93CutlassSupreme Posted January 12, 2004 Report Share Posted January 12, 2004 More than one poster in this thread has said, not suggested, but said that it was better to be low than high. Nothing could be further from the truth. i guess you still can't read because not once did i see someone say it is better to have the fluid low than high please point this out to me i would to see where it says low is better than high my OWNERS MANUAL and my SERVICE MANUAL both do not recommend overfilling the trans past the full mark on the dipstick. however, they both say that you only need to add fluid if it is below the add mark. therefore, if the level is below the full mark, it would be slightly low, yet, both manuals say that is perfectly fine, as long as it is above the add mark and the fluid is pink, red, or light brown and does not smell burnt. taking this into account, one could make the assumption that it would be better for the trans fluid level to be a little low, instead of overfilling it past the full point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaPaPooh Posted January 12, 2004 Report Share Posted January 12, 2004 my OWNERS MANUAL and my SERVICE MANUAL both do not recommend overfilling the trans past the full mark on the dipstick. however, they both say that you only need to add fluid if it is below the add mark. therefore, if the level is below the full mark, it would be slightly low, yet, both manuals say that is perfectly fine, as long as it is above the add mark and the fluid is pink, red, or light brown and does not smell burnt. taking this into account, one could make the assumption that it would be better for the trans fluid level to be a little low, instead of overfilling it past the full point i understand that but he said more than one said it was better to have it low than overfull personaly i went back and read all the posts and did not see any one say "its better to have it low then high" thats why i asked the question Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quaddriver Posted January 12, 2004 Report Share Posted January 12, 2004 i guess you still can't read because not once did i see someone say it is better to have the fluid low than high please point this out to me i would to see where it says low is better than high always one to please: if anything, a little low on fluid is better than high man u guys are picky. guy asks a simple question. I give him a simple answer, tell him the size wrench he needs, suggest a drain plug, and assure him he does not have to be all that exact on the dipstick and you jump all over it. Geez,If NASA had additudes like that the USA would still not have launched its first satellite. Question, did anyone call Sam this AM and get independant verification on what I have said in this thread? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4spdz34 Posted January 12, 2004 Report Share Posted January 12, 2004 i totally agree with quaddriver my trans has been rebuilt by my friend at the dealer i work at. he ahs been there 30 years and he suggested to me when my trans was going bad to overfill it, he also said if you drive it ahrd to over fill it by 1 quart cause it will add more cooling capacity and if anyone ahs ever taken a hard l;eft turn witha 4t60e u know the trans slips outta gear, it stops this problem. also in the trans go shift kit for the 4t60e it states for longer trans life over fill your trans by .5-1 quart of trans fluid. mine is always about 1 quart over filled. it does no harm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaPaPooh Posted January 12, 2004 Report Share Posted January 12, 2004 i didn't call no need to when i have a resource to ask about all things right here from my desktop and i would also trust my service manual with the 2 binders of updated technical service bulletins from the manuf. over a 40year vet i the biss that i don't know i also go off personal exp. i have had with these type things so there for i don't need someone telling me "it is allright" when i have exp. different Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quaddriver Posted January 13, 2004 Report Share Posted January 13, 2004 i didn't call no need to when i have a resource to ask about all things right here from my desktop and i would also trust my service manual with the 2 binders of updated technical service bulletins from the manuf. over a 40year vet i the biss that i don't know i also go off personal exp. i have had with these type things so there for i don't need someone telling me "it is allright" when i have exp. different ok fine, not to beat a dead horse or get off topic, but in your manual and the TSBs, address what GM did for 3t40s with cracked cases: i.e. overfill a lot and use a different dipstick. why does it all of a sudden become 'right'? since you are a trans tech as your signature says, you do realize that transaxles do not have the valve body in or near the pan....on a RWD tranny as long as the tranny is not critically low, the guts are still immersed and the sump is not as long. and you also know that dropping pressure on a clutch while at speed means you become aquainted with your trans tech in a hurry. from what I am reading above, you are telling me you have overfilled an otherwise healthy 4T60 by 1qt and it failed as a result? is that your testimony? