strange goings on with the gearbox oil level!!

[hogggman]

hi,
ages ago i checked my gearbox oil on my v6 with the engine warm but off,and the level was exactly between the 2 marks.the other day i read somewhere that the engine should be running and in drive,so i did this and the level didn`t even show on the dipstick.i then decided to check again,the same way yesterday,before going to halfords to get some gearbox oil,and this time the reading was correct!how weird!i cannot remember how long the engine had been warming up on both occasions,so that may be a factor.i wanted to top up or even change the gearbox oil as i still haven`t 100% definitely located the source of my rattle,and figured that if the gearbox oil was very very low,it might be running noisily.now that my secong check seemed to reveal that the level was ok,i might have to rethink that as a possible cause of the rattle
would a gearbox oil change help,even if the level seems ok?
how much does the petrol v6 hold?
what IS the correct way to check
thanks
jamie

[apole]

Hi Jamie,

I'm sure you check it with the engine running, I always thought it was when warm and in neutral.

I've done a web search and come up with the following:

http://www.samarins.com/maintenance/simple.html

See what others say as well.

I check mine with the engine running and so far the level has been fine.

[scanner]

Is it auto or manual?


It is only the auto you check warmed up and running in drive (with the handbrake on and chocks in front of the wheels).

[apole]

Hi there

Been doing some more research, all the articles I am finding all say that the level should be checked with the engine warm and the car in P, not D. Does anyone know what difference that would make as it would be good to know the correct procedure.

This is a pretty good article BTW as it mentions a way of checking the fluid condition.

http://www.aa1car.com/library/2002/bf90222.htm

Andy

[madmile]

I have always understood it was checked in P, after running through all the gears with a fully warmed up box - but I am not a mechanic and pay someone to look at this sort of thing for me .

[bigdaddycain]

I posted a while back on the procedure for checking the auto fluid levels in an auto bongo. I was told some years back by an old school auto box reconditioner that the fluid level should be checked in "D" for an accurate reading straight off.

The fluid is sloshing about in "P" or "N" ,so it could take several dips on the stick to work out the average reading... It should take no more than two dips if the vehicle is in "D". The guy that re-furbed the auto box on my car at the time (scorpio cosworth) said that nobody will tell you the correct way to check the level cos of all this Health & safety b0ll0ck5! "just park it against a kerb,handbrake on, drivers window open".

I'm just relaying how i was told to do it by an expert in such matters....

[dandywarhol]

Your ol' school bhoyo is correct. I used to overhaul autoboxes and the only accurate way to check it is in "D" with the engine idling and the oil warm.

[bigdaddycain]

That's how i check mine dandy,although i usually bribe the missus into holding the bongo on the foot brake (and handbrake) plus the chocks under the wheels. She likes it when i check the fluid, it usually means the dishes get washed,clothes hung up...or some other such nonsense

[scanner]

That's how i check mine dandy,although i usually bribe the missus into holding the bongo on the foot brake (and handbrake) plus the chocks under the wheels. She likes it when i check the fluid, it usually means the dishes get washed,clothes hung up...or some other such nonsense

How do you lift the driver's seat if she's sat on it holding it on the brakes?

[madmile]

That's how i check mine dandy,although i usually bribe the missus into holding the bongo on the foot brake (and handbrake) plus the chocks under the wheels. She likes it when i check the fluid, it usually means the dishes get washed,clothes hung up...or some other such nonsense

I stand corrected ...... But where do you get the missus to sit while you have your head under the seat checking the oil .

[nfn]

If your bongo creeps in D with the handbrake on, then the handbrake may not be working properly, or the engine idle speed is too high. I find the hard part of checking the auto trans oil is seeing the level on the stick -- the pink dye in the AT fluid is not quite pink enough to easily get a reading. I find that it takes 5 or 6 dips to be sure of the level.

[hogggman]

hi again,
after tinkering with my bongo today,i rechecked the gearbox oil level,and when warm,in drive,with handbrake on,the level didn`t even show on the dipstick.then when i restarted the engine in neutral,the level showed,albeit low,on the dipstick.it was a nice clear red colour,is it worth changing it completely or should i just top it up?it could be way low on oil,but if so,why hasn`t it gone into`safe`mode?is it really correct to check it with the engine running and in `drive`?if so,i may just add a litre of gearbox oil then recheck the level.i cannot stress enough how keen i am to know the correct way of checking,as i`m paranoid about overfilling it and maybe causing damage.
many thanks in advance
jamie

[Dolly1]

Hi ,Jamie.The procedure goes like this.Go for a drive,get everything to working temperature,stop,engage handbrake.With the engine running,leave in N for a couple of minutes.Move gear shift through the range from L1= P and back again,not fast about 5 seconds between each gear.do this three times.Move gear shift to D wait 1 minute.Wipe dipstick and check level.Hope this helps

[bigdaddycain]

That's how i check mine dandy,although i usually bribe the missus into holding the bongo on the foot brake (and handbrake) plus the chocks under the wheels. She likes it when i check the fluid, it usually means the dishes get washed,clothes hung up...or some other such nonsense

How do you lift the driver's seat if she's sat on it holding it on the brakes?

Have you seen how small my missus is? Velcro pads are brill!

Now i think about it, she reaches through the gap from the passenger side, and pushes the brake with her hand...Its probably not absolutley neccessary,but re-assuring, as i have had the bongo roll over my foot in the past which smarts a little bit....

[lizard]

I was a bit worried then, I thought that a few of you guys were using the misses as a chock for the front wheels.