volvo 850 AT drained 5+ qts trans safest way to refill?

[JimBee]

This is helpful. So I'll jack it up to level and start it with the 3 qts in, which it now has. Let it warm up, change through the gears while stationary, then check the dipstick and go from there. If the level looks near full, I'll wait to drive it around next week when I might get a more accurate reading of the actual level.

[abscate]

If only there was a way to "pre-heat" the transmission fluid so you could just fill to the proper line the first time.

With drain and fill strategy you don't have to worry about the fill, you just replace in kind. Jim here doesn't have a good starting point so he has to do the full Monte. ( fill Monte?)

[cn90]

If only there was a way to "pre-heat" the transmission fluid so you could just fill to the proper line the first time.

Very easy, check the ATF fluid level using recommended procedure (engine hot and idle rpm).
Make sure it is at Max, take a photo and label it HOT.
Leave the car alone in the same spot (preferably flat driveway).
Next morning, with engine COLD, pull dipstick and take a photo.
Post both photos in forum, this helps others check their ATF with engine cold.

IIRC, with COLD engine, the ATF level is about 1 cm below Max. I need to repeat the experiment.

[abscate]

This assumes the transmission drains to a reproducible state each time its cold. I don't think this is a valid assumption.

[cn90]

It is a valid assumption.
Virtually all Honda car owner's manuals state that "Check ATF level with engine OFF".
Personally, I think Volvo makes it to complicated.

See the Honda ATF checking procedure:

Honda.jpg (162.17 KiB) Viewed 2142 times

[abscate]

We certainly could gather the data here and test this. Sorry I can't help here

Vroom vroom vroom

[alschnertz]

Duplicate post.

[alschnertz]

Duplicate post.

[alschnertz]

It appears that the Honda checking procedure that is referenced may be for a manual transmission.

However, the OP is inquiring about a Volvo automatic transmission.
I don't see how you can compare the two or what is particularly complicated about Volvo's procedure.

OP, I' say keep doing what you're doing.

[cn90]

I used to own a Honda Odyssey van, the ATF is checked with engine OFF.
In the Honda, I have done the experiment (engine OFF), the difference between COLD and HOT engine is about 1 cm on the dipstick.
I personally think if you have done the experiment (measuring level first thing in the morning and know where it should be), you should be able to check your ATF COLD in the morning without issues.

http://www.odyclub.com/forums/24-1999-2 ... level.html