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaPaPooh Posted January 13, 2004 Report Share Posted January 13, 2004 not failed but getting there changed the fluid and 2 weeks later it started slipping with no problem before i changed it the fluid still looked nice and red not burnt at all trans not dead yet but getting there that is why i will be rebuilding it in the next few months as long as the free trans i can get my hands on will work in my car and yes i have seen a few overfilled 4t60's not 3t40's come to the shop and over filled by 1 1/2 qt. and we ask how did it get overfilled and they tell us they had a service done on it at a quick lube and that might have been where it happend so we ask how long ago was that? and they say 3 1/2 weeks was one and the other was 2 weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
93CutlassSupreme Posted January 13, 2004 Report Share Posted January 13, 2004 once again, we could all go out and check our trans fluid dipsticks and make sure the fluid is inbetween the "add" and "full" marks..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quaddriver Posted January 13, 2004 Report Share Posted January 13, 2004 not failed but getting there changed the fluid and 2 weeks later it started slipping with no problem before i changed it the fluid still looked nice and red not burnt at all trans not dead yet but getting there that is why i will be rebuilding it in the next few months as long as the free trans i can get my hands on will work in my car and yes i have seen a few overfilled 4t60's not 3t40's come to the shop and over filled by 1 1/2 qt. and we ask how did it get overfilled and they tell us they had a service done on it at a quick lube and that might have been where it happend so we ask how long ago was that? and they say 3 1/2 weeks was one and the other was 2 weeks aha, the majic words - quick lube - that flush they do stirs up the deposits, places the phenol material in the shift valves and the metal shavings in the clutch packs. yes, trannys do fail soon after trips to the quick lube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RareGMFan Posted January 13, 2004 Report Share Posted January 13, 2004 aha, the majic words - quick lube - that flush they do stirs up the deposits, places the phenol material in the shift valves and the metal shavings in the clutch packs. yes, trannys do fail soon after trips to the quick lube. Yup. This would be the reason Jiffy Lube has made it a company policy not to change the tranny fluid on any car with 100K + miles on it, regardless of maintenance history. I've heard plenty of people loose their trannys a couple of weeks after a drain/refill, and they had nothing to do with refill levels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaPaPooh Posted January 13, 2004 Report Share Posted January 13, 2004 no not flushes just a service Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quaddriver Posted January 13, 2004 Report Share Posted January 13, 2004 Yup. This would be the reason Jiffy Lube has made it a company policy not to change the tranny fluid on any car with 100K + miles on it, regardless of maintenance history. I've heard plenty of people loose their trannys a couple of weeks after a drain/refill, and they had nothing to do with refill levels. thats because they dont do crap properly. if you change all the fluid you can, with a filter, and clean out the pan....no harm can come to the tranny. on 30K mile intervals up to 180K, then 15K after that, it took just shy of 220K to lose the 4th gear sprag...a hard part...proper cool fluid works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RareGMFan Posted January 13, 2004 Report Share Posted January 13, 2004 thats because they dont do crap properly. if you change all the fluid you can, with a filter, and clean out the pan....no harm can come to the tranny. on 30K mile intervals up to 180K, then 15K after that, it took just shy of 220K to lose the 4th gear sprag...a hard part...proper cool fluid works. So you're saying I should go ahead and go for a flush on the turbo trannys? I've been waiting on that because I thought maybe it wasn't such a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quaddriver Posted January 13, 2004 Report Share Posted January 13, 2004 So you're saying I should go ahead and go for a flush on the turbo trannys? I've been waiting on that because I thought maybe it wasn't such a good idea. NO! Im saying never flush it, do it manually and properly, and if the TC is not tapped do it again 6K miles later, that way you are reasonably confident appx 75% of the fluid is changed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaPaPooh Posted January 16, 2004 Report Share Posted January 16, 2004 keeping the trans cool is a big part of whole situation if your car does over heat check the trans fluid if it is discolored in anyway i would suggest a change (if not done recently a filter too) heat kills fluid IIRC 220° F. takes 3 mo? or 10,000 miles off the fluid life so it is a big part of the trannys life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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