[bman400]

@alexCakers Welcome to the forum from DFW, TX. Please update your forum profile: Your forum "Public Profile" - how to fill this...

Thank you.

 

[bman400]

Proper Fluid level check for the 4EAT transmission, best done after you have driven for 3-5 miles to get the transmission good and warm.

1. Leave Engine Running
2. Move the shift lever through each position stopping for 2-3 secs.
3. Leave the Engine Running
4. Pull out dipstick.
5. Wipe it off
6. Put dipstick back in.
7. Pull it out and note the level.

 

[bman400]

I would choose your shop wisely. I did what you did and took it to a Jiffy Lube to drain and refill the ATF. They drained my front differential, I could smell it. They refilled the diff and sent me on my way and apologized for their mistake.

 

[bman400]

@fw2016
ATF fluid clear? It should be a red/pink colour.....yes it is clear in the sense is NOT black like engine oil. But it still has colour. See here: Transmission Fluid Color Guide (with Chart) | UTI

 

[bman400]

@fw2016 There never was a light for the ATF level in the older models.

Note that this is a thread on ATF level and not engine oil level.

 

[bman400]

@RamJacCorp Questions for you:
1. Driven at least 5 miles to get fluid up to temperature?
2. Engine running when checking fluid?
3. Shifted and stayed in each shifter position for a few seconds?
4. What color is the fluid?
Maybe post a picture?

 

[bman400]

@RamJacCorp My guess they got rid of the dipstick is to reduce costs and no one in the general public even checks engine oil level let alone the transmission fluid level. And with the new transmission technology where fluid is filled and checked from the bottom at a certain temperature..it does away with the transmission dipstick.

 

[bman400]

If that is a COOL temperature reading I consider it LOW, if that is a hot/warm operating temperature reading, I consider that VERY LOW.

 

[bman400]

Well...heat is the major killer of ATF. Remember it's NOT engine oil, nor does the transmission function and use ATF in the same way as engine oil is used. It's hydraulic fluid. I have seen and smelled brown/burnt fluid. Low fluid unlike engine oil is NOT the end of the world.

 

[bman400]

I'll see if I can snap pictures of
my 2001 dipstick

 

[bman400]

I would leave it alone at this point. If it is over filled, it's not by much.

 

[bman400]

As promised my 2001 ATF dipstick. I didn't check fluid level. The wider dots are for hot/warm fluid F and L. The narrow dots are for cold F and L.

Note this transmission pulled a 3300lb trailer in its 1st year of life from Philadelphia to Austin, TX. It then received a drain and refill a few years later. And since 2006 it's pulled several more times various other much lighter trailers, 1000lbs or less. And it also has received a 2nd drain and refill. But otherwise, I've not done or fretted much over it other than checking fluid level and fluid color. It's got nearly 248,000 miles.

 

[bman400]

As long as it drives fine, leave it alone.

 

[bman400]

Yup, looks good if it is on the HOT F mark. Remember unlike engine oil level that can froth when the crank stirs up the oil in the pan. There's no such action. it's just hydraulic fluid being pumped around, the fluid moves things around(valves, etc), acts as a lubricant and carries hot fluid to the transmission cooler in the radiator to be cooled off. It's NOT part of any "combustion process" that generates carbon deposits. If the ATF needed close maintenance, we would like engine oil be given a maintenance schedule. But there's just no reason. Unless you pull a heavy trailer like I did of 3300lb, the ATF is NOT being stressed.

When I bought my 2001 in Philadelphia, I too obsessed over the ATF fluid because I knew I was going to pull a 2000+ lb trailer. I found a local Subaru specialist shop in West Chester, PA where I lived and asked about getting ATF cooler installed. He laughed, "I would love to make money off you. But there's no need or reason to install the cooler, the 4EAT is bullet proof, and I've never needed to do any work on replacing or repairing the transmission." I took him at his word. And based on the number of 5MT issues vs 4EAT issues posted on here...I agree with him. We see more 5MT issues(clutches, clutch related, internals) posts vs 4EAT posts.

 

[bman400]

No need for additives. The 4EAT is special in the sense it's been super reliable. My experience with Auto Trans date back to the 1980's and GM TH 300/350/400. Like any automatic transmission, as long as the fluid is not burnt and refreshed when it's brown, it all keeps working. Brown means burnt. AAMCO long time ago, scammed my dad out of a new transmission when it probably wasn't needed......