Auto trans have dipsticks & man trans do not: why?

[Pajamarama]

Maybe I am assuming too much from my limited experience, but it seems that all the auto trans cars I have encountered have had ATF dipsticks but all the manual trans cars have not.

Is there a reason for this? Isn't it possible for manual transmission fluid to be low?

 

[Smoky14]

Maybe they figure if you are good enough to shift your own gears you are sharp enough to know how to check your oil level!

Just a thought

 

[ABerns]

Not all have dipsticks, but most have check plugs that you use. Remove bolt, make sure fluid is up to the threads, good to go.

Why not make it easier with a dipstick? Not sure. But there *are* ways to check it.

 

[SLCraig]

Some cars do have dipsticks on the manual trans. I assume though that part of the reason they don't is, quite often, the fluid does not wear out. Saturn called for lifetime once the fluid was changed at the first oil change, and never again. They were also oddly one of the cars that came with manual trans dipsticks.

My Civic does not have one, but you just fill until the fluid slightly spills out, and you're done.

Pretty much have to assume the fluid is fine, and just do fluid changes more often, on a car that does not have a dipstick. (That is what I believe anyways)

 

[Pajamarama]

Originally Posted By: Smoky14
Maybe they figure if you are good enough to shift your own gears you are sharp enough to know how to check your oil level!

Just a thought


But how do you check it without a dipstick?

 

[exranger06]

Auto transmissions have more potential leak points: pan gasket, cooler and cooler lines, etc. They're also more sensitive to fluid level, and usually require more fluid changes.

But a lot of automatics don't have dipsticks anymore and have the same fill/check plug that manuals have.

 

[Smoky14]

Originally Posted By: Pajamarama
Originally Posted By: Smoky14
Maybe they figure if you are good enough to shift your own gears you are sharp enough to know how to check your oil level!

Just a thought


But how do you check it without a dipstick?


Remove the "level" plug and stick your finger in the hole, if the oil level is correct it will touch your finger, if not add oil until it does. Unless it has visable leaks they never lose fluid.

 

[lexus114]

My 1983 Pontiac J-2000 Sunbird had a dipstick for the trans (5 speed). but that trans used 5w30 engine oil too.

 

[TallPaul]

Some automatics do not have a fill plug either, just a drain plug and a plug in the center of that where you have to fill them from the bottom, very messy.

Manual Transmissions generally are fill to spill, that is, to the bottom of the fill hole. But I heard there are a few out there that actually require a lower level. Check your owner manual it will tell you.

My manual transmission also has a drain plug. Many manual transmissions, perhaps from 20+ years ago, did not have a drain plug. The implication is that it is a lifetime fill, as typically for the differential. Differential is checked same way as manual transmission, at the fill plug hole.

To fill a manual transmission put a plastic tube in the fill hole that fits snugly, then route the tube up under hood and stick a funnel in it. Pour slowly, best with someone downside to watch it go in (clear tube best, about 4 feet usually is enough).

 

[JHZR2]

The question might be considered the other way. MTs have long just had a check and drain plug. Now some ATs have just that too.

My guess would be that since there are no hoses, pan gaskets etc, the potential for loss is less, kind of like a differential, which also has no dipstick. An AT has far more places to lose fluid, and a loss of fluid would strand you sooner than it would in an MT. So it has to be easier to check and add.

 

[NHGUY]

Yes,the Isuzu/J-car manual trans had a plastic dipstick.....in back..

 

[supton]

Manual transmission I'd think has a far easier life than an automatic. ATF gets hot due to convertor slippage. You also have friction material on the bands which can wear. Manual transmissions can have metal particles, sure; but I don't think it sees the same kind of heat-induced fluid breakdown. It's closer to a lifetime fill, or at least 100kmiles for many applications.

Thus, it was always meant to be changed, and thus it got a dipstick.

Another thought: start running low on fluid in a MT, and you'd likely never know (at least not until it's too late). Or too much fluid. I do believe they'd run a long time too high/low. Run wrong level in an AT, and I think things get weird (or so I've read).

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Yes,the Isuzu/J-car manual trans had a plastic dipstick.....in back..


There's always an exception! Ill bet it isnt the only one...

 

[sciphi]

Like other folks have said, MT's don't need fluid changed as often, and cope better with low fluid levels.

Also, the MTF gets to be a gear lube only, while ATF gets to play as gear lube/coolant/hydraulic fluid, depending on where in the transmission it is.

 

[edhackett]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Yes,the Isuzu/J-car manual trans had a plastic dipstick.....in back..


There's always an exception! Ill bet it isnt the only one...


It's not. Subaru MT have a dipstick.

Ed

 

[ARB1977]

Our 97 Jetta auto didn't have a dipstick. Pain in the rear to change but do able. The internal level tube is behind the drain plug. The fill tube has a plastic cap. You need a vag com to read the internal temp, I used a laser thermometer on the pan. Once it reaches temp take the plug out till fluid trickles out of the level tube.

Way off topic but I wish it had a dipstick.

 

[supercity]

I have 2 cars. A ford falcon auto that does not have a dip stick and a fiat coupe manual that does have a dip stick.

 

[homeboymi]

I suspect my 93 Cavalier J car is low on transmission oil. It has been dripping for about 10 years now. The shop manual states that I should use synchromesh transaxle fluid with a part number of GM 12345349. This is supposed to help the syncros work smoother. My car is starting to shift a little harder.

Is there any oil I can use at O'reilly or Auto Zone that will be less expensive than the stuff the stealership sells?

 

[homeboymi]

Sorry..I looked around and see a new part number is used by GM. It is 88900399. I see GM Parts Giant has it for about $10.00 per quart. My car takes 2 quarts is all.

I have 217,000 miles on the oil now. Will the new oil make it slide easier in and out of gears?