Dope

iTrader: (2)

Hey guys,

I asked this question on ls1.com a while back but never had a very satisfactory answer. Then it came to my attention that all of the real tech people came here. So here I ask again (sorry, I hate people who crosspost things).

I overfilled my trans. How? I'm not sure. I dropped my tranny pan to install my sender for my trans temp gauge. The manual says 5 quarts are needed for dropping the pan. So I added 4 and checked the level. It was high, quite high in fact.

So, I drove around, checked it, it was a lil lower bit still higher than the crosshatching area. There is no doubt that it high, I have tested it (in Park, hot, engine running) at least 10 times since that time, and it is about an inch above the crosshatch area. It is a stock A4 with a B&M 24k cooler and a Yank3000 converter.

So my 2 part question is - do you think the trans is actually overfilled? How many quarts has it taken you guys to fill up after dropping the pan? -if it IS overfilled, is it necessarily bad?

I always thought that if the trans was overfilled, it would vent the excess out the vent tube that's attached to the torque arm. Not a drop out of it, and the level is still the same. Trans shifts perfect, right at 6000rpm, no slop, no excess harshness, etc..

This all happened at least a month ago. Probably longer. So I guess it's kinda dumb to ask now - but I'd rather fix it now than when the trans blows up from having too much fluid in it.
So - is it overfilled, and if so, is it necessarily bad? anyone had any experience related to this?

Sorry for the long windedness.

Dope

Plum Crazy Rob

iTrader: (3)

Obviously, the engineers allowed a little margin for filling error, but it wasn't an inch <img src="gr_eek2.gif" border="0"> . (sorry !)

Drain out a quart or so (good thing you got a hole in the pan now <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0"> ) and refill to the mark/hot/idling.

Having it too full foams the fluid, and foamy fluid looses all its hydraulic properties (resulting in a dead tranny if you go long enough - hows that for motivation <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0"> )
<img src="graemlins/formula.gif" border="0" alt="[Pontiac]" />

JimmyKash

if you overfill the trans you essentially just blow out the seals in the trans and can possibly damage the pump a little

thats it

Dope

iTrader: (2)

Ah crap.

The scary thing is, it's been about 3 months. Well hopefully it's not damaged *sigh*. Figures, when I asked on ls1.com a month or two back, everyone said don't worry about it.

One thing that bugs me though - why doesn't it vent out the vent tube? Or is that just for when the trans overheats and 'pukes' out some fluid?

Crap crap crap. Snow on the ground, 20 degrees out, this'll be fun. (no garage).

Dope

zombiedude

iTrader: (1)

I'm no expert on trans, but the only 1 I know of the 'vents trany juice is the turbo-400. and thats still not good. Level lines are there for a reason.(well mabey not realy, lol) <img src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

zombiedude

iTrader: (1)

I'm no expert on trans, but the only 1 I know of the 'vents trany juice is the turbo-400. and thats still not good. Level lines are there for a reason.(well mabey not realy, lol) <img src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

zombiedude

iTrader: (1)

I'm no expert on trans, but the only 1 I know of the 'vents trany juice is the turbo-400. and thats still not good. Level lines are there for a reason.(well mabey not realy, lol) <img src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

zombiedude

iTrader: (1)

man, 3times sorry. <img src="graemlins/camaro.gif" border="0" alt="[Chevrolet]" />

Jackyl_30

So let me ask you all this. What is that tube from the top of the tranny that goes along the torque arm for? I thought it was for things just like this.

Colonel

Drain some fluid.

I think if you had actually hurt anything up to this point you would have felt the super sloppy shift and banged rev limiter that occurs from fluid foaming. Luckily, Dextron has good anti-foaming agents that have probably saved the day in this case. Were you using Ford F-Type fluid, you would probably have seen a problem by now.

Colonel

It's for ventilation, not for purging excess fluid...although this can and will happen.

You haven't hurt anything yet, most likely, or you'de already know it. Get the fluid level right now.