I'm new to the auto box, always had a soup spoon and never bothered about that thing on the end of the engine, and have been checking the level that does not change. However, I was thumbing through my old Spacecruiser manual and opened it at the Autobox pages, leaping out from the first page was this, Routine Checks - If the ATF is black or smells burnt change it! - mine is darker than the engine oil so guess what I'm upto this weekend. Anyone else got black ATF?

- (#3354) Clive, 14 Jun 02

Yup. Change it. And change it again in a week, get the bad out of it... A gallon can from the motor factors isn't dear. You'll notice a difference in the shifts with fresh fluid.
There's a school of thought that says the Dexron II over here is inferior to the original Japanese stuff, that's why it goes off...

- (#3355) David Miller, 14 Jun 02

i'm also new to an auto transmission. i just got back from lakes and whilst checking oil and water etc found the dip stick for the auto fluid. it appears to be well above level notches on stick, is this correct? if not, should i drain some, and how.
no problems with transmission, even got to use 4wd for first time on v. muddy camp site!!

- (#3360) eddie arrowsmith, 14 Jun 02

5 litre ATF £12.99. Drained when hot 5 mins. To fill it you have to use the dip stick pipe. I did have an old syringe (1000Mls) but this was dirty the 200 one would have taken all day. Used a length of unused fish tank air hose (similar to the window squirter but a bigger bore, but slightly smaller than the filler pipe) and one of the wife's cooking funnels. Measured the amount drained and poured same amount back in. Now that I have the funnel it would only take 2-3 minutes, would have been less using the syringe as it is calibrated.
Job done, drove around with the engine cover up and found the engine not to be that noisy except for kickdown. Checked level and almost the same as before the change. Not noticed a lot of change in driving but when selecting R or D the engagement is not so violent. Will repeat in a week or so (as the fluid is already blood red from pink) as suggested.
Previous post on high level was this with the engine off?

- (#3375) Clive, 16 Jun 02

No, check level with engine hot and running in N or P, after running through all other positions.

- (#3376) david miller, 16 Jun 02

clive, yep dipped oil with engine off, but hot.
oil colour, ( as i recall), was similar to fresh engine oil, sort of semi translucent. level was well above notches on dipstick.
might just change the oil anyway, where did you drain from, ( haven't had a look yet)?

- (#3418) eddie arrowsmith, 17 Jun 02

Sump nut (14mm I think) rear of box.

- (#3420) Clive, 18 Jun 02