Weird ATF level reading even after car was run
08-13-2010, 01:12 AM
#1
Weird ATF level reading even after car was run
I have viewed the manual on how to check the ATF fluid which suggests that you run the car and immediately, within 20-30 seconds or so, check the atf dipstick and the recommended level should be between the two dots.
However, my dipstick reads that one side of the stick is within the two dots and the other side has fluid that covers half of the dipstick. I've tried wiping the fluid off the stick real quick and reinserting to check the fluid level and it's pretty much the same thing.
If it makes a difference, I'm using Redline Racing ATF fluid.
However, my dipstick reads that one side of the stick is within the two dots and the other side has fluid that covers half of the dipstick. I've tried wiping the fluid off the stick real quick and reinserting to check the fluid level and it's pretty much the same thing.
If it makes a difference, I'm using Redline Racing ATF fluid.
08-13-2010, 01:31 AM
#3
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I have viewed the manual on how to check the ATF fluid which suggests that you run the car and immediately, within 20-30 seconds or so, check the atf dipstick and the recommended level should be between the two dots.
However, my dipstick reads that one side of the stick is within the two dots and the other side has fluid that covers half of the dipstick. I've tried wiping the fluid off the stick real quick and reinserting to check the fluid level and it's pretty much the same thing.
If it makes a difference, I'm using Redline Racing ATF fluid.
However, my dipstick reads that one side of the stick is within the two dots and the other side has fluid that covers half of the dipstick. I've tried wiping the fluid off the stick real quick and reinserting to check the fluid level and it's pretty much the same thing.
If it makes a difference, I'm using Redline Racing ATF fluid.
08-13-2010, 02:03 AM
#4
Amazing, I did the 3x3 on Sunday and noticed the same damn thing with the D4 ATF. I was about to create the same thread as GotKilled.
First I was draining out nearly 3.5 qts every drain. I put in 3.5 qts on the last fill and the dipstick was showing wierd signs as Krmerrit said, normal dipstick with a solid layer of ATF below and as it got up closer to the dots, it became spotty almost like it wasn't sure if there was fluid or not. I was trippin like wtf to do now thinking I'm gonna screw up the tranny like a dumbass.
Since I was still low on the dipstick (counting the spotty levels), I had to put in nearly another 1/2 qt before it became normal. That's a fill of almost 4qts. Checked the level again and the same thing but the spottyness was now after the lower dot ending a hair right above the upper dot; it had moved up so I assumed it was the correct reading.
I'm still a bit unsure but the car runs like a champ. Shifts are clearly faster and cleaner.
First I was draining out nearly 3.5 qts every drain. I put in 3.5 qts on the last fill and the dipstick was showing wierd signs as Krmerrit said, normal dipstick with a solid layer of ATF below and as it got up closer to the dots, it became spotty almost like it wasn't sure if there was fluid or not. I was trippin like wtf to do now thinking I'm gonna screw up the tranny like a dumbass.
Since I was still low on the dipstick (counting the spotty levels), I had to put in nearly another 1/2 qt before it became normal. That's a fill of almost 4qts. Checked the level again and the same thing but the spottyness was now after the lower dot ending a hair right above the upper dot; it had moved up so I assumed it was the correct reading.
I'm still a bit unsure but the car runs like a champ. Shifts are clearly faster and cleaner.
08-13-2010, 02:44 AM
#5
Good to know that other are experiencing the same thing. Funny thing is that I just draining out ~2.5qts maybe and the dipstick level reaches the bottom marker on one side and on the other side it is splotchy up to a 1/3 of the stick.
Weird...
Is the issue with the viscosity of the Redline fluid?
I did notice that while I was warming up the engine and letting the transmission reach up to temp by shifting through the gears, that the fluid would be on both sides of the dipstick at around 1/2 the stick's length. When I wiped it, I would get the same earlier readings (one side reaching the lower limit marker and the other side at around 1/3 of the stick)
Weird...
Is the issue with the viscosity of the Redline fluid?
I did notice that while I was warming up the engine and letting the transmission reach up to temp by shifting through the gears, that the fluid would be on both sides of the dipstick at around 1/2 the stick's length. When I wiped it, I would get the same earlier readings (one side reaching the lower limit marker and the other side at around 1/3 of the stick)
Last edited by gotkilled; 08-13-2010 at 02:47 AM.
08-13-2010, 07:55 AM
#7
Instructor
I would go by the side of the dip stick with the lower level. If you dip it in some fluid it would cover both sides, it seems like as the dip stick slides down it tubes one side is picking up some fluid. 
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08-13-2010, 09:20 AM
#8
Safety Car
This is fairly common with many cars model.
The side showing overfilled is being smeared (or capillary action) against the drain tube or something down in the pan.
I use a magnifying glass to make sure that I am getting a good reading. I do this for both engine oil and ATF readings. Viewed with a magnifying glass, you will be able to identify that the reading is unsmeared because you can clearly see the fluid meniscus on the dip stick. If the meniscus is not clearly defined on the dip stick, it got smeared. Take another reading until the meniscus is sharply defined.
For your reference -
Meniscus (click here)
And I am really improperly using the term "Meniscus". I really mean this below. Scroll down to the section labeled as "Puddles on a surface"
Surface tension (click here)
The side showing overfilled is being smeared (or capillary action) against the drain tube or something down in the pan.
I use a magnifying glass to make sure that I am getting a good reading. I do this for both engine oil and ATF readings. Viewed with a magnifying glass, you will be able to identify that the reading is unsmeared because you can clearly see the fluid meniscus on the dip stick. If the meniscus is not clearly defined on the dip stick, it got smeared. Take another reading until the meniscus is sharply defined.
