Marx1

hey guys...tried the search function...but couldnt come up with anything.

Is it possible/bad to overfill the tranny fluid? and is there a way to check if it was overfilled? thanx in advance!

01tl4tl

check the DIY/Garage section for help
iirc its a normal car system with a filler plug on the side of trans- fluid should come up to the bottem edge of the filler hole

Most techs are using a pump of some type and put in a little too much then let it drain back out..its hard to put a bolt back in with fluid pouring out so they let it get at least close to right level~

Is your trans doing something after oil change?

01tl4tl

if it were way overfilled the oil could overheat and expand in extreme use --possibly foam or come out the overflow tube

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

It is possible. Each time you drain the tranny fluid, make sure you only fill it back up with 2.3 quarts. Any more, and you're putting in more than is necessary.

SouthernBoy

There is a simple way, but be very careful doing this.

Make sure your transmission is level (use a carpenter's level to be sure), then Remove the check plug (also called the sight plug). If you have an overfill condition, the excess will drain out of this opening. Now here's the important, "be careful", part.

Use a torque wrench when re-installing the check plug with a new washer, and torque it to 8.7 ft/lbs. Be most careful with this as several of our members have wrenched the bold head off when tightening it down (probably didn't use a torque wrench). Personally, I never remove this bolt.. I just drain and fill with 2.3 quarts and I'm done with it.

Marx1

thanx for the help guys...reason why i was askin...i took my car to the "stealership" to get the an oil change and tranny fluid change...brought 5 quarts of royal purple 5w20, and 3 quarts GMSFM...so i go to check my oil level the other day and its waayyyy over...they must have just dumped in all 5qts...searched a couple threads, and that doesnt seem to big too big of an issue...but wasnt sure if it was possible to overfill the transmission...it does feel alot smoother now with the GMSFM...so let me get this straight...the fill line in the transmission is the check (sight) plug?!

SouthernBoy

Imagine a gallon jug of milk. In the very bottom side, you have a drain plug. In the top, you have the pour (for our purposes here, we'll call it the fill) hole. And about 4/5ths of the way up the jug, we have a smaller plug (looks like a small drain plug) called the check plug. Now if the right amount of fluid is added during the drain and fill and if you were to remove the check plug, nothing would escape. However, if too much fluid was added and you removed the check plug, some of the fluid would escape until the proper level was reached.

Now apply this to your manual TL transmission.

Marx1

yeah lol i totally understand the concept...but im assuming the dealership overfilled because i didnt get any of my left over fluid back...im popping in there tomorrow to give them a piece of my mind...ill let u kno how everythin went!

you never kno...they could have pumped it through the check plug. most likely the easiest way for them!

SouthernBoy

Pumping fluid into the check plug is the traditional and most widely used method unless the transmission has a fill "plug", which ours does. When pumping it in through the check plug, you would do this until fluid began to run back out of the hole, the you would close it up. However, with a fill plug (hole), you can still use the check plug or you can just fill with 2.3 quarts and be done with it.

Marx1

thanx southernboy...everythin seems good...and the tranny is running...smooth!

SouthernBoy

Well that's a good thing. Enjoy it.

subinf

You really use a level?

SouthernBoy

Yeah, I do. It only takes a few minutes and gets me what I want. I like to change my engine oil and tranny fluid in my driveway instead of my garage because of the natural light. My driveway has a slight downward slope and my home made ramps are not as high as the Rhino ramps so I only have to jack the rear up a few inches. The level helps me get things.... level.

BTW, I don't use a level when changing engine oil because the drain is in the rear of the pan.