What is the right way to measure ATF level?

[Roh96]

Which is the right way to measure ATF level?

 

1) Engine on, and gear at neutral. Look at the level at the 'hot' state?

 

2) Engine off and look at the level at the 'cold' state?

 

Any advise?

 

Thanks.

[Yeobh]

Check the user's manual, different makes and models have differen ways to determine the max and min reading.

[Ccssgm]

Same as Engine Oil.......No started Engine Yet.......Check the Oil level....

 

More accurate........

[Elfenstar]

yeohbh is right.

 

most are taken when cold, but there are those when hot and there are some that are a lil more complex coz its inbetween. Soem require you to turn the engine on. cycle the auto knob through all the positions, turn off the engine and take a reading too...

Edited December 13, 2006 by Elfenstar

[Cyberet]

mine has hot and cold reading, but both must be done with gears cycled thru, and left at N with engine running.

[Elfenstar]

yup exactly the same as mine! toyota i assume???

[Cyberet]

mazda 323, hehe

[Newsunny]

For nissan sunny, I was told to use method no. 1.

But that's only for hot engine.

 

For cold engine, start engine and cycled through the gears and put back to neutral. Wait for a minute and look at 'cold' state cos the auto oil is not 'hot' yet.

[Roh96]

I did my ATF change twice and both mechanics told me different thing. One using method 1 and the other use method 2. That's why i am confused which is the right method... When i look at the indicator, there are 'H' and 'L' marking for hot and cold measurement. Lugi confuse.

[Roh96]

'Cycle through gears?' this is something new, both mechanics who did my ATF change never do that.

[Roh96]

Just checked the user's manual. Recommended way is to warm up the engine and then switch off the engine to take measurement at hot state. No mention of cycle through gears or anything.

[Newsunny]

Oh, that means shift auto gear from 'P' to 'D' to '3' ... 'L' or '1' and shift back.

It's just to engage the auto gear and get the fluid inside flowing so that the level you measure on the dip stick is correct.

 

It takes quite a long time to get the auto oil to hot level (longer than engine oil), if you just start engine and shift the gears a bit, you should still use 'cold' level.

[Followthelaw]

Went to change engine oil today,all done as usual.The fellow top the oil till it reaches the half mark,he said ok liao,dun add anymore.

 

Fine,off I went.Somehow the car feels like it's revving very hard although the mechanic kept insisting that the level is sufficent.

 

I then went on to top up a bit till the level I indicated with the arrow,but not to the max mark.The car feels immediatedly a lot smoother.At once I know that at the half mark not quite enough.

 

Wanted to ask U all shifu actually what level is really OK for the car.Is my oil level ok?Any advice

 

Also added bottle o Metal 5 Pro bought at CAS.

[Fcw75]

This thread is talking about ATF, Automatic Transmission Fluid level and you are talking abt engine oil level.

[Newsunny]

You are off-topic here. But anyway, most cars are ok with oil level between 'L' and 'H' mark on the engine oil dip stick. From what you describe, your car might be a bit more sensitive to the oil level, so now that you have found the right level, stick to it from now onwards.

[Kklee]

For Chevrolet Optra using AISIN AT (think Toyota), owner's manual indicate to

 

1) Start engine

2) Warm up until the temperature of the automatic transaxle fluid reaches approximately 70-80 degrees celcius <-- how to determine the temperature?

3) Move selector lever from "P" to "1" and return to "P". Wait for seconds at each selector position until the selected gears are fully engaged.

4) Check ATF level - Should be between MIN and MAX mark of the hot area on the dipstick.

 

AFAIK, for the above AT, there are differences in the ATF level using the following methods to reach the "HOT" state.

 

a) by engine idling only

b) by driving short distance < 5km

c) by driving long distance

 

IMHO, c) driving long distance seems to be the most suitable method because it gives a lower ATF level compared with a) & b)

[Roh96]

Wah seh so many procedures, do you think those mechanics will do all these steps? I really doubt. Probably they will use one method(which is convenient to them)on all types of car.

Edited June 19, 2007 by Roh96

[Kklee]

I have had experiences where my engine oil and ATF were overfilled! So much for their methods.