the proper amount is critical.

[Heat]

Originally Posted by Axel Kain

... its so simple, yet highly misunderstood. cool means a cool engine, but running, after you have cycled through the gears...

There was a time when I would have agreed with you, but per page AX1-54 of the automatic transmission section of the repair manual:

http://www.**********s.com/camry/ax1.pdf

"Only use the COOL range of the dipstick as a rough reference when the fluid is replaced or the engine does not run."

So, Cool means engine off but is only a rough estimate. Don't use it under normal circumstances, use the Hot range with a warm or hot engine.

[nodrogkam]

if anyone is going to buy a new car, could they check the tranny fluid before they test drive?
cos as far as i can remember, our brand new HL came with fluid over the hot line even when cold. Also all of our cars after transmission fluid service /flush or drain/fill, have always come back with fluid over hot line.

must be a reason for it. i asked my mechanic and he said thats how it is. my haynes disagrees...sigh.

[touringcamry]

Originally Posted by nodrogkam

touring - the hot mark is higher than the cold mark by about an inch. your camry doesnt have a dipstick for the tranny? thats hard to believe. is the hole plugged by a rag or something?

To check the level on my transmission, I take the fill plug off and the oil should be at the bottom of that hole.

[nodrogkam]

i forgot about that hole...i'll take it out when im on a level surface (although i have to jack or ramp the car...and see if any leaks out.

[zq_frank]

Originally Posted by nodrogkam

if anyone is going to buy a new car, could they check the tranny fluid before they test drive?
cos as far as i can remember, our brand new HL came with fluid over the hot line even when cold. Also all of our cars after transmission fluid service /flush or drain/fill, have always come back with fluid over hot line.

must be a reason for it. i asked my mechanic and he said thats how it is. my haynes disagrees...sigh.

Are you the only guy telling the truth here? I have a 1999 camry XLE v6, and have exact same situation here. I did transmission flush 2 year ago, the fluid level is much higher than the top of the high mark under the normal temperature. I was confused, but no problem with my transmission. So I just let it go for 2 years.
I changed transmission fluid a few days ago at the same dealership, the fluid level was just right, but I can feel the transmission is not as smooth as before, especially on the highway, I can feel the car is less power and hard to accelerate. I went back to the dealer, they told me and showed me the fluid level is correct. No matter they said, I bought a bottle same type of fluid and added in, the transmission is smooth like silk right after, all the problems have gone. So who is right, which one is correct. I really doubted. Is this a bug from Toyota, some mechanic know, but some don't. It seems you have to overfill the fluid, at least for this model.