Help! I think that I may have overfilled my motor home transmission!

[2porscheguy]

I'm not sure if this would the correct forum for this but I thought I'd try you guys first!

I have Fleetwood A class motor home with a Ford V10 equipped with a Torqshift 5 speed transmission. I wanted to change the tranny fluid so I drained it and added 16 L of ATF (the fluid capacity is 17.2L). I started her up and shifted through the gears and out poured about 1L of ATF out the top vent and onto my driveway. I immediately shut the engine down. What should I do next? Should I drain a bit of ATF out? Or can I warm up the engine and proceed with checking the ATF level as per the manual?

[asphaltgambler]

Was it running / idling when adding fluid? If not (looking at your post) it was likely overfilled. You can add a few qts with the engine off, but it's needs to be running to finish adding so the fluid will be circulated. I would start it, let it idle, let the fluid level out.

[Dixie]

When you drain an automatic transmission, only some of the fluid drains out. A quick Google shows you're only replacing about 8 L when you drain it. Google also shows there's a 'cold' level on the dipstick.
If it was me, I'd drain the pan, and replace a litter at a time until it hits the cold level. Then I'd start the engine and follow the topping off procedure.

[Bill Douglas]

Good advice from Capt. Another good game plan is to have an accurate set of scales. Get the oil up to operating temperature, drain what you can. Take note of the weight, and put new oil in of the same weight. thanks for reminding me. I need to do this on my Corolla.

[908/930]

Yes likely overfilled, if you only dropped the pan you would have lots of oil in cooler and torque converter. Can you measure how much you removed? Fairly easy to get some 5/16 pvc hose and run it into the dipstick tube and syphon some out.

[2porscheguy]

Originally Posted by Capt. Carrera

When you drain an automatic transmission, only some of the fluid drains out. A quick Google shows you're only replacing about 8 L when you drain it. Google also shows there's a 'cold' level on the dipstick.
If it was me, I'd drain the pan, and replace a litter at a time until it hits the cold level. Then I'd start the engine and follow the topping off procedure.

Yep! My first time doing this so though I didn't measure how much was drained as I immediately placed it into a container but, you are correct 16L sure as Hail didn't drain out! My thought was to drain out "some", and then measure when cold to see where the level sits. Start it up, shift through the gears a few times and then let it warm up and then remeasure at idle. Does that seem like a plan? I don't want to drain too much out as I obviously shouldn't reuse the ATF?

Thanks Capt!

[2porscheguy]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

Was it running / idling when adding fluid? If not (looking at your post) it was likely overfilled. You can add a few qts with the engine off, but it's needs to be running to finish adding so the fluid will be circulated. I would start it, let it idle, let the fluid level out.

It wasn't running as I didn't think I should run it after draining the pan....could I had still had it running? No damage from doing that? My first time doing this.....rookie mistake...lesson learned!

[2porscheguy]

Originally Posted by 908/930

Yes likely overfilled, if you only dropped the pan you would have lots of oil in cooler and torque converter. Can you measure how much you removed? Fairly easy to get some 5/16 pvc hose and run it into the dipstick tube and syphon some out.

Am I not best to drain it from the pan? Rookie here!

[908/930]

Does that pan have a drain plug that you can get back in without all the oil trying to escape? Likely you only want a couple of quarts out.

[2porscheguy]

Originally Posted by 908/930

Does that pan have a drain plug that you can get back in without all the oil trying to escape? Likely you only want a couple of quarts out.

Yes it does….with very easy access due the ground clearance under the RV.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by 908/930

Fairly easy to get some 5/16 pvc hose and run it into the dipstick tube and syphon some out.

this, no mess

[Scott Douglas]

I know they're pricey, but get yourself a MityVac. It will make a job like this a piece of cake.
I just did a 'drain 'n fill' on my wife's CRV with mine. No mess, it shows you how much you take out which is equal to what you should put back in. And it's a lot easier than starting a siphon.