ATF Low from Factory on Corolla?!?

[SumpChump]

Hello all, I used the factory procedure for checking the ATF level on my new 2013 coroll for giggles and she's low. Checked twice over two days, correct warm up procedure by the book. Reads low by just under 1/4 inch below the lower of the two "Full Hot" notches in the dipstick. Nothing dramatic but man, low from factory!???

Should I add? after all is is in the upper range of that broad middle area of the dipstick between Full Col and full hot. or is it really really advised to get that level between those hot notches?

 

[Rand]

did you measure the actual temp of the atf? it has to be in a very specific range.

 

[actionstan]

If its really new, like just recently purchased, I'd take it to the dealership.. Id let them check it since they can hook a scanner up to the car and verify it is in the proper temp range. It is strange that it is low from the factory.. sure nothings leaking? The dealership may check for that too.

 

[SumpChump]

She was warmed up to temp for a 15-20 minute drive of mixed city and a few highway miles and then checked. Read the tad low. Bone dry around pans and all underbody areas around tranny connection to motor. 2,000 miles on the car.

 

[racer12306]

A past Dodge Stratus was low on one of the fluids from the factory, oil or trans, Dad topped it up, then it never needed to be added to again. iirc, it was about a half quart low

Could be a "Friday afternoon" car.

 

[JHZR2]

Every manufacturing process has some variation to it, even Toyota's processes. So it is plausible that youre a bit low. It may make zero difference, but best to be sure. I agree to go to the dealer. I personally always have the worst time measuring ATF, its just never consistent on any car. Quite often the level is at a different point on each side of the dipstick.

 

[Cadenza]

Not uncommon for Toyota if you read the forums. If you had a Scanguage you could get a reliable temp and do it yourself, but let the dealer do it.

 

[sciphi]

Not unheard of these days. It happens more often than folks realize...

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Every manufacturing process has some variation to it, even Toyota's processes. So it is plausible that youre a bit low. It may make zero difference, but best to be sure. I agree to go to the dealer. I personally always have the worst time measuring ATF, its just never consistent on any car. Quite often the level is at a different point on each side of the dipstick.

Me too. I had problems with checking ATF in my cars too. One time it was over the max line, the other time it was under the add line.

 

[Doog]

My last 5 Toyotas were all 1/4 to 1/2 quart low. Do the math on making 9-10 million cars. Now I get a new one and just add 8 ounces of atf.

 

[Doog]

Originally Posted By: Cadenza
Not uncommon for Toyota if you read the forums. If you had a Scanguage you could get a reliable temp and do it yourself, but let the dealer do it.


You don't need a scan gauge for the sealed trans just an IR thermometer. Process: add 1 quart WS ATF to cold trans. Jack up car with trans level. Start car and when trans pan bottom hits 113F pull drip tube plug on pan and let excess run out until you get a slight trickle. Replace plug and tighten. Done. (note: good idea to use a new crush washer)

 

[bubbatime]

Originally Posted By: Doog
My last 5 Toyotas were all 1/4 to 1/2 quart low. Do the math on making 9-10 million cars.


This. Imagine the cost savings for Toyota of filling each car just 8 ounces low. Could be millions of dollars a year.

 

[Doog]

Originally Posted By: bubbatime
Originally Posted By: Doog
My last 5 Toyotas were all 1/4 to 1/2 quart low. Do the math on making 9-10 million cars.


This. Imagine the cost savings for Toyota of filling each car just 8 ounces low. Could be millions of dollars a year.


+1 exactly.

 

[Petersubaru]

Originally Posted By: SumpChump
She was warmed up to temp for a 15-20 minute drive of mixed city and a few highway miles and then checked. Read the tad low. Bone dry around pans and all underbody areas around tranny connection to motor. 2,000 miles on the car.
..your description will not work for me..the temps never reach above cool to the touch unless it is very warm and hot summer weather..

 

[friendly_jacek]

Originally Posted By: SumpChump
She was warmed up to temp for a 15-20 minute drive of mixed city and a few highway miles and then checked. Read the tad low. Bone dry around pans and all underbody areas around tranny connection to motor. 2,000 miles on the car.


This is barely enough to warm up the engine coolant, but not enough for engine oil or ATF. I would say minimum of 30 min hwy driving for nominal ATF temp. Read the temp in OBD2 to be sure. This is why I prefer to check ATF level in cold condions, even though I'm not sure how you define cold (in terms of ambient temp).

 

[MolaKule]

Quote:
Reads low by just under 1/4 inch below the lower of the two "Full Hot" notches in the dipstick. Nothing dramatic but man, low from factory!???


Sounds about right.

I would wait until summer on a hot day of a 20 mile trip before I checking again. I would not be concerned at this point.

 

[Astro14]

Without knowing the actual transmission temperature, you have no way of knowing that your measurement was accurate at all. I have a trans temp gauge on my truck. Trans temp varies more with ambient temps than oil or coolant temps. I wouldn't worry about it.

If you do want to worry about it, invest in an IR thermometer and get an actual pan temperature before just assuming that the fluid is "hot".

 

[Bandito440]

It's a new car. Bring it to the dealer and make it their problem.

 

[Doog]

Originally Posted By: Petersubaru
Originally Posted By: SumpChump
She was warmed up to temp for a 15-20 minute drive of mixed city and a few highway miles and then checked. Read the tad low. Bone dry around pans and all underbody areas around tranny connection to motor. 2,000 miles on the car.
..your description will not work for me..the temps never reach above cool to the touch unless it is very warm and hot summer weather..


+1 it takes 5-10 minutes of engine idle to get the atf to 113F which is the temp for measurable expansion with the Toyota sealed transmissions. This is only 15F higher than your body temperature. So, to get an accurate "Hot" temp read I would recommend a 1 hour drive. Then top off to the correct level. Then allow the vehicle to go cold overnight and read cold and mark the dipstick at that cold mark. Then simply do a cold check.

 

[SumpChump]

UPDATE: I drove the corolla , subject of this thread, in 60F ambient for a 40 minute highway 65mph drive, pulled onto level ground and checked ATF. So she was thoroughly hot. Thoroughly. If it had been 80f ambient I would argue the tranny would have been overly hot for the specs as concerns checking fluid level.

She read just barely kissing into the Full Hot zone between the two hot notches.

Still think she is a tad low from factory.