Problems checking the AT fluid level

[Chad]

I am having a problem checking my automatic transmission fluid level.
It all started when I wanted to drain some of the transmission fluid
out of the car, because the level of fluid was too high. It was above
the F hole in the HOT section.

At first, I drained 1 1/3 quart of AT fluid out of it. I checked that
by filling up an empty quart bottle with AT fluid. Anyway, when I
checked the fluid it was way too low. It was below the the L hole on
the cold section. When I checked it, the engine was on and I went
through all the gears. Then I added 1 quart. It was way too full when
I did that. Again, it was above the F hole on the hot section. So, I
thought, "wow, that's way too much again, I should remove some more
fluid", so I removed 2 quarts(again measuring with an empty quart
bottle). Then, I measuring the fluid again and it was way too
low(below the L on the COLD section). I then added 1/2 quart and
checked it and it is way too low. Each time I checked I went through
all the gears. One of the times, I even drove down the road and came
back and checked it.

If you do the math on how much I added and removed, it comes out to be
equal to removing about 1 1/2 quarts. Does anyone have any suggestions.

 

[Edward Hayes]

If it is Low when hot why not just add 1/4 quart and recheck. Adding
1/4 to 1/8 quart until your between the lines. You could do this cold
until you get to the middle of the cold region and then check it warm.
Whey keep doing it at 1 quart intervals???????

 

[Chad]

If it is Low when hot why not just add 1/4 quart and recheck. Adding
1/4 to 1/8 quart until your between the lines. You could do this cold
until you get to the middle of the cold region and then check it warm.
Whey keep doing it at 1 quart intervals???????

Well, I didn't keep doing it at 1 quart intervals. The last time I
checked it, I added a half quart, not a full quart. When I added half
a quart, it was still too low. I didn't want to keep adding until I
got to the level I did before and I didn't trust the dipstick anymore.


One mistake that I did make, though, is that I added fluid when the
motor was running, not when it was cold. However, that is a good
suggestion - to add a 1/4 - 1/8 quart at a time when the engine is
cold, check it when it is cold, then check it when it is hot.

 

[.._..]

Well, I didn't keep doing it at 1 quart intervals. The last time I
checked it, I added a half quart, not a full quart. When I added half
a quart, it was still too low. I didn't want to keep adding until I
got to the level I did before and I didn't trust the dipstick anymore.


One mistake that I did make, though, is that I added fluid when the
motor was running, not when it was cold. However, that is a good
suggestion - to add a 1/4 - 1/8 quart at a time when the engine is
cold, check it when it is cold, then check it when it is hot.

Yup. And do it slowly and repeatedly over a period of days or weeks.

There are so many places fluid can get trapped I don't trust the dealerships
to even get the fill right. (I had mine flushed and filled and it was way
low a day later. It took two weeks of checking and messing around to get
the transmission to "feel right" and to list consistantly with the stick.
So just keep at it, and eventually it will be right.

 

[Chad]

..._.. wrote:
It took two weeks of checking and messing around to get

the transmission to "feel right" and to list consistantly with the stick.
So just keep at it, and eventually it will be right.

Did you have to add any fluid or did you just have to wait a few weeks
for an accurate reading? I asked that because I don't know whether to
just wait it out or start adding more fluid. I don't want to overfill,
but I also don't want to ride around on too little fluid.

I checked this morning when it was cold and the fluid was on full with
the engine on cold. I turned the engine on, drove down the road,
pulled back into my parking space and checked the fluid while the
engine was warm. Again, the fluid shows as way too little. It is
below the L mark again on the cold level. Ahhh......it is so
frustrating.

 

[Edward Hayes]

Are you letting the engine idle for 5 minutes before you take the
reading? Do you put the AT in each gear for several seconds before
checking? Do you have the engine running and the AT in N while
checking? Something is not being checked correctly. A hot (176 F)
transmission is one that has been driven 5-10 miles and we're not
talking about 10 mph around the block.

 

[Richard]

How critical is the AT level? Mine was low and I added some fluid and when I
took the car in for service at the Subaru place,the guy checked it and said
it was a bit high. Is that a problem or will it burn it self off over time.
The dealer suggested flushing the transmission and replacing the fluid which
I declined to do because of the expense.