Thread: trans fluid level

This is a very noobish question, but a question a lot of experts I imagine forget as well. when checking the trans fluid level when it reaches operating temps, are u suppose to check with the motor ON or OFF?
edit-reason i ask is because after a while of driving, or when the trans is above 195*F if i come to a complete stop really quick, ie-stop light, once i let off the brakes, usually the car will coast on its own at idle on a flat road, but in some instances the car wont shift into 1st gear and if i apply some gas, even less than 1000RPMs it'll catch/buckle and off i go. then usually the 2nd-3rd gear would also be sloppy and long. usually just cruising less than 10% throttle 2nd shifts into 3rd around 35mph, but certain times, usually right after the first instance of 1st catching late, 2nd gear would not shift to 3rd on the dot til like 40-43mph at like 2100RPMs.
i checked the trans fluid with car running and made certain the fluid level was within the cross-section. just wondering if the hard stopping may have pushed fluid forward and away frm 1st and prolly second gear when i start going again? also i do NOT get any codes

You should check your fluid with the motor running, trans fluid/trans warmed up and Ive always been taught it was best to check right after you have drove for a bit as the trans has shifted through the gears up and down. If this is not possible then I just start the motor up, let it idle for a couple minutes then I will shift it manually through the gears holding each gear for 3 - 5 seconds up and down.

Id be interested in hearing Trannysman input he always seems to knacks for doing things in a much better and more efficient way.

ic, but would it cause lack of fluid to be transferred away from the 1st gear as well as 2nd gear under hard or moderate braking to a complete stop when applying throttle again to initiate 1st gear or is this something else happening?

Originally Posted by fst

ic, but would it cause lack of fluid to be transferred away from the 1st gear as well as 2nd gear under hard or moderate braking to a complete stop when applying throttle again to initiate 1st gear or is this something else happening?

I can't imagine that happening. Tranny fluid is very fluid, and will flow very easily. If it was gear oil in there, that might be the case. But tranny fluid flow so well, I can't see hard braking causing any issues in the tranny when you take off a couple seconds later.

But what do I know.

What Scotty mentioned above is the correct way to check. The fluid sloshing around is only going to change things for that split second and all settles in the pan as the car levels out. I always suggest having the fluid level at LEAST to the full line after warmed up. Just below is also fine but I tend to run them a tick over full. You dont want it much over full as this can create the fluid to get whipped up pretty bad in the geartrain when moving down the road and cause a lot of bubbles to form. All in all, the car MUST be running when you check the fluid level.

thanks guys, i'll double-check the fluid level with the car running after driving it. i did check the fluid level as you guys specified, but i'll add more fluid closer to the full line but just under it as it was over the full line by a good amount when this all started to happen. then i siphoned some out and the fluid was just a few/couple cm above the necessary cross-section and it was still doing this issue. hopefully a 3rd time's a charm ^_^;

Originally Posted by SyntheticShield

If this is not possible then I just start the motor up, let it idle for a couple minutes then I will shift it manually through the gears holding each gear for 3 - 5 seconds up and down.

That's how my owner's manual says to.

FWIW, I also check the fluid as Scotty mentioned. But I will leave the car running as I add fluid. And I only add a little at a time. As it is getting close, I will add maybe ½ cup at a time and recheck it. The fluid level should only move a tiny bit when doing this. But this is what you want. Also, I always keep mine at the top of the XXXs. I don't run over, but I also don't run under. I have found even a little low on the XXXs can make a difference in shifts and stuff.

good to know, i'll do that in a few minutes when i get home. thanks

Good point Zef, I kinda left the bit out about filling it up while its running. I do the same, just failed to point that out. And also good point about adding a little at a time. Its not like motor oil where a half a quart may not move the level indication a great deal. On a trans it will so you do want to add fluid in small amounts.

Everytime I add fluid I go back through the process of going through the gears as well.