all of a sudden too much tranny oil

[flo]

hi there, i had just changed the oil and oil filter of my transmission. The fluid level was marking correctly.
Now when i check in cold the oil bar goes all the way up to the hot measuring area on the measuring stick, but it used to mark correct when i put in the new oil.

Where did this oil come from, is it not getting to the other parts of the transmission aka not circulating properly, and its just stuck in the oil pan ?

thanks for any help

[gdanaher]

Start the car and drive it awhile. Make sure the oil is up to operating temperature. Pull the dip stick, dry it, reinsert and pull to check the actual level. If it is above the full mark, drain some off. There is no hidden reservoir of oil anywhere. Perhaps you didn't measure correctly the first time, but the dip stick is there for a reason. Consider using it.

[flo]

i have driven there car and checked at several intervals, cold, warm hot, burning.

i was now told by a mechanic that the car has to be running to measure it, is that true, in the great toyota manual it doesn't even mention it.

i have a 2002 camry V6, thnks for any help

[gdanaher]

I've been around longer than most of you and can't think of an AT whose fluid is measured with the engine off, but there might be an exception. Sometimes, things just seem to be common knowledge, like what direction to turn a right-handed nut.

[njerald]

Originally Posted by flo

i have driven there car and checked at several intervals, cold, warm hot, burning.

i was now told by a mechanic that the car has to be running to measure it, is that true, in the great toyota manual it doesn't even mention it.

i have a 2002 camry V6, thnks for any help

Good god.................simply amazing.

1. CHECK FLUID LEVEL

[LEFT]HINT:
Drive the vehicle so that the engine and transaxle are at normal operating temperature. Fluid temperature: 70 – 80 °C (158 – 176 °F)

(a) Park the vehicle on a level surface and set the parking brake.
(b) With the engine idling and the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift lever into all positions from P to L position and return to P position.
(c) Take out the dipstick and wipe it clean.
(d) Put it back fully into the pipe.

(e) Take it out and check that the fluid level is in the HOT position

[AlmightyCamry777]

I have your car. The ATF level does tend to move around a lot even if everything's ok. The only accurate way is exactly how njerald says, transmission hot parked on a level surface, engine running.

You just changed the ATF it is hard to check the level right after you change it because the new fluid takes so long to run all the way down the tube. But since its been some time you should now be getting accurate readings, the "cold" reading is not to be relied upon because it too is all over the place, the accurate one is the hot reading.
You sort of have to measure it a few times to get a consensus as it were.

I have found that if the fluid is simply drained, with no filter change, this transmission requires exactly 3 quarts of TIV (you did use TIV or equivalent fluid right?)

[flo]

now after this, i definitely recommend a filter change every once in awhile, because this is what caused my transmission problems in the first place.
my filter was very dirty, i used to drive on a super dusty dirt road for about a year on a daily basis, maybe some dust got in there somwhow.

it is easy to do yourself, drain the oil, remove the about 20 srews from the pan and the filter is right there, it is fixed with 3 screws and comes out very easy.

[JohnGD]

That would be great if a plugged filter alone is the reason for the problems.

Yes, except in Hondas and maybe some European makes, most automatic transmissions require that you run the engine (preferably at normal operating temp or even a specific temperature range on later ones), shifted through all gears so that the fluid circuits in the valve body can fill up, and then check. Of course, parking brake and necessary safety precautions.

Originally Posted by flo

now after this, i definitely recommend a filter change every once in awhile, because this is what caused my transmission problems in the first place.
my filter was very dirty, i used to drive on a super dusty dirt road for about a year on a daily basis, maybe some dust got in there somwhow.

it is easy to do yourself, drain the oil, remove the about 20 srews from the pan and the filter is right there, it is fixed with 3 screws and comes out very easy.