Tranny Fluid Question

I went to check my fluids today and when it came to the tranny fluid all I got were some bubbles on the dipstick. I wiped and rechecked - the dipstick was wet but had no disernable fluid level mark, only bubbles. Low on fluid?? I'm planning on having it serviced in the next week or so but I don't want to drive if it's low.

If you've got foamy motor oil on the oil stick, you might have too much oil, and the crankshaft is churnin' it up.
The only thing I know about too much, or too little tranny fluid, is too much can cause seals to blow. Let it cool down, check the stick, and go from there...

If you've got foamy motor oil on the oil stick, you might have too much oil, and the crankshaft is churnin' it up.
The only thing I know about too much, or too little tranny fluid, is too much can cause seals to blow. Let it cool down, check the stick, and go from there...

He is talking about his transmission, not his motor oil.

I would recheck the transmission with the engine hot idling in park.

You have to look closely to see where the level is.

Is the fluid bright red?

Foaming is usually from too much fluid.

He is talking about his transmission, not his motor oil.

I would recheck the transmission with the engine hot idling in park.

You have to look closely to see where the level is.

Is the fluid bright red?

Foaming is usually from too much fluid.


I did check it hot in idle and the fluid is starting to turn a little brownish. I'm going out in a few to check the cold level for reference.

Small bubbles on the tranny stick are typical because you are checking it running and the pump is cycling fluid through the system. Milky or opaque is never good and would mean moisture or water in the fluid. I sometimes clean the tranny dipstick with brake cleaner to get all the fluid off it and give it a dull finish and sometimes it is easier to see than when the stick has the tranny fluid film on it.

I checked the cold level and it was WAY over full - to just under where the stick starts to twist. I'm asuming the previous owner got a little happy with the fill! I'm calling to have it serviced - what is the best fliud to use? I'd like to go w/syn. My plan is to change all the fluids over in the next month or so.

You need to check it hot to get an accurate reading, if it is low...add some.

You can't get an accurate reading with it cold, but it should be somewhere near the cold level mark. The engine has to be running even when doing the cold check.

Checking the fluid without the engine running is not an option. If you checked it without the engine running it will show over full.

I did a cold check( per manual: run for 5min & slowly move through all the gears, check while runing in park) and the level is just over the bottom of the hot mark.

As for the fluid - what's best?

Just went and did another hot check and it's right where it should be. Thanks for the help.

I'm still wondering about the fluid...

Dextron III, Automatic Transmission Fluid

Later

-Ryan

I did a cold check( per manual: run for 5min & slowly move through all the gears, check while runing in park) and the level is just over the bottom of the hot mark.

As for the fluid - what's best?

Your tranny is overfilled then.