Another Transmission fluid level thread.

[clodbuster]

I did a transmission filter change on my 98 2.2 (a140e) and I have a fluid level situation I’m not sure about. I added about 2.5 qts after replacing the filter and pan, drove around a bit to get everything up to normal operating temperature. When I checked the level it was barely showing on the dip stick so, I added some more and drove some more. I did this until I got the level between the two notches in the hot range on the dip stick.
Now the deal is, by the time I got it to this level, with the transmission hot, checking with the engine running, I had added a total of about 3.5 qts. I checked the level several times over a couple days in the same manner with the same results. But when I check the level cold (overnight) the level shows a little over the hot range. Instead of going down it is going up.
Any thoughts on this?

[islandboy57]

From what I understand, checking the transmission fluid level is a bit tricky compared to say, checking your oil level. What does your owner's manual say you need on a drain/refill?

I just drained everything out and refilled what my owner's manual said. It comes right up to the hot level after I've been driving for a while and it's right at the cold mark when I've just started the car. (This is on my gen 5.5 by the way - gotta do the gen 3.5 soon)

[Kep]

You check your transmission fluid with the engine running and the fluid hot. Right before you check the fluid shift the transmission through all of the gears. If you drained out 2.5 quarts you should need 2.5 quarts. However, if you drained out less than that you may have been low on fluid before you started and now you are having to top it off.

Kep

[clodbuster]

Originally Posted by Kep

You check your transmission fluid with the engine running and the fluid hot. Right before you check the fluid shift the transmission through all of the gears. If you drained out 2.5 quarts you should need 2.5 quarts. However, if you drained out less than that you may have been low on fluid before you started and now you are having to top it off.

Kep

The above is exactly what I did. I did not measure what I drained out, I had already poured it into my collecting drum that I use for proper disposal when I realized the reading was not what it was supposed to be. I just went with the 2.5 qts. that I had read here and from what I was told at the auto parts.

[wtftoy]

Start car, let it warm up and at normal idle. Shift through all the gears(let the gears engage then go to the next). I read somewhere on here that the level should then be at the Cold mark...I might be wrong, I'll double check somewhere.

[islandboy57]

Originally Posted by aenties

Start car, let it warm up and at normal idle. Shift through all the gears(let the gears engage then go to the next). I read somewhere on here that the level should then be at the Cold mark...I might be wrong, I'll double check somewhere.

Mine was in between cold and hot (right after changing it, didn't drive it yet). I thought I read somewhere that's fine. I checked it with the engine running and as you said, after I've cycled through all the gears once or twice.

[Mike Gerber]

"Right before you check the fluid shift the transmission through all of the gears."

Exactly. Warm up the car by driving it. Then park on a level surface and go through all the gears starting with LOW. Count to 2 and them move to the next gear. Go all the way up to PARK in this manner and then do the same thing going back down to LOW. Now shift back to PARK, leave the engine running and check the trans fluid.

Mike