QuestionI have a 1971 W-30 4-4-2 that I let set too long in storage and it dumped some transmission fluid. How many pints can it dump? It's a 3 speed automatic. I put a pint in it and drove for a few minutes, checked it and it's still low. I added another pint and it appears to be right at the tip of the stick and still low. I'm afraid of putting too much in it....
AnswerHi Billy:
It really depends on how long you had the car in storage. If you stored the
car for more than 2 years, you should drain and replace ALL fluids. When planning to store
a car for up to two years, it is best to drain ALL fluids before putting it in storage.
However, to answer your question, a cold transmission should show about 1/8" of
fluid on the stick. To accurately check the fluid level, it needs to driven about
20 minutes to bring the transmission up to normal operating temperature, then check it
on a level surface while the engine is running. It should show full at that time.
Also, if it leaked transmission fluid, check to see if the pan is wet with fluid or the
front seal is wet. Most likely, the pan seal will leak as fluid settles back in the pan. So
changing the fluid, filter and gasket is a good idea.
