Auto Trans Fluid Level

[Mblinko]

My FJ80 (new to me) has a transmission cooler in front of the radiator. When cold, the fluid level is between the ‘hot’ notches. Would this be because of drain back from the cooler when the engine is off or is it genuinely overfilled ? I haven’t checked it when hot as yet.

 

[Lorin]

IIRC cold reading is meaningless. ATF level needs to be read at correct temp following FSM procedure.

I have a large ATF cooler and there’s no drain back when engine is off.

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

You need to check it with the engine running and shortly after cycling between R, D and back to N or P, and as Lorin said, when it's at normal operating temperature.

 

[Mblinko]

thx. Understand how to check. It’s just odd that the cold level is so far off the cold notches even when they are supposed to be a rough indication of proper level. I’ll do the normal hot test and see what happens.

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

Even the cold test would be with the engine running and after gear cycle. Lots of fluid will drain back when the oil pump isn't forcing it around, and give a false reading, hence it needing to be checked with the pump running.

 

[Mblinko]

Ahh, the penny drops ….. always check with the engine running after cycling through the gears whether hot or cold because of drain back.

Thx Both.

 

[kano]

i would just make sure its at the correct level when the engine is warm and not over or underfilled then, thats more important than the cold level