Ok, this is a stupid question, but I am serious. I've read the owner's manual and am not too clear on the best way to check the fluid level in the automatic trans.

My truck is a 94 4Runner, 4wd, 3.0. Is the process, engine running, shift through all gears, check level in park running? My results are all over the place. I've been driving this truck for years, and haven't gotten very consistent reading on this.

 

Make sure you pull the dipstick twice.

First time wipe it off clean and the second time you'll get an accurate reading. If you just read it without cleaning it first you get a bunch of splash from the oil moving around when it was running.

 

Also, fluid should be hot.

 

I think you can check it in neutral or park....the procedure is pretty easy. see this
http://www.ehow.com/video_104_check-...nsmission.html

 

Drive it around to get it warmed up, park on a flat surface and run through all the gear selections for 5 seconds each. Then let it sit with the engine running for at least 3 minutes. Then check the level.

***If you don't let it sit for at least 3 minutes, your level will be about 2" lower on the dipstick than it actually is.

 

This is exactly what I was talking about. I will try the 3 minute thing. I talked to a mechanic buddy of mine today who said you get the most consistent readings cold. The fluid expands when heated, of course, and that's why there are hot/cold markings, but when it's hot, you don't know how hot it is, but if it is cold you are measuring at a more consistent temp. Of course mechanics mostly measure it cold so they don't have to drive around to warm up the transmission. I just wish you could add fluid without putting it down the dipstick tube. It takes 10 minutes or more before I can read the level on the dispstick due to all the fluid in the tube.

After 233K miles, the original trans in my 4 runner cooked and I'm trying to make sure everything is right with it.

Thanks for the input guys.