Autobox Oil Checking

[jims-terrano]

Ok might sound simple but what's the best way to check the oil in the autobox. I know the dipstick right at the back near bulkhead is the one but do I check hot cold engine running or not in gear not in gear?

Hoping it'll be nice n sweet smelling yummy red colour and not burnt treacle:doh

 

[macabethiel]

Vehicle hot after a decent run. Put the gearlever in Park and check whilst the engine is running.

 

[Blocky10]

Vehicle hot after a decent run. Put the gearlever in Park and check whilst the engine is running.

Yeah. Good luck. Every time I try the dipstick comes out covered from top to bottom :nenau

 

[macabethiel]

Never had that issue with an automatic gearbox dip stick obviously pull out the dipstick first, wipe then dip it and pull out straight away?

 

[solarman216]

Yeah. Good luck. Every time I try the dipstick comes out covered from top to bottom :nenau

if so that sounds like a breather problem, Rick

 

[Blocky10]

if so that sounds like a breather problem, Rick

Oh man hope not. More than likely It's cos I'm useless :augie

 

[Davey Boy]

Check cold and settled every time.
You can't expect a hot reading to be accurate when the ruby stuff is all around the auto box, flow and return pipe work and dip tube.
There should be marks on the dipstick for a cold reading anyway.
Davey

 

[solarman216]

Oh man hope not. More than likely It's cos I'm useless :augie

Well if the breather is blocked then it will breath up the dip tube, hence not able to get a reading, if this is on a T2 then a gander underneath on drivers side you will find rubber pipes coming from top off side of the box going to chassis mounted metal pipe which runs up to engine bay near brake master cyl, pull the rubber pipe from the chassis pipe and see if you can blow down it, not conclusive as it tees into the transfer box breather, but worth trying a dip while it is disconnected, if it works then indicates blockage on chassis pipe to engine bay, Rick

 

[macabethiel]

Check cold and settled every time.
You can't expect a hot reading to be accurate when the ruby stuff is all around the auto box, flow and return pipe work and dip tube.
There should be marks on the dipstick for a cold reading anyway.
Davey

The cold reading still needs to be done in Park with the engine running and the mark is on most sticks - it's that low down it's almost off the stick. All handbooks & Manuals say the Hot check is more reliable.

On some modern Mercedes there is no dipstick or dipstick tube fitted and the check is done by a pump measured fill from the drain plug!

 

[Davey Boy]

Mac, i'm referring to my 2.8 Pajero to be fair.
The golden rule was to never overfill. A cold reading was the sensible way to avoid this with the Aisin auto boxes.
Very nearly hijacking a thread here!:augie

 

[Blocky10]

Well if the breather is blocked then it will breath up the dip tube, hence not able to get a reading, if this is on a T2 then a gander underneath on drivers side you will find rubber pipes coming from top off side of the box going to chassis mounted metal pipe which runs up to engine bay near brake master cyl, pull the rubber pipe from the chassis pipe and see if you can blow down it, not conclusive as it tees into the transfer box breather, but worth trying a dip while it is disconnected, if it works then indicates blockage on chassis pipe to engine bay, Rick

Thanks Rick. I'll look tomorrow.

 

[macabethiel]

Mac, i'm referring to my 2.8 Pajero to be fair.
The golden rule was to never overfill. A cold reading was the sensible way to avoid this with the Aisin auto boxes.
Very nearly hijacking a thread here!:augie

You are right about not overfilling with fluid. The older design of valve block controlled changes such as the GM Strasbourg box would often have bizarre behaviour when even slightly overfull such as "flairing" where the effect felt like a slipping clutch between gear changes. Not sure what it does to the later types that have solenoid operated gearshifts or the VW type dual clutch auto gearboxes.

 

[briggie]

im sure there is a download for the mistral auto box checking , im certain the manual says check when hot ...... I always did , the download is wk 26