can too much transmission fluid cause a problem?

[Mazvic]

when engine is cold transmission fluid is at hot level
can that cause a problem?
thx in advance for any reply

[alschnertz]

Tough to say for sure, but I would remove enough fluid to bring it down to the proper level.

[Mazvic]

whats the easiest way? taking a cooler hose of?

[scross]

Before becoming too concerned about this, be aware that I've always found getting transmission fluid to the proper level tricky for some reason, and the correct process tends to vary from vehicle to vehicle. So if you haven't followed the instructions in the owner's manual precisely, then you haven't checked the fluid level properly.

That said, then danger here (which is the same as with engine oil) is that overfilling may cause foaming and loss of pressure and/or lubrication. However, IIRC there is an overflow tube on the transmission filler neck, so that should take care of the worst cases. Also, if you pull the dipstick after a good drive and don't see foam (or water - also a bad sign) then you probably don't have anything to worry about.

FWIW, I once had a Chrysler that for some reason always had foam in the transmission fluid, even when it was at the proper level. It drove and shifted just fine, although it did whine a bit.

[Mazvic]

i guess we take our chances and see if it is shifting again - its the car from the other post that didn't shift to third

[crystalion]

Use some sort of plunger device with a small but long hose on it and stick it down the dipstick tube and suck out what U need 2. I had to get and you can buy a large syringe and fit whatever size tubing on it. Usually about 1/8" hose. You pull maybe a little more than a pint out. These syringes they would use in the medical field -I'm sure you have seen em. You can buy them at local med supply- they have no needle so you can use it for whatever.

If your not "way high" with the fluid checked as below I wouldn't be to concerned BUT always errrrr on the safe side and do the right thing.

Always check your fluid when the motor is HOT- RUNNING- and on LEVEL surface.Take at least 3 dips so you know where U are for sure.

[scross]

If it's a 2004 then it should have a transmission drain plug (actually, there may be more than one plug). Removing some fluid shouldn't be any more difficult than removing the plug and draining a little out.

[Mazvic]

took it off the ramps and it showed level some where between cold and hot
wife test drove it its still not shifting into third

[scross]

Is it "Third" or "Overdrive" that's causing the problem? (Make sure that your "Overdrive" [O/D] button hasn't been accidentally turned off.) Since it appears to be affecting only one gear, it could also easily be just a shift lever linkage problem, and not a real transmission issue. It could be a computer problem, too.

How does it behave when pull away from a dead stop with it set on 2nd? 3rd? Drive? Have you checked to see if the parking brake may be partially engaged? (That last one is a recurring problem for me, as the wife is sometimes bad about not releasing the brake all of the way.)

It might help to know how this whole situation got started. You said initially that the fluid ran low. Was there a leak? Were there other symptoms that caused you to check the fluid level to begin with?

[Mazvic]

All right - are you ready for a book?
knowing how sometimes little tiny details can can give you an important clue i asked my wife to write a little report about what and how it happens



ok when i first noticed the problem with the van my son told me that it was shifting funny so i took it out to see what it was doing and then checked the transmission fluid which was a little low so i put a quart of transmission fluid in to fill it. the van worked fine until about a week later. i was driving and when i got off the highway i stopped at a red light. when the light turned green i started to go and the van started fine but when it got to about 20mph it wouldn't shift anymore. I kept trying to get it to shift by taking my foot off and on the gas sometimes it would shift sometimes it wouldn't but it never went over 30mph... it seems to shift fine through first and second and when it tries to go to third the engine just revs.... at work i noticed the wheel well looked like it had oil or what i thought was transmission fluid in it. i went out the next morning i checked the trans mission fluid and there was barley on the dip stick.... i added one quart of transmission fluid which i had in the car and drove to the auto part store to get more in case i needed it . on the way to the store the car worked fine. i added a half quart more transmission fluid to top it off. the van drove fine on the way home which is about 55 miles. we drove the van on sat. and sun trying to get it to do it again with my husband in the car but nothing happened. later Sunday night i went to go somewhere and the car shifted through first and second gear fine but when it went to shift into third it just revved up this is what the car does to this day. i tried starting from 2nd and it will go up to about 40mph but af course doesn't shift out of second gear. when starting from drive and 3rd the van acts the same just shifts fine through first and second but wont go into third. reverse works fine

i have to add that you can feel that it tries to shift one time but doesn't engage third gear
and when i checked wheel well and underbody the day after my wife saw the fluid in the well i couldn't find any sign of a real leak just a drop here and there hanging at some low points like bolts and case edges
i wiped the transmission clean and after about 20 miles there was no sign of transmission fluid under the car

[scross]

Well, if I've read this correctly then you've added something like two and a half quarts of transmission fluid over the past few weeks, which is an awful lot. So either you have a major leak somewhere or it is grossly overfilled at this point, but it sounds like you're keeping a good eye on the fluid level. Once again, the owner's manual (which if you don't have can be downloaded from the Mazda web site) gives a simple but specific routine to go through before checking the fluid level, so you need to follow that routine.

A lot of things other than expensive internal damage could be causing your shifting problems. But if you have a leak - which could be at the pan, in the cooling line, at an O-ring, or whatever - then you are probably just suffering from an ongoing loss of fluid and/or pressure, which would definitely cause shifting problems.

[Mazvic]

if there is a leak - shouldn"t i have found some evidence after 20 miles?

[scross]

Yes, you would expect to see something by now, if it were a typical leak at a seal or something. What does the dipstick show? Is the fluid level continuing to drop? If so, it's possible that you are losing fluid through the overflow tube, or that there is a leak in an atypical spot, or one that only shows up when the transmission is hot or under mechanical stress or whatever. You might be losing significant amounts of fluid while the vehicle is in motion, but see very little in the way of a drip or whatever. It's even possible that you could be losing fluid into the cooling system, but in that case I would also expect to see some water or "milk" in the transmission fluid itself (on the dipstick), plus drops of oil mixed in the with coolant.

In reviewing some other threads, I'm reminded that a clogged "oil strainer" in the transmission might be causing your problems. Also, the transmission temperature sensor (which helps control shift points) is located in or near this strainer. If the temp sensor is giving bad readings then the computer may think that the transmission is staying cold, and intentionally delaying the shift points in order to try to get it to warm up.

[Mazvic]

where is the strainer located?
do you know which transmission is in there?

[Mazvic]

first of all thanks for all your input specially scross
if the temp sensor delays shifting shouldn't that happen with out the transmission acting as if it tries to shift?