What are the effects or symptoms of having insufficient ATF?

Question

I just changed out my ATF. I know my car has a capacity of 6.2 liters, but only 4 liters could go back in. It is possible that not all 6.2 liters drained out because I did not measure the old ATF coming out.

So I want to know if driving with insufficient ATF could cause any problems.

I also read that overfilling ATF is really bad. So I don't want to force more ATF in (by parking on an incline to fill up). Instead, if there're no negative side effects of having insufficient ATF, I'd rather wait and see.

There is no dipstick in my car. I'm supposed to just park it at a level surface and fill it until it flows out of the fill hole. But my car's ground clearance is so low, it's impossible to get under it without jacking it up.

Answer 1

It could take a bit for the ATF to fully fill your transmission and torque converter after draining, that, or all of the fluid didn't drain when the oil was changed (most likely scenario). Run the car a bit in neutral to get the fluid circulating (be sure to block wheels or set the parking brake) and re-check per the owners manual. Symptoms resulting from low fluid would be a slipping transmission and possibly some pump noise. Could cause damage if driven a lot in this state.

Answer 2

You didn't specify what make vehicle you have, most are to be checked while the vehicle is running, and in park, but some are to be checked in neutral, so check the owners manual if possible. If you drained the oil pan (transmission) only then you will have left a few quarts in the torque converter and valve body so the refill capacity will be less than the entire fill capacity. after draining and reinstalling the pan and filter start with 2-3 quarts then start and idle the engine. check the level for initial level (should be touching the dipstick) then move the selector thru all gear ranges, ending in park (or neutral) whatever your specific vehicle calls for. Then bring the level up to and not over the full mark. typicaly the low and fill mark will be 1/2 to 1 quart of fluid. the symptoms of low fluid can range from no forward or reverse engagement to slipping in and out of gear, erratic shifts and neutral out on stopping ( going into neutral). Never operate a transmission w/o proper fluid type and quantity, it will cause dammage to the clutches and internal parts in a very short time!

Answer 3

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RE:
What are the effects or symptoms of having insufficient ATF?
I just changed out my ATF. I know my car has a capacity of 6.2 liters, but only 4 liters could go back in. It is possible that not all 6.2 liters drained out because I did not measure the old ATF coming out.

So I want to know if driving with insufficient ATF could cause any problems.

I also...

Answer 4

Hi snowie,
The same problem had come in my friends car.After draining the ATF the car took just half of the capacity and then we took to a garage and forefully flushed with flushing oil.you wont believe the oil which has come out has dust or dirt particles.After two times of flushing then we poured the oil..this time..it drinked all.

Driving the car with low ATF will afffect the gear assembly very much which may lead to serious complications.

regards,
Nataraj
Bahrain

Answer 5

I used to work with transmission cores, and we had to drain the fluid out before we sent them to be re manufactured. I would drain them all one day, come back and drain them again, and sometimes drain them for a third time! There's alot of passages and cavities in an auto trans, thats why most people now prefer to have it flushed at a shop. They hook up to the trans cooler lines, and then pump in new fluid through one line while sucking out the old fluid out of the other line. if you have to jack up your car, get 2 jacks (preferably 4 jackstands) and set them up level so you can get it precise. If its a quart or so overfilled, I dont think it would be that big of a deal, but dont hold me to that

Answer 6

just check it with the dip stick make sure you check it wile the motor is running or you wont get a right level and if its low add some