For your reference -
Meniscus (click here)
And I am really improperly using the term "Meniscus". I really mean this below. Scroll down to the section labeled as "Puddles on a surface"
Surface tension (click here)
08-13-2010, 06:35 PM
#9
This is fairly common with many cars model.
The side showing overfilled is being smeared (or capillary action) against the drain tube or something down in the pan.
I use a magnifying glass to make sure that I am getting a good reading. I do this for both engine oil and ATF readings. Viewed with a magnifying glass, you will be able to identify that the reading is unsmeared because you can clearly see the fluid meniscus on the dip stick. If the meniscus is not clearly defined on the dip stick, it got smeared. Take another reading until the meniscus is sharply defined.
For your reference -
Meniscus (click here)
And I am really improperly using the term "Meniscus". I really mean this below. Scroll down to the section labeled as "Puddles on a surface"
Surface tension (click here)
The side showing overfilled is being smeared (or capillary action) against the drain tube or something down in the pan.
I use a magnifying glass to make sure that I am getting a good reading. I do this for both engine oil and ATF readings. Viewed with a magnifying glass, you will be able to identify that the reading is unsmeared because you can clearly see the fluid meniscus on the dip stick. If the meniscus is not clearly defined on the dip stick, it got smeared. Take another reading until the meniscus is sharply defined.
For your reference -
Meniscus (click here)
And I am really improperly using the term "Meniscus". I really mean this below. Scroll down to the section labeled as "Puddles on a surface"
Surface tension (click here)
08-13-2010, 10:43 PM
#10
Team Owner
Funny.
You pull the dipstick out and immediately put it horizontal. The side with the lowest reading is the side you go by.
Any dotting is not the fluid level, obviously. Think about it, if the stick were in the sump, it would be solid, not spotted.
If you're still unsure, check it first thing in the morning before the car is started.
You pull the dipstick out and immediately put it horizontal. The side with the lowest reading is the side you go by.
Any dotting is not the fluid level, obviously. Think about it, if the stick were in the sump, it would be solid, not spotted.
If you're still unsure, check it first thing in the morning before the car is started.
08-13-2010, 11:42 PM
#12
Team Owner
There have been cases that I've seen working at the shop where the fluid level would rise from normal to a couple inches past the full mark.
08-14-2010, 06:18 AM
#14
Yup, some cars have a hot and cold level on the stick, and although they certainly aren't close together, the fluid expansion isn't much. Conversely, some cars have a temperature regulator valve that opens when cold and therefore makes the level high, but once the fluid heats up the level is safe for accurate evaluation.
08-16-2010, 01:57 PM
#15
Safety Car
For fun this past weekend, I checked my ATF level after the car had been off for 48 hrs.
As a reference point - If checked with cold fluid immediately after stopping the engine (ran for just 30 seconds to circulate the fluid), the level would had been just below the top hole (Full mark).
Upon checking the level after sitting 48 hours, the level was 1/16 inch above the top hole. Then, I took another reading. It was 1/8 inch above top hole. And, yes I am sure of both readings. I had bright sunlight and a magnifying glass.
How can the level be different from back-to-back readings?
Just reporting my findings. Just to clarify. For the first reading, I opened hood and pull the dipstick and took the reading. The second reading is when I put the dipstick back in and pulled out again.
Also, both times the opposite side of the dipstick was smeared with no legible reading.
As a reference point - If checked with cold fluid immediately after stopping the engine (ran for just 30 seconds to circulate the fluid), the level would had been just below the top hole (Full mark).
Upon checking the level after sitting 48 hours, the level was 1/16 inch above the top hole. Then, I took another reading. It was 1/8 inch above top hole. And, yes I am sure of both readings. I had bright sunlight and a magnifying glass.
How can the level be different from back-to-back readings?
Just reporting my findings. Just to clarify. For the first reading, I opened hood and pull the dipstick and took the reading. The second reading is when I put the dipstick back in and pulled out again.Also, both times the opposite side of the dipstick was smeared with no legible reading.
Last edited by Inaccurate; 08-16-2010 at 01:59 PM.
08-24-2010, 01:21 PM
#17
Team Owner
10-24-2010, 09:49 PM
#20
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Something I observed with my TL-S. The dipstick measurement are always all over the place and I noticed some bubbling on the dipstick when I just shut off the engine. I did many research online about bubbling issue and everyone said it's overfilled. Well, in my case it was wrong. Today I just realized that I UNDERFILL the transmission. The most accurate procedure to check is to let the engine cool down and then run the engine until warm (like 5-10mins) then shut it off, take out the dipstick and wipe it clean and put it back in and re-measure. If your dipstick shows between the upper and lower mark, then you're ok. I just realized that i probably underfill by about half quart and I've driven the car for 1,500 miles since. I hope I didn't damage the transmission.
10-24-2010, 09:58 PM
#21
Team Owner
Half a quart is nothing. I overfill mine by almost a full quart.
10-24-2010, 10:24 PM
#23
Team Owner
08-14-2013, 08:57 AM
#26
Bringing it back. My dipstick doesn't give me a good reading. I didn't a 1x3 about 4 months ago and just found out I didn't tighten the drain plug enough. I had a leak and now I'm not sure where the fluid level is at. It wasn't a big leak, but enough that the bottom was all wet. I know I had overfilled it at first by maybe 1 quart or less. I'm hoping that's all that came out from the leak because when I re-did the drain and fill it came out to about 3.4. I added that and when I warmed up the car I think it was just a hair above the top hole. I'll check again today after going home.
08-14-2013, 02:47 PM
#27
Team Owner
The dipstick is easy. Clean it, insert, pull out immediately and put it horizontal. Check both sides, go with the lowest side.
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