Transmission Fluid Drain and Fill - Checking Level

iamhives · May 4, 2015

Did 3x transmission drain and fill over the past week on my 2005 with 105k miles and am trying to get the level right on the last fill. I have about 300ml left from 10 bottles of DW1. I didn't measure what I took out because I inadvertently drained into my drain pan with some unknown amount of oil already in it (duh!). I promise I've done a search and followed the various instructions but no matter what I do I can't get a good reading on the dipstick - its either way low or splashed way up on the dipstick. Assuming about 3l drains each time I'm close but would like to be able to measure the level. Is there a trick to getting a good level? There seem to be different opinions on the level check procedure. What do people consider the definitive instructions?

If in doubt is it better to err on the side of slight over or underfill?

thenaaks · May 4, 2015

The fluid should be checked when the transmission is up to operating temperature. Vehicle should be on level ground. Vehicle should be turned off. Let it sit a minute and you should get a nice clean reading

tom34diy · May 4, 2015

thenaaks is right on, but it does not hurt for the warm engine to sit several minutes. Pull the stick out, wipe it clean, then stick it back in. I'd leave it in for a couple of seconds and gently pull it out. Then read the level. For comfort, repeat this procedure. You should get the same reading.

davedrivesody · May 4, 2015

iamhives said:
If in doubt is it better to err on the side of slight over or underfill?

As long as the level is above the lower hole in the dipstick, it's good. Filling above the upper hole runs the risk of foaming and overflowing through the vent pipe.

Dave

silicondt · May 4, 2015

The Honda transmission dipstick is horrible. When I check it, it is high one one side,low on other. I put it back in and get different result 5 seconds later..
I just drain and put in 3.3 quarts. I can never figure out the dipstick

iamhives · May 5, 2015

silicondt said:
The Honda transmission dipstick is horrible. When I check it, it is high one one side,low on other. I put it back in and get different result 5 seconds later..
I just drain and put in 3.3 quarts. I can never figure out the dipstick

Despite my best efforts I also cannot get a good dipstick reading no matter what/when I do. I put in 10 quarts over 3x drain and fill so I can't be so far off but I suspect I'm a little low so may get and extra bottle and add a little more (would be nice to be able to get a dipstick reading)

dukeofyork76 · May 5, 2015

I'm in the same boat as you. If you're worried, do a 4th drain/fill and be sure to empty your pan and measure off how much comes out and put in the same amount. I usually don't get more than just under 3.5 quarts out of mine when I drain it.

pkrface · May 5, 2015

dukeofyork76 said:
I'm in the same boat as you. If you're worried, do a 4th drain/fill and be sure to empty your pan and measure off how much comes out and put in the same amount. I usually don't get more than just under 3.5 quarts out of mine when I drain it.

That only works if you know where you were for sure before you do the drain. I usually end up closer to 3.5 qts per drain myself, but I have never measured what comes out because I don't feel it matters. What matters is where the level is when you are done. On oil, since I use the 5 qt containers you can buy at Walmart and drain the oil from my pan back into them for transport and disposal, I find I only get right at 4 qts out when I drain and almost always get 4.5 qts back in in order to get to full on the dipstick. I'm sure the filter is still holding some despite several minutes of draining and the rest of the "missing" 1/2 qt is in the upper part of the motor, but it's a bit weird always putting more back in than you take out.

Old Man · Jun 21, 2016

Same problem checking / seeing the fluid. Cause is the dipstick tube bends when reaching the tranny (see for yourself; go under Tranny). This causes a funny reading. Agree that I get 2 readings; so I use the lowest one as the "correct" reading. If Honda had designed the dipstick to go on top of tranny instead of sideways, we would not have trouble reading it. I just changed the fluid at 17K. Had a devil of a time finding correct reading techniques. Had to come HERE for directions; guidance non-existent in owner's manual! That is BS! Anyway, I started car; ran a few minutes. Turned it off. Checked and rechecked fluid. Its OK but with new fluid, light pink is hard to read.....

John Clark · Jun 21, 2016

It is a bit hard to see. I just drain the fluid out and then put in the specified 3.3 quarts.

DerbyDad03 · Jun 21, 2016

John Clark said:
It is a bit hard to see. I just drain the fluid out and then put in the specified 3.3 quarts.

I heard it suggested that it is "easier" to check the tranny fluid when the engine cold. By "easier" I mean that you don't have to warm the vehicle up before you check it. Typically I check all the fluids when the vehicle is cold anyway, so why not the tranny fluid too?

