Auto Transmission (545RFE)

Lancer · **Posted:** Wed Sep 28, 2011 10:56 am

I'm about to change the fluid (ATF+4 ) on mine, but before I do - can anyone tell me where the fill point is??? It looks from my manual to be the dipstick tube but that CAN'T be right!

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I'd rather not make any mistakes!

EAB · **Joined:** Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:39 pm **Posts:** 141

If you look in 'sir sams noob guide' in the sticky post section, the first picture that comes up shows the dipstick in the right rear of the engine compartment.

Lancer · **Posted:** Wed Sep 28, 2011 11:05 am

Thanks EAB - I've seen that, but is that REALLY where I'm supposed to pour 4+litres of ATF?

EAB · **Joined:** Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:39 pm **Posts:** 141

Yep.

Lancer · **Posted:** Wed Sep 28, 2011 11:15 am

That'll be a giggle! What happens if I put a little bit too much in? Do I have to drop the whole pan again??

EAB · **Joined:** Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:39 pm **Posts:** 141

Just put three in first, then adjust to full.

geordi · **Posted:** Wed Sep 28, 2011 11:36 am

Do yourself a HUGE favor - Install a drain plug in the pan. Your local parts store has a drain plug kit for about $3, which is really easy to install. I put mine on the passenger side sidewall of the pan, near the front corner. You will need to compare the location with the valve body inside the pan to ensure that you have selected a good location.

As for filling it up... Every car I have ever had fills the transmission from the dipstick tube. Just use a really narrow neck funnel.

Lancer · **Posted:** Wed Sep 28, 2011 12:07 pm

Unfortunately Geordi, my parts store doesn't have such a kit - I asked last week - no demand here apparently (and it's a national chain). I have seen them on sale on Amazon.com, but they don't export that sort of thing to England,and amazon uk doesn't have them. I'll pick one up when I'm next in the US, but that won't be till next year.

In the meantime- I'm a bit concerned about the fill - what if I go a couple of hundred cc or so over - will I be in trouble? Given that the total capacity is 13.3l - even though the service fill is just over 4l (why not the lot?) I wouldn't have thought that a couple of hundred cc one way or the other would make much difference - but I don't want to screw it up.

Oh - and the reason why I've picked that figure (couple of hundred cc) is that I've overfilled engine oils by that sort of amount in the past on other vehicles without a problem, but I've never done my trans before. I don't have a drive or much of a flat area - I have to work in the street outside my house.

OldSkull · **Posted:** Wed Sep 28, 2011 4:16 pm

Many place do international shipping here a exemple for a B&M universal drain plug kit:
http://www.4wd.com/Transmission-and-Transfer-Case/B-M-Automotive-Transmission-Pan-Drain-Plug.aspx?t_c=69&t_s=381&t_pt=3670&t_pl=8493

Here some pic of the job, this guy replace the plug with a temp sensor.
http://www.jeepcommander.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5253&highlight=transmission+drain+plug

geordi · **Posted:** Wed Sep 28, 2011 5:05 pm

A few hundred cc shouldn't be a problem. Actually, you may even find that the transmission seems to want MORE than the service fill suggests. Your experience driving it after filling will tell you. The reason you need only a small amount for a service fill, is that the torque converter holds much of that fluid. The reason you might need more than the 4l service fill (which seems very low based on my own recollection) is that there is a "check valve" in the second filter, the spin-on filter. When you drop the pan, you get all the contents OF the pan... But if that check valve is weak, more may be in the pan than you expected.

A weak check valve is also what causes the torque converter drain-back problem, which is why sometimes your CRD won't want to engage reverse in the morning, or will stall when switching to drive. The torque converter needs fluid to work, and it has moved elsewhere in the system.

When you first refill it, go ahead and put in the 4 liters of ATF+4 (use a good full synthetic) and then let it warm up for a while, and drive it around a bit. You need to drive it to move the air out of the system and back to the pan (this is normal) so it may take a little bit to first engage if you start right off. If you feel like the torque converter is "slipping" or slow to engage from a stop... You need more fluid.

It may take a day for the performance to show itself as the system levels out. I ended up filling to 6 quarts if I remember correctly, which I made one of those quarts a bottle of Lucas Transmission Fluid and the rest were Valvoline ATF+4 synthetic. I had to add the extra quarts b/c with just the 4 to start with, the trans felt like it was slipping all over the place, and EXTREMELY slow to engage from a stop. Added more, the problem vanished.

I had to replace my pan a few weeks later (don't ask) and when I did that, it only took 5 quarts to get it to operating properly. The level on the dipstick reads full.

Lancer · **Posted:** Wed Sep 28, 2011 5:24 pm

Thanks Geordi, and thanks Oldskull for that link. Actually, thanks to everyone who responded - I really appreciate the help. No wonder my wife refers to my addiction to this site as my "Jeep porn site" :lol:

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Wed Sep 28, 2011 5:39 pm

Her back end has to look better than your Jeep, at least there is not a spare tire mounted on the back end of you wife. :ROTFL:

My trans took 17 1/2 US Quarts with the extra deep PML pan and Suncoast converter. Drive around and check with the engine running.

geordi · **Posted:** Wed Sep 28, 2011 6:05 pm

warp2diesel wrote:

Drive around and check with the engine running.

If you tell something like that to Jeremy Clarkson... He might try to jog alongside and check with the trans in gear too! :-)r

Just warm it up, drive around a bit, and check with the engine at temperature and idling in park - just like it says on the dipstick.

Wobbly · **Posted:** Wed Sep 28, 2011 6:07 pm

Excess fluid could be removed through the dipstick tube with a hand operated vacuum pump.

Pouring through the dipstick is simple compared to the VW Passat. Transmission fluid level is to be set by measuring temperature using VAG-COM. Fluid has to be pumped up into the transmission. VW engineers decided that the Passat's transmission fluid would never need to be changed.

dritchie · **Posted:** Wed Sep 28, 2011 11:41 pm

Wobbly wrote:

Excess fluid could be removed through the dipstick tube with a hand operated vacuum pump.

Pouring through the dipstick is simple compared to the VW Passat. Transmission fluid level is to be set by measuring temperature using VAG-COM. Fluid has to be pumped up into the transmission. VW engineers decided that the Passat's transmission fluid would never need to be changed.

If you have a vacuum food saver with the vacuum port you can use it. I used a 2 quart Mason jar and modified the lid to attach 2 vinyl hoses to it, one to the vacuum pump, and a long one that you can put down the dip stick tube. Makes dropping the pan a lot less messy, and it's good for changing the rear end oil without taking the cover off.

Dave

Auto Transmission (545RFE)

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