Changing ATF when there's no dipstick
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Originally Posted by 147_Grain
What percentage does ATF expand from cold to hot?
I think it varies by ATF type. On the older Toyota automatics, the section between "Cold" and "Hot" is 1-1.5" apart, which is a significant amount.
What percentage does ATF expand from cold to hot?
I think it varies by ATF type. On the older Toyota automatics, the section between "Cold" and "Hot" is 1-1.5" apart, which is a significant amount.
2012 Equinox was 30oz low on ATF from the factory. Trans shifted weird on the 2-3 and 3-4 shift. 2 dealers said fluid level was fine and that only they could check it. Went to a local guy who is very up to date on newer cars. He said it's non-sense on the 'Nox about the dealer only checking fluid. Showed me the drain and fill hole. I drained out black fluid(12K if I remember right) and put in 4qts. Go drive it to get it warmed up. Open the fluid level plug and let drain until it stops. Maybe 2-3 oz's came out and guess what??? Trans shifted perfect from then on. I did 2 more drain/refills to get more of the black crud out. 1 more reason I don't trust dealers.
Originally Posted by JeffKeryk
Well, it shouldn't be that hard. The level is the same whether the use a dip stick or a level port.
Nowadays you can buy a Bluetooth OBD2 module for $20 and read the temp on your smart phone, Ipad, etc.
Drain, fill approx what you drained or spec... Bring up to temp and check.
It ain't rocket science.
Can you please share which bluetooth OBD2 scanner can read AT temps? I have not found any that are able to read any temp's, even the more expensive BlueDriver.
Well, it shouldn't be that hard. The level is the same whether the use a dip stick or a level port.
Nowadays you can buy a Bluetooth OBD2 module for $20 and read the temp on your smart phone, Ipad, etc.
Drain, fill approx what you drained or spec... Bring up to temp and check.
It ain't rocket science.
Can you please share which bluetooth OBD2 scanner can read AT temps? I have not found any that are able to read any temp's, even the more expensive BlueDriver.
Originally Posted by The Critic
... I do own a scan tool to check the fluid and the proper temps.
You can purchase scan tools for under $250 which will allow you to do this job properly...
Would you mind sharing which ones are at the top of your list to provide ATF temperature?
... I do own a scan tool to check the fluid and the proper temps.
You can purchase scan tools for under $250 which will allow you to do this job properly...
Would you mind sharing which ones are at the top of your list to provide ATF temperature?
If you're adding back the same amount that came out, you're assuming the last person (even the factory) did the job correctly. That's not always the case. I drive the car for 10-15 minutes, level it, and pull the check bolt. If the Cruze is like a 2012 Malibu, the bolt is super easy to access through the driver's side wheel with drive extensions. No raising the vehicle at all.
I celebrated Christmas by draining and refilling my wife's Civic CVT transmission at 31,600 miles. I took out 3.7 quarts, so I put in about 3.7 quarts. Then I took it off the ramps, ran it through the gears, turned it off and then pulled the check bolt. I added the rest of the 4th quart and still nothing came out. Now I am wondering if it ever had a full fill. I will get another quart today and check it when fully warm. I have not seen a clear instruction anywhere on how warm the transmission and fluid should be. I do know one reason you want to check it warm or at least after running it through the gears is because it does take some time for the fluid to drain back down from the nooks and crannies (technical terms).
There have been no signs of any leakage, so I am left wondering if the transmission ever had a full fill or if Arizona summer weather causes some loss. One thing I now know for sure, it is NOT a sealed, service free transmission like I was told.
There have been no signs of any leakage, so I am left wondering if the transmission ever had a full fill or if Arizona summer weather causes some loss. One thing I now know for sure, it is NOT a sealed, service free transmission like I was told.
We have a '14 Fusion with the same transmission. I have two drain and refills and both times drained it while fairly hot. The first time it was driven for ~30 minutes and drained within 10-15 minutes of stopping. Based on taking ATF temperature readings (using my ELM327 adapter and FORScan), it should have been up to 185ºF or higher by then. How much did it drop in 15 minutes after shut off ? Can't say. I drained the fluid, marked the level, and let it sit for a bit before I measured the temperature with an infrared thermometer and recall something around 130-140º F. After over an hour, the temperature was between 80-90º F. The level on the container, just going by eyeball - I know, I know, not good enough for some - did not change any noticeable amount.
Two times I ended up with the same result - 4 quarts or [censored] near close enough that I won't measure out 3.88 quarts or 4.12 quarts. 4 quarts it is.
Two times I ended up with the same result - 4 quarts or [censored] near close enough that I won't measure out 3.88 quarts or 4.12 quarts. 4 quarts it is.
Originally Posted by Boatowner
I celebrated Christmas by draining and refilling my wife's Civic CVT transmission at 31,600 miles. I took out 3.7 quarts, so I put in about 3.7 quarts. Then I took it off the ramps, ran it through the gears, turned it off and then pulled the check bolt. I added the rest of the 4th quart and still nothing came out. Now I am wondering if it ever had a full fill. I will get another quart today and check it when fully warm. I have not seen a clear instruction anywhere on how warm the transmission and fluid should be.