I checked the tranny fluid with the engine at operating temp to ensure it was correct, then waited overnight and checked it again. Now I have cold reading that I can use whenever I want. The hot check is still available, but no longer "required".

Do you see anything wrong with that method?

John Clark · Jun 21, 2016

I've done that too. In my experience there's not a lot of difference between hot and cold. Maybe others' experience is different. My 2002 GMC's 5.3L is very finicky about when to check the fluid level and there is a difference between hot and cold readings.

davedrivesody · Jun 21, 2016

John Clark said:
In my experience there's not a lot of difference between hot and cold.

Same here.

I don't know if they are allowing for thermal expansion or complete draindown into the sump, but it seems to make little difference.

Dave

kallard · Jun 22, 2016

Hopping in this thread to not waste starting a new one. Can anyone explain the 3x drain? I looked at some youtube tutorials and it seems like you can drain all of the fluid at once from a plug under the van. Is that incorrect? Or is there a reason the 3x procedure is preferred? I'm a ways off from doing the transmission fluid change, but am keeping an eye on the process and am a bit confused.

John Clark · Jun 22, 2016

The 3x drain and fill is because the transmission holds 8.0 qts but only 3.3 qts are drained from the drain plug. 3 drain and fills with some driving in between will cycle most of the old fluid out. Flushing is not recommended on this transmission.

surgeon · Jun 22, 2016

There are many threads on ATF drain/fill/flush... Some on checking fluid level. No need to start new thread, just add on to the diy 2007 one. As of thermal expansion its about 4%.

http://www.odyclub.com/forums/14-pe...eriodic-maintenance/65442-diy-2007-odyssey-atf-complete-flush-atf-z1-fluid.html
http://www.odyclub.com/forums/14-pe...eriodic-maintenance/37324-diy-atf-flush-fill-magnefine-filter-installation.html

davedrivesody · Jun 22, 2016

Driving between each drain/fill cycle helps to thoroughly mix the old and new fluid. Otherwise, the next drain might contain a high ratio of new fluid. This would reduce the benefit of the next cycle.

Dave

sharkdog · Nov 17, 2019

iamhives said:
Did 3x transmission drain and fill over the past week on my 2005 with 105k miles and am trying to get the level right on the last fill. I have about 300ml left from 10 bottles of DW1. I didn't measure what I took out because I inadvertently drained into my drain pan with some unknown amount of oil already in it (duh!). I promise I've done a search and followed the various instructions but no matter what I do I can't get a good reading on the dipstick - its either way low or splashed way up on the dipstick. Assuming about 3l drains each time I'm close but would like to be able to measure the level. Is there a trick to getting a good level? There seem to be different opinions on the level check procedure. What do people consider the definitive instructions?

If in doubt is it better to err on the side of slight over or underfill?

I'll start with the caveat that I am no pro and have no information from Honda. That said, I had the same issue you did - after changing the fluid one side of the dipstick says I'm too full and the other says too low. After think about it my conclusion is that you should read the side with the word "hot" engraved between the holes. The dipstick is slotted so that it can only go in one way. My belief is that Honda knew that the dipstick gave different readings on the two sides (unlike an oil dipstick) and so included the slot and the word "hot" to make sure that the stick is put in and read the proper way.

dvpatel · Apr 18, 2021

I usually measure what I take out and pout the same amount. Today, I spilled quite a bit 2 times so I have no idea how much I took out. I got 3 quarts of used and I don't think I spilled out 10 Oz but since the capacity for a D&F is 3.3, I put in 3 quarts and 10 Oz (slightly over by 0.4 Oz). I do a D&F every other Oil Change but for some reason, this time, the fluid came out a notch or two darker. But that may be because after the last one, I forgot to put back in the dip stick tightly and John caught it after an oil change.

davedrivesody · Apr 18, 2021

dvpatel said:
... for some reason, this time, the fluid came out a notch or two darker.

Same brand of ATF for the past few D&F's?

Transmission Fluid Drain and Fill - Checking Level

iamhives

thenaaks

tom34diy

davedrivesody

silicondt

iamhives

dukeofyork76

pkrface

Old Man

John Clark

DerbyDad03

John Clark

davedrivesody

kallard

John Clark

surgeon

davedrivesody

sharkdog

dvpatel

davedrivesody

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