How to check ATF Level?

[asm]

I am trying to figuer out the proper way to check the ATF level.

I notice that there are 2 rang on the stick. Hot and Cold. I am assuming cold is for when the car is sit over night and not running. How is when the car has been driven for 20 min. and not running?

Please Correct me if I am wrong.

aSM

[95camguy]

you need to ckeck it with the motor running

[DFBonnett]

Originally Posted by asm

I am trying to figuer out the proper way to check the ATF level.

I notice that there are 2 rang on the stick. Hot and Cold. I am assuming cold is for when the car is sit over night and not running. How is when the car has been driven for 20 min. and not running?

Please Correct me if I am wrong.

aSM

Fully warmed up, on a level surface, in "Park", the ATF should be just about at the HOT mark.

[amerikim]

You can stir the gears by moving from D to R etc, before taking a read. I just check after a 15 minute drive on nice flat surface with engine running and fully warmed up. It should not go past the Hot mark,, drain some if it does. Do not overfill.
You can drain easily through the dipstick's hole. Make sure engine is off when you do this.

[asm]

Originally Posted by amerikim

You can stir the gears by moving from D to R etc, before taking a read. I just check after a 15 minute drive on nice flat surface with engine running and fully warmed up. It should not go past the Hot mark,, drain some if it does. Do not overfill.
You can drain easily through the dipstick's hole. Make sure engine is off when you do this.

You mean "drain easily through the drain hole," right?

aSM

[HeNry2kOoL]

Originally Posted by asm

You mean "drain easily through the drain hole," right?

aSM

I believe there's a hand pump you can buy that has a clear hose that you stick into the dipstick hole to pump fluid out.

[amerikim]

HeNry2kOol got it, $4.75 from car stores. I also use it for draining fluid resevoirs. Works like a soap dispenser pump.

It's much easier to adjust fluid level by just getting small amounts out through the dipstick's hole than going underneath and using the drain.

[mandyfig]

For those of you guys who flush the Trannies, I can oly drain 2 Quarts, so I was told to crank the engine to get 1 more quart out of the torque converter. This true? How safe is this. This is my mechanic who told me. Somewhere here, when flushing, do 3 times, 2 quarts at a time, every 20 miles and you would have flushed out the old ATF.

Suggestions welcome. Using good Tranny fluid is key to a long and useful transmission.

[88 LE]

Originally Posted by mandyfig

For those of you guys who flush the Trannies, I can oly drain 2 Quarts

What your doing is a drain and fill, not a flush.

You'll never be able to drain the fluid completely as theres fluid left in the torque converter.

Somewhere here, when flushing, do 3 times, 2 quarts at a time, every 20 miles and you would have flushed out the old ATF.

Well the new fluid is going to mix with the old fluid.

The sure way to get all the old fluid out is to do a flush. For this you need to take the car to a shop that has a tranny flush machine.

[mandyfig]

Tranny Flush machine....that's new....never heard of it....