Tranny Drain and Refill Quantity?

[sjpitts]

I just did a tranny drain and refill. 93 FJZ80. The FSM says that a drain and refill should use 6.3 US Quarts. When I did it, I only put in 5.5 quarts to start low, figuring that I would work up after running it through the gears.

But when I did it, I found that 5.5 quarts made it a little high to begin with. The level was about half way between the "cold" and "hot" regions on the dipstick after running it in for just a minute or so.

After driving around for a while for a few miles, I measured again and found that it was maybe a 1/4 inch above the hot level.

So I have two questions-- what is wrong with the fill amount--- is the FSM just off?

Second question-- do I have too much fluid-- should I take some out? I was a bit worried since I am about to start towing my boat around in 100+ degree temperatures.

Jared

 

[Terrax]

5.5 quarts sounds right. In the future try what I do which is a pain in the ass, but at least you'll know what came out. Drain oil in pan completely, scoop it out and fill 1 quart container and fill your recycable container while you count how much came out and fill the same volume. Works for me.

 

[tarbe]

I get 4 quarts...I've done my three times now and it has been 4 quarts every time....and the level is correct.

My owner's manual says a drain and re-fill is two quarts!!! Go figure....

 

[RavenTai]

IIRC SJ's 80 has the crude 442 as opposed to our refined 343, the drain and fill quantities are different,

The fill on the 343 is somewhere between 4 and 5 quarts, think if you drain it hot it is closer to 5.

 

[DRTDuck]

5.5 quarts sounds right. In the future try what I do which is a pain in the ass, but at least you'll know what came out. Drain oil in pan completely, scoop it out and fill 1 quart container and fill your recycable container while you count how much came out and fill the same volume. Works for me.

I have an old plastic milk jug that I marked quart lines on, that is what I draind the tranny fluid into so I know how much came out.

I drain and fill each time I change the engine oil. I have gotten between 2.5 - 4 quarts. Most times just a little over three.

 

[tarbe]

The fill on the 343 is somewhere between 4 and 5 quarts, think if you drain it hot it is closer to 5.

Some fluid must get sucked back up into the converter (or somewhere) on cooling??? Kinda like the overflow bottle on the rad.....

 

[turbocruiser]

Just as another data point, i always seem to drain roughly 4quarts. Even though it is a little extra trouble, i take the time to drain the ATF into a separate container and measure exactly what comes out; you do not want to overfill your tranny. HTH.

 

[MaddBaggins]

I got 6 qts when I did mine the first time. I will be doing it again soon so I will find out if it is consistant.

 

[sjpitts]

Thanks for the replies. There is definately a difference between the 343 and 442 amounts, but that does not explain why the FSM is off so much for the 442. I wonder why that is.

That being said, is it more accurate to measure the fluid level hot or cold? Like I said before, measured cold it appears that I am overfilled (it is halfway between the cold and hot regions on the dipstick). Well over what it should be. But hot, at least after having been driven around for a while, it is just barefly (1/4 inch) over the hot region on the dipstick.

Based on that, do you think I should drain some fluid out? I worry that having it overfilled, even a little, could be a problem when I go to tow the boat in 115 degree weather.

Jared

 

[turbocruiser]

Thanks for the replies. There is definately a difference between the 343 and 442 amounts, but that does not explain why the FSM is off so much for the 442. I wonder why that is.

That being said, is it more accurate to measure the fluid level hot or cold? Like I said before, measured cold it appears that I am overfilled (it is halfway between the cold and hot regions on the dipstick). Well over what it should be. But hot, at least after having been driven around for a while, it is just barefly (1/4 inch) over the hot region on the dipstick.

Based on that, do you think I should drain some fluid out? I worry that having it overfilled, even a little, could be a problem when I go to tow the boat in 115 degree weather.

Jared

My opinion is yes, drain out some to get to the right level. You said it was only 1/4 inch off after driving around awhile, well, wait til you tow that boat in 115 degree weather and see how much higher the fluid level goes. I'm not sure that it matters if it is hot or cold when you measure just that if it is cold it is no more than at the low/cold line and if it is hot it is somewhere between the low and high lines and I think that the somewhere between is what matters since as you have already observed, at cold it is more than 1/4 inch above cold yet at "hot" it is only 1/4, that tells me it can get hotter still and higher still and screw something up. A tranny is too expensive to play with, just open the drain plug let a half quart come out and remeasure. HTH.