What's the right way of checking ATF

**rion** · March 23rd, 2006 09:02 AM

1. Park your car on level ground and start the engine, leaving the gear in neutral or park. Wait for the engine to warm up. Unless your owner's manual directs otherwise, allow the engine to continue running throughout this procedure.

2. Find the ATF dipstick, located at the back of the engine. The ATF dipstick is often shorter than the engine oil dipstick but otherwise looks similar. If you're lucky, it will be labeled.

3. Pull on the dipstick and completely remove it. It may be very long.

4. Wipe the dipstick with a rag, replace it in the engine, push it all the way in and remove it again.

5. Look at the dipstick's tip. Observe whether there are two different full markings: one for cold readings and one for warm readings. If so, read the one for 'Warm.' If the ATF does not come up to the line marked 'Full,' add ATF.

6. Add ATF (see Tips) into the hole that the dipstick came out of (yes, that little tiny hole). Use a funnel with a long, narrow neck. Add only a little at a time, and check the level with the dipstick after each time. It's easy to add ATF but fairly difficult to take it out if you add too much.

7. Put the dipstick all the way back in when you are done.

today 7:30 am I checked our 2.2 TD's Automatic Transmission Fluid, when I got the dipstick out, I notice the level is at hot at first. but it doesn't count right? so I wipe the stick and dipped it again. Still it was at Hot Level. we didn't use the vehicle from 9:00pm last night.

this time, I Start the Engine * park mode for 5 Mins > I cleaned the dipstick out and put it back again. and now I see a barely touching Cold Level or barely see any fluid at all.

waited for 10 Mins, and checked again,.. Still barely see any ATF at all...

now, I turned the Engine off > then after 5 Mins, I checked the Stick twice and it's now * hot level...

so what's the right observation?

use the basis of checked level while Engine is at Idle?

or the basis of checked level after Engine is turned off?

any Ideas guys?

**need4speed** · March 23rd, 2006 09:51 AM

from what my A/T mechanic (who's a specialist btw) told me, you have to do it with 2 people. one inside and the car is started and put on D and of course stepping on the brake pedal for it not to move. the other up front checking the level.

**rion** · March 23rd, 2006 10:06 AM

So I should use the basis from Turned on Engine right?

**rion** · March 23rd, 2006 10:43 AM

update: I drive it for 3 Km, then checked it again while Engine is Running and on Drive w/ Brakes. (Van kasi, nasa ilalim lang ng driver seat ang Engine)

result: barely see any ATF

I should fill it up with ATF ASAP right?

**need4speed** · March 23rd, 2006 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by rion

update: I drive it for 3 Km, then checked it again while Engine is Running and on Drive w/ Brakes. (Van kasi, nasa ilalim lang ng driver seat ang Engine)

result: barely see any ATF

I should fill it up with ATF ASAP right?

from what you've described yup i think you should. you definitely don't want to run out of ATF! too costly! believe me... hehehe

check also if you have any ATF leaking.

**theveed** · March 23rd, 2006 11:12 AM

rion: Just for your peace of mind, just drain and refill ATF, mura lang naman eh...

**rion** · March 23rd, 2006 11:34 AM

papunta na sana ako sa Station but two people I asked here, not Mechanics told me that I should use the basis of checked level after Engine is turned off. normal lang daw na walang ATF sa dipstick sa Engine running...

nababasa ko sa mga internet sites na I should check the manual kasi some cars have different procedures. I wonder what should I apply since wala po akong manuals.

ang sasakyan po ay Toyota Townace 3C-T (2.2 Turbo Diesel)

I need to make sure po, kakapalit ng ATF a year and a half lang, wala pa namang sunog na amoy o leaking.. at mahirap na kung sobra ang malagay ko na ATF diba?

*theveed: palitan ko po lahat as long as tama ba na kulang talaga...
ok lang kasi ang level niya sa basis of checked level after Engine is turned off eh...

thanks

**theveed** · March 23rd, 2006 11:43 AM

hehe ako kasi yearly magpalit ng ATF, mura lang naman eh, mahal pagawa ng AT.

**popoyn** · March 23rd, 2006 12:08 PM

sir, what brand of atf do you use?

**rion** · March 23rd, 2006 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by theveed

hehe ako kasi yearly magpalit ng ATF, mura lang naman eh, mahal pagawa ng AT.

hehe.. tama po kayo, drain and refill ATF na ako mamaya.

peru sa websites kasi, sabi nila 25,000 to 30,000 miles. that's more or less 45,000 Kilometers diba? at ang sabi pa ng ibang sites may ibang cars pa na no need to change ATF at all...

*popoyn: di ko na po matandaan, sa palagay ko Caltex Siguro, kasi dun kami sa Shop ng Caltex nagpa palit ATF.

hindi pa po ako nakakita ng unused ATF, ano po ba ang kulay nyan sa Caltex? medyo brown kunti na kasi rin yung sa amin...I think time to change na kung brown, though wala pa namang amoy sunog.

just found a website saying:

Check the ATF only after the transmission has been warmed up to operating temperature, say after a short trip someplace. Park on a level spot, set the parking brake, leave the engine running at idle, and locate the ATF Dipstick. This might be located along the firewall, but there are other possible places, as well, depending on the orientation of the engine and transmission. Consult the owner’s manual or a dealer if you aren’t sure. Do not confuse the transmission Dipstick with the oil level Dipstick. The ATF Dipstick usually has writing on it indicating what it does.

Some vehicles are checked with the transmission in park, others require it to be in neutral. The rule of thumb is that GM, Ford, front-wheel drive Chryslers and nearly all imported cars are checked in park, older rear-wheel drive Chryslers are checked in neutral. Again, check the owner’s manual or with a dealer if you aren’t sure.

Pull the Dipstick out and wipe it with a clean paper towel. Reinsert it and check the level several times until the readings seem consistent. The fluid is moving around and has a tendency to splash a bit giving changes in readings. If the level is low, fluid is added using a small funnel down the dipstick tube itself. It’s very important to use the correct fluid for your particular vehicle and that information is likely both stamped on the Dipstick itself and printed in the owner’s manual. The fluid should be a nice red or pink color, not brown or smell burnt.

Click here for link

pinahirapan lang ako ng dalawang tao na tinanongan ko dito, lakad na ako mamaya para palit ATF.

peru appreciate ko po parin kung may iba pa dyan na may alam kung ano ang husto na sakto.

salamat po