By AntonyK on Sunday, August 05, 2001 - 11:42 pm: Edit

I just checked my transmission level following the guidlines in my manual.

The auto tranmission is about 1.5 inches above the high mark on the dip stick. Will this be causing any damage?

It's due for a major service in about 3k miles so I'm sure it will be sorted then but in the meantime?

By Rovermach on Monday, August 06, 2001 - 04:01 am: Edit

I just changed the fluid in my 96 Disco. The manual says it takes 9.5 quarts. But what cameout appeared more like 4-5 qts. There can't be 4 quarts in the torque converter can it?

Before I changed the fluid the level seemed a bit too high. What the hell is the normal procedure to check the level. I think the manual sates: check when cold, start engine, put shifter through all gears and put back in park. level should be between two marks. Well the mark was well above the upper mark. It seems like the fluid is splashing around when the engine is running. Should the level be checked when the engine is shut off?
After draining the Transmission fluid I filled about 6 quarts and checked the level. Again same result above the 2 mark on dipstick . It appears that fluid is slosshing around?

Does anyone know the procedure and how much fluid will drain if you just unplug the pan bolt.

How adverse is it if you overfill?

Thanks

By jec on Monday, August 06, 2001 - 07:18 am: Edit

Yes, the converter holds a lot. When I drain when hot, then let it sit overnight and drain again, I get 5.5 quarts out of our pan. Don't put any more in than you took out! Overfilling is very, very bad. Drain out the excess now! You have the correct cold checking procedure. The engine must be running - you should still be able to get a clean read - there is not that much "sloshing" going on. Rover also has a spec for checking at "operating temperature" (read warmed up, but not overheated) which is not more than 19 mm (3/4 inch) above the high mark on the dipstick. Remember that the thermal expansion coefficient of the fluid is tremendous. We live in the mountains, and get vastly different cold readings at 40 vs 60 degrees. I would recommend checking at "room temperature" so you don't overfill. If you're concerned about having left old fluid in the converter, change it again after a few hundred miles, and you'll have about 75 percent new fluid. Did you change your filter?

By Rovermach on Monday, August 06, 2001 - 09:11 am: Edit

Thanks Jec.

I did not let it sit overnight and it wasn't all that warm when I drained the fluid. So I suppose I should not have gotten too much out. Certainly not 6 qts of it, correct?

So it appears I have overfilled. I have driven about say 50 miles since. I will go home and drain out the excess but question is how bad have I screwed up the transmission? Hope its not too bad. How can I rectify this situation if at all.

Thanks

By pk on Monday, August 06, 2001 - 09:27 am: Edit

On my 95 Disco the dip stick has the following printed on it: "DANGER DO NOT OVERFILL".

I would get it to the right level after work today if I were you.

pk

By jec on Monday, August 06, 2001 - 10:41 am: Edit

pk is right - drain it down to the right level today. Remember that if it is hot when you drain it down, the level may be too low when it cools down, so be sure to check it again in the morning. It's also a messy operation to drain just a little, so be prepared with a pan and rags. Forgot to mention in this morning's post - it's important that the truck is on absolutely level ground when you check the level. The dipstick is in the front of the pan, and that's a long pan, so it will throw the measurement off if it's tilted. If the trans is still shifting as smoothly as these trucks normally do, you probably haven't hurt anything yet. Good luck.

By Alex Schubow (Alex) on Tuesday, August 07, 2001 - 01:46 am: Edit

You can use a siphon pump to drain some out thru the dipstick hole instead of trying to drain "just a little" thru the drain plug. Never turns out to be "just a little", except maybe in the drain pan. The rest will go on you, on the garage floor, etc.. Blaahh

Alex