How long to wait and method to check tranny fluid?

[SwedishRider]

I know traditional ATF should be checked when hot and vehicle is level and idling. But how long after one stops and idles a vehicle should one check the dipstick for an accurate reading?

And also, I tend to stop the car, put it in park, then work my way down through all the gears with my foot on the brake, and then come back up to park (with the thesis that it moves all the fluid around fully in the transmission before I check it). Is that good or bad practice (or doesn't make a difference either way)?

I need to make sure the readings I'm getting are accurate. Thanks!

 

[Mr Nice]

I check when car is stone cold, drain when ATF is hot.

 

[SwedishRider]

My Ford Ranger specifically says to check when transmission is hot and engine is at idle. Cold checking won't work for my situation.

I need to know how long should I let the vehicle idle before checking.

 

[AdRock]

Originally Posted By: SwedishRider
My Ford Ranger specifically says to check when transmission is hot and engine is at idle. Cold checking won't work for my situation.

I need to know how long should I let the vehicle idle before checking.


There's no specific time I ever worried about. I've stopped and immediately got out and checked the level, as well as stopped and let it idle for a minute or two. Read the same both times. So it shouldn't matter. As long as it's up to running temp it should read correctly.

 

[edwardh1]

is there a problem with boredom?

 

[SwedishRider]

No, not boredom. I checked my tranny fluid immediately after stopping the truck, and it read high. I then let it idle for a few minutes (maybe 5-6) and the level had come down, but was still a little high. I'm trying to determine which is the more accurate measurement. Or if I should wait closer to 10 minutes to take the measurement for an even more accurate reading.

I do think I'm over, but if measurement number 2 is correct, it's not by much.

 

[MikeHigg]

I run 20 to 25 miles on the interstate to check, this gets it right. I'm finding when shops just check after a few minutes of idling they invariably put in too much which causes an overfill situation. Remember too, synthetics expand more than conventional fluids. I just did a Subaru, the level was at the low mark at a few minutes of idling, at full temp it was on the full mark. That's a lot of fluid expansion, this was a full synthetic fluid by the way.

 

[SwedishRider]

MikeHigg, how long after stopping your vehicle do you wait before checking your (hot) transmission?

 

[MikeHigg]

I let the car sit and idle 2 to 3 minutes, run thru the gears slowly, then back to Park, then I check the trans fluid 2 times just to be sure of the level. For oil I shut off the engine let it sit for about 4 to 5 minutes, then check it twice too. I get accurate readings this way.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Transmission fluid level almost never change. I check mine once a year after a good drive, park in level garage and pop the hood to check it with gear at neutral.

 

[cjcride]

Most makes call for a certain fluid temperature.
If the outside temperature is average a 20 minute drive should do it.

 

[Ducman]

You give no details of your vehicle make and model.
Do you have a fluid leak?

Without any information on your dipstick, one is best to check the relevant procedure with your local dealer service centre. There will be factory service manuals to refer to.

The possibilities in terms of correct procedure are wide and varied.

For example.
In the real world case of the same make and model vehicle, but fitted with a different make and model of automatic transmission as a variant.
One type of transmission will have 'Check while hot idling in park" on the dipstick.
The other type of transmission will have "Check when hot within 10 seconds of turning off engine" on the dipstick.

Both methods are correct for the relevant transmissions, and it is reflected in the Owners manuals and Service manuals.

Both methods will be totally different to a current model Maserati GTS Automatic.

As they say "RTFM".

 

[SwedishRider]

Ducman, if you had read the entire thread above, I posted that it's a Ford Ranger and that I think the transmission is a little overfilled. I was looking for a generic "best practice" answer, which is why I didn't post the make and model in the first place.

And I did read the manual, and it only says to check while transmission is hot and idling in park. It says nothing about any wait time between stopping the vehicle and checking, nor if I should run through the gears before checking. Hence, I posted here to get an idea what other people do.

Is this how you treat other BITOG members who post questions?

