@^#!@$(*&#

[JLTD]

Why do manufacturers not bother to put a transmission dipstick in the vehicle, and make you go out and buy one which fits into the same tub?

(Yes, I know because it's sealed, lifetime fluid, most people don't check it anyway, etc etc)

For Pete's sake!!




/rant

 

[skyactiv]

You answered your own question.

 

[maxdustington]

I'm not going to rehash the arguments for lifetime fluid, yeah I get that the manufacturer never intends for the fluid levels to be checked outside of a dealership.

It's a Right to Repair issue, manufacturers are trying to make it difficult for private shops to service their vehicles. They will never be able to beat the measured drain and fill, so there will always be options for the DIYer.

The worst is when the ECM needs to be told that there is fresh fluid in there. I understand why, but how far will they go trying to funnel you into official repair channels? Same thing with the battery registration on BMWs, I understand the reasoning but it's just insane.

 

[StevieC]

If they keep pushing they will end up with right to repair legislation being pushed back against them like what's happening with Cell Phones.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Well, you can't expect someone to drain out fluid and put some back in, now can ya?
Just sayin'...
And lifetime fluid means...

 

[Linctex]

Originally Posted by StevieC
If they keep pushing they will end up with right to repair legislation being pushed back against them like what's happening with Cell Phones.



I never heard of this... John Deere is making everyone mad because you can buy the tractor or combine for $500,000 - -

but the operating software is THEIRS!

They make you sign away any rights to it.... so if your equipment quits working, ONLY A DEERE mech can come work on it.

 

[Pelican]

Originally Posted by StevieC
If they keep pushing they will end up with right to repair legislation being pushed back against them like what's happening with Cell Phones.


And also with John Deer Tractors.

 

[Pelican]

Originally Posted by Linctex
Originally Posted by StevieC
If they keep pushing they will end up with right to repair legislation being pushed back against them like what's happening with Cell Phones.

I never heard of this... John Deere is making everyone mad because you can buy the tractor or combine for $500,000 - -

but the operating software is THEIRS!

They make you sign away any rights to it.... so if your equipment quits working, ONLY A DEERE mech can come work on it.


There has been a revision to this, in s much as it allows farmers the right to repair, but only after a lawsuit. The problem is though, how many farmers have the know-how & equipment to make these repairs? This technology is being rammed down our throats only because it benefits the manufacturer and its dealers.

 

[maxdustington]

Originally Posted by Pelican
Originally Posted by Linctex
Originally Posted by StevieC
If they keep pushing they will end up with right to repair legislation being pushed back against them like what's happening with Cell Phones.

I never heard of this... John Deere is making everyone mad because you can buy the tractor or combine for $500,000 - -

but the operating software is THEIRS!

They make you sign away any rights to it.... so if your equipment quits working, ONLY A DEERE mech can come work on it.


There has been a revision to this, in s much as it allows farmers the right to repair, but only after a lawsuit. The problem is though, how many farmers have the know-how & equipment to make these repairs? This technology is being rammed down our throats only because it benefits the manufacturer and its dealers.
It would seem that you need a large market share to have the clout to do this. Apple and John Deere are perfect examples of a brand having market hegemony in their industries. JD is a little more sinister because they definitely benefited from market protections on foreign tractors in the past and possibly in the present.

 

[tom slick]

How come nobody complains about the lack of dipstick in a manual transmission?

 

[dave123]

Originally Posted by tom slick
How come nobody complains about the lack of dipstick in a manual transmission?

Lol right!

 

[DeafBrad]

Originally Posted by tom slick
How come nobody complains about the lack of dipstick in a manual transmission?


lol, maybe we should!

 

[KrisZ]

Manual transmissions generally need perhaps one fluid change in their lifetime. A lot of times there is no need to change the gear oil at all. Plus most of them hold a small amount of gear oil in them, like two liters or so, whci is drained all at once.

Automatics on the other hand need regular fluid changes and hold about 9 liters or more of ATF that cannot be drained all at once. Laying on your back and pumping nine liters of fluid with a manual oil pump, usually three liters at one time is not exactly comparable to a gear oil change in a manual transmission.

So yeah, not being able to do it from the top easily, is a bummer for those of us that DIY.

 

[maxdustington]

Originally Posted by tom slick
How come nobody complains about the lack of dipstick in a manual transmission?
A manual gearbox is basically a container of oil with gears spinning in it. Much more tolerant of over or under filling.

They also don't have coolers or cooler lines that can rust and leak (maybe race cars have manual trans coolers, IDK).

 

[supton]

On a manual trans (or a diff), usually one just fills to the level of the fill plug. And isn't fussy about being a bit off. Usually the fill hole is big enough to shove a finger in and feel the level, and that kind of precision is all that is needed. At that point a dipstick is probably more of a pain (one more seal to fail, a tube that can fail, etc).

As annoying as not having a dipstick is, I'm left wondering, just why do we need a special oil for each kind of transmission? Whatever happened to only needing 2 kinds of ATF? I get that times change and something new justifies a newer fluid, but geez already.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Originally Posted by tom slick
How come nobody complains about the lack of dipstick in a manual transmission?

Corvairs did.
Just sayin...

 

[Wylie6G72]

Here's why it aggravates me: At 30,000 miles on my 2011 Camaro, I wanted the pan dropped, the filter changed, and the fluid replaced. The dealership only wants to flush the fluid. I shouldn't have to argue with them about the filter 'not needing to be changed at 30K". I want it done. It's my car. Why argue with a customer over requested maintenance on a warrantied car? (I got this same runaround on my '05 Sport Trac, so I took it to Kwik Kar.)

Firestone agreed to do the whole job. I provided the filter, gasket, and fluid.

Without a dipstick, how do you check anyone's work? I simply wanted to know if Firestone under-filled it or over-filled it. I'd want to do the same thing if the dealership had done the job. This shouldn't require crawling under a hot car and unscrewing a 'check plug' in the pan to see if any fluid runs out (or doesn't run out) when at normal operating temperature. This is a clear attempt at making something a big PITA so that you feel forced to take it to the dealer. Well, guess what GM. Rather than knuckling under to that type of b.s., I just drove it, and prayed.

 

[Skippy722]

I'm more aggravated that my Caliber HAS a dipstick tube, but they don't come with dipsticks! Why even go through the trouble if you're not going to give me one!?

I read on another forum you can use the engine oil dipstick, clean it off real good, and check it that way. Turns out mine has been a quart low and that's the reason it's always driven kind of funny... but the fluid in it was the same color as the new stuff, so that's a relief.

P.S. - Valvoline CVT fluid smells absolutely awful.

 

[Silverado12]

Originally Posted by tom slick
How come nobody complains about the lack of dipstick in a manual transmission?

I had a 1984 Buick Skyhawk (basically same thing as a Chevy Cavalier) with a dipstick for the 4 speed manual.

 

[Lubener]

Originally Posted by JLTD
Why do manufacturers not bother to put a transmission dipstick in the vehicle, and make you go out and buy one which fits into the same tub?

(Yes, I know because it's sealed, lifetime fluid, most people don't check it anyway, etc etc)

For Pete's sake!!




/rant

Sounds like a trantrum is in order.