w11988

I have a 98 GT that I purchased used about 2 1/2 months ago. I was checking the trans fluid today and it seemed to cover the entire the dip meter. One side of the dip is stampedfor hot fluid reading, the side hasa lower, cold meter. The car was definitely cold since it hadn't been run for probably 14 hours. I was checking the Haynes manual and it definitely seemed to imply that trans fluid readings can be difficult to take and that the most accurate readings are taken with a "warm" engine. It was alarming to me to see what I think is a completely covered dip in a cold engine. I'm looking for some advice as to what to do. I'm thinking my only real options are to 1) don't run the engine, drain some fluid until I get what seems to be a good cold engine fluid level reading, or 2) try to take a "warm" engine level reading as detailed in the Haynes manual.</P>


I'm definitely a rookie at engine maintenance and mods. Any thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.</P>

Dan04COBRA

Shift the transmission into neutral before you start it and try that.

w11988

Thanks. When you say "start it", do you mean start checking the fluid level again or start the car again? Do I have to wait a certain amount of time in neutral? I just went out and put the ignition in run to place the car in neutral, waited a couple minutes, and the fluid level still seem high.

Dan04COBRA

I mean literally start your car and let the motor heat up, itll also warm the tranny some.

mdvaldosta

You need to check it with the car running is what he's saying</P>

w11988

Thanks all. I missed the part of the manual that says the engine should be idling. Duh. (But I'd probably feel more stupid if I'd pulled the pan off).</P>



Thanks again.</P>