Too much trany fluid!!

[bobboyer5]

When it rains (so they say) it pours.

I checked my tranny level today on the 450 SEL. (4.5)

The fluid is nearly to the top of the middle section, about 4 inches ABOVE the high mark. Way too much.

How does this affect performance?


Best way to drain some?

The motor must be warmed up and idling in neutral or park and the car must be on level ground. Dexron/Mercon seems to have a high thermal expansion factor, too, so if the car has been driven hard in AC temperatures, the dipstick will read overfull even though it's OK.

If you checked it with the motor off and the car had been sitting for a while, the fluid SHOULD be way above the full mark, because that's not the way to check it properly, although I am in the habit of filing a little notch in the tranny dipstick of everyone of my cars to indicate what I have found to be the normal get-up-in-the-morning transmission level, just for a quick check in case there's any question about whether there's a reason to do a proper check before setting out on the road.

[Kestas]

I run into that issue with a lot of different cars. I think that somehow the fluid gets splashed or sucked up the tube. You have to remove the dipstick, wipe it off, then reinsert before taking it out to read the proper level. Even then, you can run into problems with the dipstick rubbing against the wet walls on the tube giving false readings.

[bobboyer5]

Thanks for your reply.

Checked it idling, warmed up, with - of course - motor running.

Way too high. My mistake.

Car is not shifting hard at all. But since overfilled, doesn't shudder - but flutters (engine) without power on anything but slight acceleration.
But still shifts crisply, and not hard. No rpm spikes, either.

Shjoild I drain with a hand pump down a quart or so?

Note: No leaks. And no venting of extra f;luid.

I pray that I haven't runied a previosuly strong tranny.

[Kestas]

If you're convinced it's too high, get it down to where it should be. A hand pump is probably the best way to remove some. As I understand it, an overfilled tranny runs the risk of aerating the fluid. Once fine bubbles are whipped into the oil, lubrication characteristics change, causing problems I can only guess at.

[gas guzzler]

Hi,

I have the same 'fluttering' problem at around 1500rpm. I thought I had fixed it by turning the vacuum modulator one segment anti-clockwise, but when I took it for a second test drive it still fluttered.

Have you managed to cure your 'flutter', and if so, what did you do???


Hope to hear from you soon,


Adam.

[bobboyer5]

No. Still flutters, but only after using car for a bit (about 3-5minutes). Had it out for a ride on I-75 yesterday. Car runs fine, except when acelerating withanything other than a slight touch.

Having read lots lately, and observing, I believe my problem is a blockage in the left cat.

Something's now broken off in there, rattles, and I think when it blocks exhaust flow, I get the muted fluttering.

'Cause when I turn off car, and start right up again, fluttering disaapperas for a short while.

What do you think?

[xp190]

I was wondering if anyone has a worked around the measuring the tranny fluid level.

I myself am having real hard time determining the actual level of the fluid no matter how many times I take out the dipstick, wipe it off and put it back in. Every time I take it out it looks like the fluid was spalshed on to it as opposed to the dipstick being dipped in the fluid like the engine oil dipstick.

When I check it on a cold engine, the level is way off above the max mark, but this is fine, I know since there is no pressure, and an at tranny works by varying fluid pressure, so this is fine, but when it warms up and runs, there is no way I can tell the correct level.

The reason why I'm trying to figure this out is because when my car warms up, after about a half hour or more, the tranny begins to slip every now and then when shifting from 2nd to 3rd. I don't know if this is the clutches wearing out or a problem with the fluid level.

xp

[bobboyer5]

Here's why the high tranny fluid level is not a prime suspect in my 'fluttering':

'Cause when car is in park, and I gun accelerator, after a while, I get the fluttering - even though in park.

If you disagree, let me know!

I can't really disagree -- but drain off that excess fluid before any damage as done. As mentioned above, if fluid level is high enough to reach the spinning components inside the transmission, the churning action traps air in the fluid, causing it to foam. "Foamy" fluid increases oxidation and can reduce pump efficiency which could reduce internal pressures and cause serious problems like band and clutch failure.

[gas guzzler]

Bobboyer

I think I read your previous post wrong. Mine ONLY flutters when the car is doing 1500rpm, which is usually around 30 or 40mph - which is the normal around town speeds.


I will have to try it when in Park and take it from there.

Is "fluttering" the slipping feel in between trans. shifts or something else?

Signed,

Confused.

[gas guzzler]

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I dont think so. If the car is in 2nd or 3rd, and you hold it at 1500rpm it flutters/judders ( a bit like when you reach the rev limiter when you floor the accelerator but not as violent) and then it will move up to the next gear with a very loud 'clunk'.

It is as if it doesn't have enough 'oumph' or 'power' to change up to the next gear, as if you cruise along at any rev's above 1500 it change's up fine.

I might have some good news in a week or so, as the car has been with my machanic while I was on holiday and I am picking it up next week. He had to fix several problems but one of them '...needed the gearbox taken out...' so he might have fixed this problem.

I will keep you posted.