Rep Power: 0

hey guys, I'm new to the forum and honda. i just bought a used honda civic 2001 ex and I'm having a problem with the auto tranny fluid. Now i've had the car for two days and when i go to check the ATF on the dipsick the level that is read is minimal as in it is at the very tip of the stick way below the minmuim level. I now they ssay check the ATF when the engine has been running for a while but is it this low when the engine is cool? I mean i barely get a reading. When i check it when the engine is runnin i get a reading but this could be because of the movement of the fluid. but as soon as i take off the engine and check again i barely get a reading.


any help will be appreciated

thanks

 
Rep Power: 247

maybe you should just drain the old fluid and replace it the honda atf. it need 3qts. and the drain bolt is on the pass side by the front control arm. its not a bolt, you just stick a 3/8 ratchet in there

 
Rep Power: 260

to properly check atf...have your engine running throughout the whole process(but then i could be wrong)

best is to check your manual for procedures

 
Rep Power: 811

yeah engine (and trans) needs to be fully warmed up. then on a flat surface, with the engine still running, check the level. when you take it out and wipe it first, then put it back in, remove it very quickly to get a good reading. it should be at max. if you arent sure about how to do this, just drain the old fluid and add 2.9qts then it will be full.

 
Rep Power: 234

no no no no do not have the engine running when you check any fluid on a honda you have it to operating temp wit the motor OFF.....the motor takes about 4.5 quarts of oil and the auto trans takes all 3 quarts....i do this for a livin i should know

 
Rep Power: 811

"technically" yeah, you should turn the engine off but that gives you barely any time (less than a minute) to check the fluid level. ive done it both ways and get the same reading with engine running. as soon as you shut the engine off, fluid starts to drain back into the converter housing.

4.5 qts in the motor? is that total or what, i only add maybe 3.2 qts (manual says 3.7qts for vtec but you never get it all out) when doing an oil change. auto trans gets 2.9qts. if you put in 3, its overfilled. if youre checking the oil level in the engine, you have to wait at least 10 mins after turning off the engine.

 
Rep Power: 234

im sorry what model civic are you talkin about.. i fill so freakin many i got the motors confused..in the 2000 and older i put 4qts in the 01 to 05 its 4 also in the 06 to 09 its 4.5 and the k series motor gets 5...i have never once had a issue with the car comming back overfilled or any problems and i have been doing this for about 8 years now... and 2.9 or 3 in the trans isnt going to make a difference.... and i always check trans engine off sitting on level ground it says it in the manual and the 20 other guys in my shop do the same..

 
Rep Power: 328

This is all great...

What would happen if you run too much fluid?

Or

Too little?

Answers to both would be great for this thread..

 
Rep Power: 234

well too much oil would cause smoking out the tailpipe and some loss in fuel mileage because the crank is sittin in more oil then it is supposed to basically making it harder for it to spin... and not enough oil on a vtec civic will cause the vtec not to work and set a check engine light and also the oil pressure switch will cause the oil light to come on once it gets really low and lack of oil will cause the valves to not be properly lubricated and then cause engine failure

and too little auto trans fluid will cause the clutches to slip and the car to not move and then comes trans failure....too much trans fluid will cause things to not work properly internally because there will be fluid in places that it shouldnt be...and not changing your trans fluid regularly will most definately cause the trans to blow i have seen it all too many times..

 
Rep Power: 811

i was talking about 01-05 civics. and yeah too much oil can blow the motor. if its just a lil bit over, the oil will foam and cause overheating problems and increased engine wear. its much better to have it a lil less than full, but technically it can be on "min" and still be fine if you dont take any hard turns. if you check oil often, i would recommend keeping it just below full, maybe 80% up from the min line.

for trans, too little fluid (below the min line) is gonna ruin the clutches very quickly. too much is just as bad. most mechanics ive talked to say the trans fluid should be changed (just drain and refll) every other oil change or roughly 10k miles or one year. ive also heard over 90% of trans fail due to heat related issues. so do yourself a favor and hook up a small trans oil cooler. you can also adapt the HX cvt civic external trans fluid filter to fit other model civics. its good insurance because we only have one small filter inside the trans housing (which is useless).