I was about to do a transmission fluid change today so I checked the level before I started and it looked slightly overfilled. Acura dealer changed it last in January so I checked my records and they charged me for 4 quarts of fluid instead of 3. I don't know if it's overfilled or if the dealer just pulls a fast one on everyone by charging for an extra quart because most people won't notice. Not sure if anyone on here has had the dealer change it for them. Any advice?

Oh and they also used 5w30 instead of 5w20 oil when they changed it as well.

 

open the drain bolt and let some out

 

I've had my transmission slightly overfilled before and it didn't seem to cause any problems. We're talking just a centimeter or so above the "hot" line though. Not inches.

As for the oil - I'd change it back to 5W-20 when it's changed again. Heavier oil can be good if the engine is old and consuming oil but if not, it's best to just use the recommended viscosity.

Just goes to show that even the dealers don't always know what they're doing.

 

That's what I will probably end up doing. It's just so difficult to get an accurate measurement on that damn dipstick.

I was going to change that soon anyway. I just don't get why they would use a different oil than what it says on the engine.

 

Transmission fluid comes from the factory overfilled. Go to the dealer and check the level of a new car's transmission fluid. It will be above the 2nd mark.

 

'That's what I will probably end up doing. It's just so difficult to get an accurate measurement on that damn dipstick' I AGREE! After several drain and refills, I always found it difficult to read the dip stick. In order to make the dip stick easier to read, I painted the bottom end of the stick, with "flat" black ( Petroleum Resistant ) paint. Now, it's much easier to see the fill level, and insure a correct fill..

 

It usually takes about 3.5- 3.8 quarts for a v6 automatic transmission.

 

would love to see your reference for that.

 

It is etched onto the Mr. lube break room table.

 

I'm certain I saw a reference for that one time. But I think the statement he made is simply an observation of how much ATF comes out and to put the same amount back in. How much ATF the transmission holds would be important, if it were somehow drained completely like in a rebuild, or installation of a new transmission. Similar to how much oil to put back into the engine when draining, where 95% of the oil drains out. But in the case of the ATF drain and refill, only a third or so comes out so it's just a matter of adding whatever came out rather than refilling the entire thing.

When I change my ATF, I can get as much as 4 quarts out if I let it sit long enough. It continues to dribble for a long time. But if I don't give it very long, it's closer to 3.5 quarts. I simply pour the old ATF into an empty Mobil 1 oil bottle, look on the side at the graduations, and add that much back into the transmission. Following a spec in my case would actually be detrimental, since the amount I get out is varied. A specific specification might indicate to put a certain volume in which may result in too much or too little based on how much came out.

 

That's a great idea. I just wish it was a bigger dipstick and had more than like a cm between the two dots.