Checking ATF level question

[ycartf]

First of all let me say that I do know how you are supposed to check ATF - with the car on level ground in N or P and at operating temp.

My question is this.

After you have the level right by checking the way above, why couldn't you check the level sitting in your usual parking spot/position first thing the next morning (like an oil level check) before cranking it or anything. I have just been thinking about this and it seems like "whatever amount of fluid wherever" would be at that same level every time you had used the car, parked it in usual spot, and let sit overnight. I am just fishing for opinions on this as to whether or not it would be reliable. I am asking because I just get so many fewer opportunities to "properly" check the ATF as compared to oil/ps fluid/coolant/brake fluid since the above conditions have to be met to get that perfect check. Thanks for any info the community would like to share.

Tracy

[Dave's]

I'm not sure of this but I would think that if you were to mark the stick with that level then it would probably work. But the factory has to have a standard to go by. They can't guess how you're car will be parked. Also, the level will change as the fluild finds it's eventual final level after having been flowing thru the tranny.

[ycartf]

I fully agree with all you said - but for the individual - parking the same place/slope (5 degrees maybe) - and after several trips are made past any draining/filling of ATF - it seems to me that I can at least halfway rely on a "cold" measurement that would apply only to me on my car. I am trying to determine that on mine and so far it is a fairly consistent level. Thanks for the input.

[marc780]

You'd think they'd make em so you can check the level cold, but they dont. Maybe they simply can't, due to how the auto trans works. A cold ATf fluid measurement, with engine off will not be accurate - this information comes straight from the engineers that build the thing so i believe em.
It pertains to do with how the transmission pump circulates the fluid or something like that. The point is you don't want to be too low or too high because either condition can cause damage, so i check mine the right way - on the Camry it is supposed to be done with the engine and trans hot, and that means after driving at least 10 miles. Then you park the car, move the trans lever through each gear just for a couple seconds, ending in "Park". THEN check the level.
normally you should only need to do this once a month. If it is low, remember, the difference between the "add" and "full" mark on the stick means only add one PINT - NOT a whole quart!!!

[ycartf]

I know the right way and I do it the right way. But I had just wondered about "in between" doing it the troublesome way - while I am under the hood every couple of days glancing at everything else. Thanks for the input.

I also have a question about adding another ATF cooler basically consisting of the (copper I think) cooling tube dug out of an old radiator (had to replace my wife's radiator today). There is plenty of room on the driver's side of the front engine mount and even a couple of threaded holes in the crossmember where I could jimmy-rig a bracket to hold the cooling tube (now exposed to air instead of 180 degree coolant) and plumb it in on the return side of the existing ATF cooler on the new radiator. Would this work - make a difference - should I start another thread for this? Thanks to all.

[toyomoho]

There could be issues with the quantity of fluid drained back into the pan after engine shutoff and fluid expansion. The torque converter holds a lot of fluid, don’t know if drain back from this will very from shutoff, to shutoff. When filling some trans notice the amount of fluid to bring the level up to the right amount can be very small say 4-6 ounces. Given these trans can hold 5-6 quarts, this is not a lot fluid to make a noticeable change in dipstick reading.

The issue with the cooler would be the line size, a size that does not restrict oil flow. You would need to add cooling fins to the tubing to get any cooling.

[marc780]

I know the right way and I do it the right way. But I had just wondered about "in between" doing it the troublesome way - while I am under the hood every couple of days glancing at everything else. Thanks for the input.

Under normal conditions i only do a serious level check once a month. If nothing is wrong the level wont have changed. Once in a while in between i might pull the dipstick to make sure it has fluid ON IT - close enough.

I also have a question about adding another ATF cooler basically consisting of the (copper I think) cooling tube dug out of an old radiator (had to replace my wife's radiator today).

A proper ATF cooler isnt very expensive. Also it has to be in the airflow - the usual place is on the front of the radiator - or its probably not going to be of much use in cooling the fluid.
Kraegen has some decent ones for l$20- $48, im sure you could find it cheaper. I bought mine at a swap meet for $10.



The important thing to remember is that the tubing must be routed properly to get maximum cooling, or there's no point to doing it. Route it like this:
Fluid flow= from trans->into stock cooler-> out of stock cooler->into Add on cooler->then back into trans. You can figure out which hose is the outlet from trans by disconnecting the cooler hoses, place two pans to catch fluid, then run the engine for a few seconds and watch which hose the fluid shoots out of-
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductL...d-On%2cNot+O.E.)