Trans Fluid Level

[f1fanoly]

Ok,heres what i'm up against.I just completed motor swap on my '97 850GLT(replaced with '98T5 motor).I drained the transmission when doing this and disconnected cooler lines from the radiator and drained cooler when trans was out.Emptied out what would come out of the torque converter when seperated.Theoretically dry.My Haynes manual says 10.7 qts for dry.I added 10 qts prior to startup,thinking I would top up as needed once running and fluid dispersed where it needs to be(cooler,lines and torque converter).The problem is i'm not getting an accurate reading on the dipstick.There is no definate level showing,traces of fluid all over the dipstick and above where it's supposed to be (between the lines on the hot level).This is my first Volvo and my prior experience with A/T fluid levels is limited to Honda,wich is checked with engine off and pretty straight forward.What am I missing here?Is there in fact too much fluid in the transmission?Only one drain,right?Or is there more fluid in there that I didnt drain?

[Reximus]

Ok,heres what i'm up against.I just completed motor swap on my '97 850GLT(replaced with '98T5 motor).I drained the transmission when doing this and disconnected cooler lines from the radiator and drained cooler when trans was out.Emptied out what would come out of the torque converter when seperated.Theoretically dry.My Haynes manual says 10.7 qts for dry.I added 10 qts prior to startup,thinking I would top up as needed once running and fluid dispersed where it needs to be(cooler,lines and torque converter).The problem is i'm not getting an accurate reading on the dipstick.There is no definate level showing,traces of fluid all over the dipstick and above where it's supposed to be (between the lines on the hot level).This is my first Volvo and my prior experience with A/T fluid levels is limited to Honda,wich is checked with engine off and pretty straight forward.What am I missing here?Is there in fact too much fluid in the transmission?Only one drain,right?Or is there more fluid in there that I didnt drain?

first of all, the transmission doesn't take 10.7 quarts of transmission fluid. it only takes 8 quarts. i would recommend you drain out what's in the transmission pan, and fill 3 quarts of fluid, drive at slow speed forward and back just to get the fluid through the transmission. after that, park the car at a level surface, place the shift lever in park, have engine at idle. this is when you poke the dip stick into the tube and read the amount of fluid inside of it.

yes you will get fluids sticking here and there, but remember, just look closely at the dip stick. there will be one point where the fluid is uninterrupted, then comes the section where it the fluid will break here and there. read only the uninterrupted area as this is the only accurate level that you will obtain. last note, the transmission fluid will expand significantly when heated up. check at cold if you have just started your car, check at hot if it's been driven for more than 10 min. hope this info helps, cheers! :D

[jdlc]

first of all, the transmission doesn't take 10.7 quarts of transmission fluid. it only takes 8 quarts. i would recommend you drain out what's in the transmission pan, and fill 3 quarts of fluid, drive at slow speed forward and back just to get the fluid through the transmission. after that, park the car at a level surface, place the shift lever in park, have engine at idle. this is when you poke the dip stick into the tube and read the amount of fluid inside of it.

yes you will get fluids sticking here and there, but remember, just look closely at the dip stick. there will be one point where the fluid is uninterrupted, then comes the section where it the fluid will break here and there. read only the uninterrupted area as this is the only accurate level that you will obtain. last note, the transmission fluid will expand significantly when heated up. check at cold if you have just started your car, check at hot if it's been driven for more than 10 min. hope this info helps, cheers!

+1

My experience is that the automatic transmission for our cars drains between 3.25 to 3.75 qtd of ATF depending on temp.

I bet you you will get upward of 4 qts when you drain it via the drain plug. Too much ATF is just as bad as too little ATF.

So above suggestion to start with 3 qts after drain is right on the money.

I'd like to add that to get the 'hot' reading after draining and adding 3 qts:

a) drive the car if driveable for about 20 mins to warm up the ATF

once parked on a level area, idling and ready for reading, step on brake and shift to all gears one at a time stopping momentarily on each gear, do this exercise a couple of times

c) put in park, park brake, and with the engine still idling, get your ATF level (you're aiming for HOT level)

GL and work safely.