 

[SwedishRider]

Originally Posted By: MikeHigg
I let the car sit and idle 2 to 3 minutes, run thru the gears slowly, then back to Park, then I check the trans fluid 2 times just to be sure of the level. For oil I shut off the engine let it sit for about 4 to 5 minutes, then check it twice too. I get accurate readings this way.


Great advice. Thank you for your help!

 

[dlundblad]

With my Jeep, I have found that it is bubbly and high if I check immediately after driving. After letting it idle for about a minute or so, it will read at the correct level.

I always check while its hot, after running through the gears, in neutral and on on level ground.

 

[Ducman]

Originally Posted By: SwedishRider
Ducman, if you had read the entire thread above, I posted that it's a Ford Ranger and that I think the transmission is a little overfilled. I was looking for a generic "best practice" answer, which is why I didn't post the make and model in the first place.

And I did read the manual, and it only says to check while transmission is hot and idling in park. It says nothing about any wait time between stopping the vehicle and checking, nor if I should run through the gears before checking. Hence, I posted here to get an idea what other people do.

Is this how you treat other BITOG members who post questions?

No it's not always the way I treat other peoples posted questions.
What's wrong with my response to your original question????
Your original question is after all the point of the thread.
Further to this, that is all I had read of the thread and it contained no pertinent details, just some general background information so I posted a legitimate and informative answer. No???

Anyway your basic process is quite correct with running it through the gears.
If that's what you are actually asking about, and your sole motivation for posting the original question to which I responded in good faith.
Also your thesis is correct. But more of a practical reality.
And most relevant on a freshly built/installed unit.
Not quite so critical on a unit that's been in service.

I have to ask.
After following the procedure laid out in the manual. Was the result satisfactory???

If you think the unit is over filled and there's an operational problem as a result.
Then it's always possible to remove some of the fluid and recheck the fluid level.

 

[SwedishRider]

Originally Posted By: Ducman
No it's not always the way I treat other peoples posted questions.
What's wrong with my response to your original question????


Finishing with "RTFM" just seemed abrasive, that's all. Other posters gave very helpful information without that kind of a response.

Maybe I misinterpreted it given the way you used it... but it just felt like a negative ending directed toward me in your post.

It's fine either way. Thanks for your help.

 

[Jetronic]

Originally Posted By: SwedishRider
I know traditional ATF should be checked when hot and vehicle is level and idling. But how long after one stops and idles a vehicle should one check the dipstick for an accurate reading?

And also, I tend to stop the car, put it in park, then work my way down through all the gears with my foot on the brake, and then come back up to park (with the thesis that it moves all the fluid around fully in the transmission before I check it). Is that good or bad practice (or doesn't make a difference either way)?

I need to make sure the readings I'm getting are accurate. Thanks!


that's the way to do it!

 

[Jetronic]

if you overfill, there's the possibility of air mixing with the fluid increasing the level even more. This could explain why you get a very high reading just after driving, but a lower reading after a few minutes.

 

[Ducman]

Originally Posted By: SwedishRider
Originally Posted By: Ducman
No it's not always the way I treat other peoples posted questions.
What's wrong with my response to your original question????


Finishing with "RTFM" just seemed abrasive, that's all. Other posters gave very helpful information without that kind of a response.

Maybe I misinterpreted it given the way you used it... but it just felt like a negative ending directed toward me in your post.

It's fine either way. Thanks for your help.



Yes, I can see where you thought I was a bit abrasive.
As I said my response was I relation to your original post, and it was my fault that I didn't read the whole thread to tease out the other information you posted later.
In my defence, I was sort of pushed for time as I had to go to work and just responded to your question.
In that case, please accept my apologies?

RTFM is a bit of a standard response across a broad range of mechanical service industries and it's used very frequently especially in aviation. There are detailed manuals for everything.
Don't take it personally. It's my fault and I should have taken this possibility into account before I just put it out there as if it's normal practice for everybody.

Other expressions are FT, PFT and VFT.
I'm sure you get the drift.

So are you having operational problems with the Tranny????
A cup full of oil overfilled won't hurt too much.

As I said previously, just suck a bit out if you're unsure.
You can always put it back in.