Tranny Fluid Anomaly

[galaxy]

OK, so what’s the right answer on the tranny fluid quantity on this thing? Book says 2.5 quarts. I’ve pumped in 3 full quarts and it is not at the bottom of the fill hole. I measured what I took out and it was 2 quarts, 20 oz. so what’s the right answer...2.5qts or full to the fill plug, because on my tranny they are not the same thing.

I didn’t buy enough to keep going so I don’t know how far away from the fill hole I am. Could be 2oz, could be 20oz. Would you get another quart and keep going to the fill hole or call it good at three?

Sponsored

 

[honeybadger]

I believe the track pack is 3.2 quarts (or there abouts). 2.5 sounds like it's for cars without the cooler.

 

[galaxy]

My book, for a ‘17, doesn’t call out a difference. And it shouldn’t since ‘17’s are all cooler cars. Still says 2.5qts.

Does someone have a book that says 3+ quarts?

 

[TheDeadCow]

OPmustangs kit comes with 4qts for track pack & 3qts for tech

https://www.opmustang.com/store/p91...5-2018_MUSTANG_SHELBY_GT350_TRACK_PACK.html#/

Throw another qt in it

 

[bauern]

Cooler cars use 3.3 qts. (from Ford service manual)
Capacities



Description Liters
Transmission Fluid (no cooler) 2.5 qt ( 2.4 L)
Transmission Fluid (with cooler) 3.3 qt ( 3.1 L)

 

[galaxy]

Cooler cars use 3.3 qts. (from Ford service manual)
Capacities



Description Liters
Transmission Fluid (no cooler) 2.5 qt ( 2.4 L)
Transmission Fluid (with cooler) 3.3 qt ( 3.1 L)

Interesting. Thanks for the boost of confidence bauern.

That’s annoying then that the owners manual is incorrect. It does not call out “with external cooler” on the tranny spec like it does for the axle. It has one listing for the tranny and no reference to the cooler in my book.

 

[Niz55]

I filled mine until it was pouring out. Bought the OEM fluid from rockauto.

 

[galaxy]

I filled mine until it was pouring out. Bought the OEM fluid from rockauto.

Thanks Niz...Did you drain the cooler, or the lines, or anything additional like that? Or just a traditional dump and refill to the hole?

So the logical gear head in me says drain and refill to the hole is the right answer, but there's some odd things at play here. I have never ever had a vehicle where the stated quantity did not correspond to the fill hole on a tranny or axle in anything I've ever owned. Stay with me, I promise this will make sense (but I don't promise I'm not over analyzing it). I'm not convinced "to the fill hole" is the right answer and here's why...

- I only removed 2 quarts, 20 oz from mine, and after refilling with three solid quarts and getting no where close, that's obviously quite a ways down from the hole.

- Why the two different numbers in the service manual (but not in the owners manual???) for the exact same tranny except to account for the cooler? Logical, but neither number is going to leave you with fluid "to the hole" when done.

- Assuming no cooler and adding 2.5 quarts, that's no where near the fill hole.

- I'd bet money when they say 3.3 quarts with a cooler, they're assuming a completely empty system. Again, 3.3 quarts in an empty system on a car with a cooler would leave the tranny way below the fill hole once the fluid was circulated.

- If those theories are correct, 3.3 quarts in a tranny with a cooler that you did not completely drain would be overfull.

- Likewise pretty much either combo filled to the hole is overfull.

- What are the results of overfull?

I know there's a lot of you track junkies on here that have been doing your own changes frequently, are you guys doing the same as Niz with normal results?

 

[JAJ]

The cooler circuit doesn't drain when you drain the transmission. Mine takes 2.7 quarts every time I change it. That's two quarts and 21 ounces. If yours is taking more, maybe your car isn't quite level. In any case, if you've put in two quarts and twenty ounces, you're fine.

 

[Niz55]

I did not drain the coolers or anything. I drained the tranny fluid and filled it, drove it for 10 miles or so and repeat all the steps over again. I drained/drove it 3 times to make sure I get everything out.

 

[galaxy]

The cooler circuit doesn't drain when you drain the transmission. Mine takes 2.7 quarts every time I change it. That's two quarts and 21 ounces. If yours is taking more, maybe your car isn't quite level. In any case, if you've put in two quarts and twenty ounces, you're fine.

I’ve put in three quarts. Three solid quarts. It is level on the ground sitting on all fours and it’s not even slowly seeping out the fill hole. Nothing. I removed two quarts and 20 ounces (I measure it).

 

[honeybadger]

I change my trans fluid about every 20 hours (give or take a bit depending track day schedules, etc.). I don't measure how much drains out, but I never get more than 3 quarts back in (usually 2.9 or so). I don't activate the pump or anything since I change the oil frequently.

Wonder if your car was low from the factory?

 

[galaxy]

I change my trans fluid about every 20 hours (give or take a bit depending track day schedules, etc.). I don't measure how much drains out, but I never get more than 3 quarts back in (usually 2.9 or so). I don't activate the pump or anything since I change the oil frequently.

Wonder if your car was low from the factory?

Well, so I thought of that also, right?! But once it’s empty, it’s empty. If it were low, that should be irrelevant now. Still does not explain why you guys are seeing ~2.7-2.9 quarts and I’m sitting at a solid three and not full yet.

And I wouldn’t typically measure what came out either except for the fact that it took so much more than the 2.5 the book spec’d.

Either way, reassuring to know all you guys are just filling to the bottom of the hole and moving on with life. I’ll grab another quart today/tomorrow and see jsut how much more it actually takes. Still odd mine is requiring so much more to fill. We should all be pretty darn close.

 

[honeybadger]

Well, so I thought of that also, right?! But once it’s empty, it’s empty. If it were low, that should be irrelevant now. Still does not explain why you guys are seeing ~2.7-2.9 quarts and I’m sitting at a solid three and not full yet.

And I wouldn’t typically measure what came out either except for the fact that it took so much more than the 2.5 the book spec’d.

Either way, reassuring to know all you guys are just filling to the bottom of the hole and moving on with life. I’ll grab another quart today/tomorrow and see jsut how much more it actually takes. Still odd mine is requiring so much more to fill. We should all be pretty darn close.

Well, in my case, there's just some residual left over in the tranny pump/cooler (at least my assumption). Sounds like you got yours completely empty, so it'll take the full 3.2-3.3 quarts. WIll be interested in hearing how much it takes. Doubt it'll be more than.2-.3 if a quart, though.

 

[galaxy]

Well, in my case, there's just some residual left over in the tranny pump/cooler (at least my assumption). Sounds like you got yours completely empty, so it'll take the full 3.2-3.3 quarts. WIll be interested in hearing how much it takes. Doubt it'll be more than.2-.3 if a quart, though.

Based on what you said though about mine taking ~3.3 quarts, are the tranny's different between the cooler and non-cooler cars? Would the fill plug be in a different location between the two?

Interesting, since I did nothing special. All I did was pull the drain plug. I did nothing to drain the cooler & lines and such.

So I think that's the plan. I agree, I've gotta be within a frogs hair from the hole. I've got another quart on the way, so I think I'll keep pumping just to see how much it takes and call it a day. Yea?

Sponsored