How to tell if transmission fluid is low?

[knowleqe]

hey everyone, is there anyway to check to see if your transmission fluid is low w/o actually getting under and checking the fill plug? also, how would i kno if im burning fluid?

thanx

[trpower7]

No. Get under, check the fill plug. That's why it's there. transmission fluid can't be BURNED, think about it. There are no combustion processes inside a transmission. You can LEAK fluid through the seal in the transmission that leads to the clutch assembly and it can be burned on the clutch, but that is a leak problem. Also the rear output shaft seal on the trans is a likely place to inspect for a leak.

[carnal_c30]

5spd or auto??

if its auto

theres a transmission fluid dipstick on the passenger side rear of the engine compartment

with the motor running run through the gears and check the fluid level

[90fastback]

put it on 4 jack stands, lay under there, take the fill plug off the side with an adjustable wrench if u dont wanna find one that fits, its a sqaure bolt, stick ur finger in there and make sure its about to drain out of the fill plug... the trannies take 2 3/4 transmission oil, i'd drain it and refill it for fun

[knowleqe]

alright, its a 5 speed, is there any way to feel it when im rowing through the gears? would it feel any different?

[trpower7]

If you're low, it'll grind more. There is no reliable way to check it except for the fill plug. That's it, period.

[AzurE]

probably still has origional in it, or whats left of it. take it to kwikee lube and get it changed for some good stuff and ask em if they see any leaks. and while ur there also do the same for the diffy and check for pinion seal slobber.

trans takes 5-1/8 pints, rear end takes 3-7/8 pints

(5-1/8 + 3-7/8 = 9....scary)

[Ligouri Rd]

Here's another question: What would happen if the transmission (5spd) was overfilled. The reason I ask is that shortly after I bought the car from a mitsubichy dealer I noticed a trans leak. After a few days it stopped. I had the fluid level checked (by Jiffy Lube, yeah I know, bad idea) and the level was fine. Is there any possibility that the excess fluid was forced out the seals? I have been driving for over a year now since this happened and have had no problems shifting (except my 5th gear syncro is starting to go, helps if I double clutch).

[Altiman94]

why can't transmission fluid be burned? If your transmission gets hot enough the fluid can burn.

[trpower7]

1) The places transmission fluid can leak through are the front and rear seal of the trans. Leaks through the front seal it gets burned on the clutch plate (which I already explained). Leaks through the rear seal, it leaks out onto the driveshaft, onto the ground, etc.

2) Trans fuild will not burn. It is chemically manufactured to not have a temperature of evaporation even close to the temperature your transmission will see. That's why you put it in there. Maybe if you took your transmission with fluid and dumped it into a furnace, it would burn.

[knowleqe]

is there anyway for me to know if the seal is messed up? and how would i tell if it is getting burned on the clutch plate?

[trpower7]

Your clutch would slip like crazy, and you would be losing transmission fluid, which you check, with the check/fill bolt. Easy