I would lean towards "full operating temperature" as a guideline. How do you obtain any other temperatures easily or practically other than "cold" ? Take it for a decent drive - 15-30 minutes with some highway speeds as well as around-town so you get plenty of variety. Then check the level by the check bolt.
I've questioned the "was it filled properly at the factory" thing before and most knowledgeable people (from the manufacturing side) indicate that the tool/equipment that's used to fill these is basically automatic and frequently calibrated. It's not like an assembly line worker manually adds fluid or even fills it gas-pump style and shuts it off "close". They insert the filler, hit a "fill" button and it measures and fills a precise amount.
I celebrated Christmas by draining and refilling my wife's Civic CVT transmission at 31,600 miles. I took out 3.7 quarts, so I put in about 3.7 quarts. Then I took it off the ramps, ran it through the gears, turned it off and then pulled the check bolt. I added the rest of the 4th quart and still nothing came out. Now I am wondering if it ever had a full fill. I will get another quart today and check it when fully warm. I have not seen a clear instruction anywhere on how warm the transmission and fluid should be.
I would lean towards "full operating temperature" as a guideline. How do you obtain any other temperatures easily or practically other than "cold" ? Take it for a decent drive - 15-30 minutes with some highway speeds as well as around-town so you get plenty of variety. Then check the level by the check bolt.
I've questioned the "was it filled properly at the factory" thing before and most knowledgeable people (from the manufacturing side) indicate that the tool/equipment that's used to fill these is basically automatic and frequently calibrated. It's not like an assembly line worker manually adds fluid or even fills it gas-pump style and shuts it off "close". They insert the filler, hit a "fill" button and it measures and fills a precise amount.
Originally Posted by diyjake
Originally Posted by JeffKeryk
Well, it shouldn't be that hard. The level is the same whether the use a dip stick or a level port.
Nowadays you can buy a Bluetooth OBD2 module for $20 and read the temp on your smart phone, Ipad, etc.
Drain, fill approx what you drained or spec... Bring up to temp and check.
It ain't rocket science.
Can you please share which bluetooth OBD2 scanner can read AT temps? I have not found any that are able to read any temp's, even the more expensive BlueDriver.
It is not so much the reader as the software you use.
Here is the reader/scanner I bought: OBD2 reader scanner
I loaded the free "ELM Scan" for Toyota; it displayed the trans fluid temperature. The "Torque" paid version displays trans fluid temperature I believe.
I am about to service our 2013 Lexus GS350 F Sport with 60K miles. Probably do it twice
If you use the Torque software, please post your results.
Originally Posted by JeffKeryk
Well, it shouldn't be that hard. The level is the same whether the use a dip stick or a level port.
Nowadays you can buy a Bluetooth OBD2 module for $20 and read the temp on your smart phone, Ipad, etc.
Drain, fill approx what you drained or spec... Bring up to temp and check.
It ain't rocket science.
Can you please share which bluetooth OBD2 scanner can read AT temps? I have not found any that are able to read any temp's, even the more expensive BlueDriver.
It is not so much the reader as the software you use.
Here is the reader/scanner I bought: OBD2 reader scanner
I loaded the free "ELM Scan" for Toyota; it displayed the trans fluid temperature. The "Torque" paid version displays trans fluid temperature I believe.
I am about to service our 2013 Lexus GS350 F Sport with 60K miles. Probably do it twice
If you use the Torque software, please post your results.
Originally Posted by benjamming
Originally Posted by The Critic
... I do own a scan tool to check the fluid and the proper temps.
You can purchase scan tools for under $250 which will allow you to do this job properly...
Would you mind sharing which ones are at the top of your list to provide ATF temperature?
My Autel MD808 Pro ($225) has Live Data PIDs for the transmission control unit and should provide the transmission fluid temp info. It did on the Honda that I used it with last week. I have only owned the tool for about two weeks and have not had the chance to try it on very many cars.
Originally Posted by The Critic
... I do own a scan tool to check the fluid and the proper temps.
You can purchase scan tools for under $250 which will allow you to do this job properly...
Would you mind sharing which ones are at the top of your list to provide ATF temperature?
My Autel MD808 Pro ($225) has Live Data PIDs for the transmission control unit and should provide the transmission fluid temp info. It did on the Honda that I used it with last week. I have only owned the tool for about two weeks and have not had the chance to try it on very many cars.
My BlueDriver shows the transmission temp. But obviously your trans would need to have a temp sensor. Not sure if they all do.
I changed my Camry atf when it was cold and added back the same amount of maxlife atf.
The temperature method is good if the atf is hot like at a shop but I don't see why that method is needed if the atf is at ambient temperature.
In my Camry, only 2 qts came out. Had to construct a funnel and hose to refill. It was slow going. Time consuming to only exchange 2 qts.
I have the free app to read atf through OBDII on my other device but forget its name. I searched for OBDII reader in the play store.
The temperature method is good if the atf is hot like at a shop but I don't see why that method is needed if the atf is at ambient temperature.
In my Camry, only 2 qts came out. Had to construct a funnel and hose to refill. It was slow going. Time consuming to only exchange 2 qts.
I have the free app to read atf through OBDII on my other device but forget its name. I searched for OBDII reader in the play store.
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