How much fluid should the transmission take?!?

[hatrik8]

Today I took off my TCI pan to fix a leak. It is supposed to take 7 quarts instead of the stock 5 quarts.

After getting it all back together I added 6quarts and a bottle of lubeguard, checked it and looked ok. Then drove it down the street to the car wash and it wouldn't go anywhere after the wash. So I check the fluid and assume I didn't put enough in. I then walk home leaving the truck at the car wash and go back with another bottle of fluid. Now it shifts after 7qts and 1pt lubguard.

So I get home and check the fluid it still looks low. I drive the parts store in my daily driver and buy two more bottles of ATF. Add some of the first bottle and it still is low on the dipstick. I then add the rest, still low. So then I start adding the 9th quart and it finally gets on the dipstick. So after 9qts and 1pt lubeguard I am in the operating range. I took it out and shifts hard like it used to. No lack of shift or anything. SO is it possible that it needed 9qts after removing 7qts from the pan? I alwasy checked in park with the trans hot and level.

I seem to have fixed the leak after ripping the cork gasket I bought from summit :roll: and purchasing a damn kit with filter for the third time to replace it! I used the fiber type that I have used before so hopefully this time it stays dry. I torqued to spec in criss cross pattern and also put thread sealant on the drain plug since that was where the largest leak was. I have my fingers crossed now. If it leaks again I'm buying a derale pan for sure.

 

[Robert Lone]

Re: How much fluid should the transmission take?!?

I just trust the factory dipstick...

 

[George Blake]

Re: How much fluid should the transmission take?!?

With a trans, you can't put in just a certain amount and drive away. Cooler capacity, lube lines, torque converter, everything makes a difference. The trans is totally hydraulic. No fluid, no move. What happens is that, at idle in park, your fluid will look fine. Move down the road, shift it into gear, fluid pumps through, displaced the air.....level goes down. Shifting into 3rd, displaces air, fills passages, fluid goes down. TC locks up. Displaces air, bunch of fluid fills passages, fluid goes way down. This is for any auto trans.

What I recommend is to sit in the driveway, put it in reverse. Let that happen. Put it in OD. Let the forwards engage. Hold it for a bit. Put it in D. Let the overruns engage, hold it for a bit. Check the fluid, replace what moved. Take 3 or 4 quarts with you and let it shift into second, drive it a bit, pull over replace the fluid. Then just drive easy, let it lock up the tcc and go into 4th, pull over and top it off (running of course). At that point you are probably OK. Drive it pay attention to how it feels. When you get home (on level ground)before you turn it off, check it one last time. You may need to add a tad more. It sounds anal but this way you don't run a chance of what you had happen. My first rebuild I did years ago, I did the exact same thing. Filled it up. Looked good at idle, made it out of the driveway, got down the block, then wouldn't move. Dipstick was dry. Don't feel bad.

 

[hatrik8]

Re: How much fluid should the transmission take?!?

Ok thats good. I was worried I was doing something wrong and over filled it. I will check it again next time I drive to make sure it's in the operating range. I just figured since I dropped the pan, that 7qts would do it.

 

[THEMADTYPH00N]

Re: How much fluid should the transmission take?!?

I've always wondered this too. When removing the pan I know its suppose to hold a certain amount of fluid. But when you take it off does some of the fluid from either the converter or cooler lines able to drain back into the pan? This is the only way I could think of where his extra 3 quarts went to.

 

[gkrcr882]

Re: How much fluid should the transmission take?!?

Fluid does drain down when the vehicle is off, this can be felt as the lag, then push when the TC engages. When you first start a vehicle and quickly put it into gear, the TC has not completely filled with fluid yet. As George mentioned, gear running is important when changing fluid, as air does get displaced.

 

[Tooky]

Re: How much fluid should the transmission take?!?

I've always wondered this too. When removing the pan I know its suppose to hold a certain amount of fluid. But when you take it off does some of the fluid from either the converter or cooler lines able to drain back into the pan? This is the only way I could think of where his extra 3 quarts went to.

You'd be surprised how much is waiting for you when you pull the pan off completely and then start loosening the Valve Body bolts.... :splat: :x
I think a lot of it is from the torque converter.