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Help!! — ATF drain and fill questions

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  • #849360
    Jack SmithJack Smith
    Participant

      This is the update from my previous post about a week ago (“Does ATF naturally get low over time?”)

      I have a 2010 CRV (4WD) with ~30K and a 2010 Corolla with ~40K. Make very short trips everyday to work for about 2 miles one way. Therefore the mileage for both cars is so low. Have never checked the automatic transmission fluid (ATF) in either car until a week ago. And realized that both cars have very low ATF, much lower than the lower dot.

      So I did a drain and fill for both car this weekend. For the Corolla, it was as expected, the manual calls for 3.1 quarts. I put in about 3 quarts and it is full.

      However, for the CRV, the strangest thing happened. The manual calls for 2.6 quarts (as pointed out by Eric in my previous post as well). However, I ended up putting in a full 4 quarts to fill it full (at the edge of the upper dot). Basically, what I did after I drained the fluid (and tightened the bolt back up) is I first put in 2.5 quarts. Let it sit for ~10 minutes (I did this because otherwise, there is ATF in the dipstick tube and you just can’t read the dipstick), then start up the car, go through all the gears, and let it warm up until the fan comes on the first time (the manual is very specific about this). Then, I shut the engine and check the dipstick. After 3 quarts, I barely see anything on the dipstick. I added in 1/4 of a quart at a time (so this took 2 hrs). Eventually, I put in 4 quarts and ATF comes to the edge of the upper dot.

      This is WAY MORE than what the manual calls for. Does this mean that my transmission is worn? I want to mention that I have never experienced or noticed any problems with the CRV transmission. Any comments will be hugely appreciated.

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    • #849365
      transman304transman304
      Participant

        How much came out when you drained it? 4 quarts sounds about right. Put it to the full mark however much it takes. You are doing the fill and check correctly as you are describing.

        #849366
        Jack SmithJack Smith
        Participant

          That’s the problem. Because it was too low before, I decided not to measure how much ATF came out. My thought was that it won’t be accurate anyway. I drained ATF into a drain pan with previous oil drain and there is no way to measure it now.

          One interesting thing is, I found this youtube video:

          He drained out 3.5 quarts, which is much closer to my situation than the service manual.

          #849370
          transman304transman304
          Participant

            Use the marks on your dipstick to confirm level don’t worry about how much it takes.

            #849475
            Jack SmithJack Smith
            Participant

              Has anyone else experienced anything like this (i.e., putting in way more ATF than the service manual calls for)? Does it mean my transmission is worn? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

              #849555
              Rob JorgensenRob Jorgensen
              Participant

                The full capacity is not drained on a drain and fill so the additional fluid was lost to whatever caused the low reading.

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