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Transmission fluid very high - options?

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BigDav782

Transmission fluid very high - options?

Still getting to know this truck, so checking fluid levels is high on the list. Checked the transmission fluid, and it is very high - at least a couple of inches higher than the range marked on the dipstick. I tried this in several scenarios: right after a long drive, 30 minutes after a long drive, and cold. All of those scenarios had fluid that was way out of range.

The fluid looks good (clean red color), so I have to assume it was changed and simply overfilled.

In that case, do I have any options besides dropping the pan? Can I suck it out through the filler tube instead?

If I do have to drop the pan, is now the time to get a new pan with a drain?

'85 F150, I6, 4wd, 3 speed automatic
Hopkins, MN (Twin Cities)

Gary Lewis

Re: Transmission fluid very high - options?

Administrator

It doesn't sound like you are checking the level correctly. In Driveline/Transmissions/Automatic Transmissions/General Automatic Transmission Service you'll find:

Checking Procedure

1. With transmission in Park, engine at curb idle rpm, foot brakes applied and vehicle on level surface, move the transmission selector lever through each range. Allow time in each range to engage transmission, return to Park, and apply parking brake fully. Do not turn off the engine during the fluid level check.

2. Clean all dirt from the transmission fluid dipstick cap, before removing the dipstick from the filler tube.

3. Pull the dipstick out of the tube, wipe it clean, and push all the way back into the tube. Be sure it is fully seated.

4. Pull the dipstick out of the tube again and check the fluid level.

If the fluid is very red and doesn't smell burned you are probably ok. However, if you ever drop the pan and experience the MESS you'll make I'll bet you won't go back on with the pan until you put a drain plug in it.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

BigDav782

Re: Transmission fluid very high - options?

Thanks Gary. I did follow that procedure to the letter, except I couldn't put the parking brake on (it's frozen - I'm sure that's a future adventure). In addition, I believe that my original owner's manual had information about leaving it sit for a bit if it had been driven with lots of stop-and-go traffic (which it had), and also that it is OK to check it when room temperature, but that it isn't as good of a check. All three gave very high levels.

Any recommendations on where to get a pan with a drain, or do people install a drain in their OEM pans?

'85 F150, I6, 4wd, 3 speed automatic
Hopkins, MN (Twin Cities)

Gary Lewis

Re: Transmission fluid very high - options?

Administrator

Sorry, I misunderstood. Glad you followed the directions.

If you just have too much fluid but think the fluid is good, I'd stick a suction gun's tube down the filler tube and suck some out until it reads correctly. Or, you can pull the inspection plate at the bottom of the flywheel, rotate the crank until the 1/8" pipe plug shows up, and loosen it to drain off some. I'd do that LONG before I pulled the pan if the fluid is good.

But, if you want to replace the pan, meaning you are a glutton for punishment, then do a search of this forum. The topic has been discussed quite a bit very recently.

To do that search, scroll up to just below the blue pickup and you'll see an empty field with a spy glass in it. Type in something like "transmission pan", make sure the Everywhere button is pushed, and click Search. That will return every post where "transmission" and "pan" were used, and there are plenty of them.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dorsai

Re: Transmission fluid very high - options?

In reply to this post by BigDav782

BigDav782 wrote

Any recommendations on where to get a pan with a drain, or do people install a drain in their OEM pans?

I just did this exact job (replacing my stock pan with one with a drain) on my truck earlier this month - it wasn't a difficult task, but it was extremely messy. You have a C6 transmission, right? If so then we use the same parts...here's what I used:

I haven't driven my truck but maybe 50 miles since I did the work (I'm prepping for a road trip in a few weeks, so it's been down a lot for preventive maintenance), but everything seems fine from a transmission perspective - no mechanical complaints, no leaks, no nothing. My only gripe with any of it was that I didn't care for the hard plastic washer for the drain plug on the new pan, so I picked up a softer neoprene one from Ace and used that instead. Worked great.

Matthew
1980 F-150 Custom 2wd longbed, 300-6, C6, 2.75 rear axle
Atlanta GA

grumpin

Re: Transmission fluid very high - options?

Nice info Matthew! I have that gasket and after looking at the drain pan you linked, I think that’s a must have!

Dane
1986 F250HD SC XLT Lariat 4x4 460 C6-Sold
1992 Bronco XLT 4x4 351W E4OD
1998 GMC Sierra SLE K1500 350 4L60E
Arizona

kramttocs

Re: Transmission fluid very high - options?

Administrator

Any drain pan is a great upgrade and I would consider the TCI pan if the truck's usage justifies the cost. High capacity and deep finned.

Liquivac makes a nice little suction pump with container that I used when swapping pans. Really takes the mess out of jobs like this.

Scott
'Camano' 1986 F250 Supercab XLT Lariat 460/C6
'Chanute' 1980 F350 C&C 400/NP 435 - Gin Pole

But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio

grumpin

Re: Transmission fluid very high - options?

More good tips! I like that Liquivac!

Dane
1986 F250HD SC XLT Lariat 4x4 460 C6-Sold
1992 Bronco XLT 4x4 351W E4OD
1998 GMC Sierra SLE K1500 350 4L60E
Arizona

Gary Lewis

Re: Transmission fluid very high - options?

Administrator

Yes! I never thought of draining the whole transmission via the dipstick tube, but I just suggested lowering the level that way.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

BigDav782

Re: Transmission fluid very high - options?

I did use my Mityvac (hand operated deal, usually for bleeding brakes), and pulled out a couple of quarts in short order, through the dipstick tube. It's slow and labor-intensive, but pretty easy. The fluid looks black, so I'll probably focus on changing it now.

'85 F150, I6, 4wd, 3 speed automatic
Hopkins, MN (Twin Cities)

Gary Lewis

Re: Transmission fluid very high - options?

Administrator

If it looks black, and particularly if it smells burnt, then change it. And, to make that job easier, albeit "slow and labor-intensive", pull what you can out via the dipstick tube. And don't forget to drain the torque converter.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile