What happens if you overfill automatic transmission fluid

Otherwise, you will need to drain it from the drain port in the transmission. Make sure you catch the fluid in a changing pan and dispose of it correctly. Finally, you want to recheck the system to ensure it is now at the right level.

You will repeat the second step to verify that your work was successful. Obviously, the best way to avoid having to do any of these is to use caution when filling the transmission fluid in the first place. By putting in the right amount, you ensure your transmission runs as it should. Magnus is the owner and main author of MechanicBase. He has been working as a mechanic for over 10 years, and the majority of them specialized in advanced diagnostics and troubleshooting.

Certified Automotive Diagnostic Technician. Hey Mechanic, My question is: Somehow too much fluid got into my Avalon's transmission How long of time or miles would it normally take before noticing any functioning problems that would occur.

I Discovered the extra fluid on the dipstick. Sir, I've changed my CVT. Minor waste could be considered touching the hands or elsewhere. Now, guide me as working so far is ok with none observation about burnt smell or delayed shifting.

So tell me if that extra is of any harm. It was my first CVT oil change on kms i. What happens if you overfill transmission fluid? Here are some other consequences of overfilling your transmission fluid more in detail: Contents show.

Overfilling Your Transmission Fluid Consequences 1. Pressure Buildup. The seals higher in the transmission may also leak, but these seals are not pressurized. Crystal Gafford began writing professionally for Demand Media Studios in She began writing for her high school's student magazine in Crystal attended English and writing classes at Pennsylvania State University from to She graduated in with an Associate of Art degree in communication design from Northampton Community College.

It is not compatible with earlier Mercon fluids, so it should neither be mixed with Mercon or Mercon V used to replace those fluids.

Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Skip to content Home Engineering What will happen if you overfill your transmission fluid? Ben Davis March 14, What will happen if you overfill your transmission fluid? If you expose the transmission system to the high pressure for too long, you might even end up having to replace the entire system as it will wear down within a short time.

The other consequence of overfilling the transmission system will be a total failure of the system, and this will usually occur when you leave the problem unresolved for an extended period. Total failure will result from a combination of different things such as leaking seals, grinding metal parts and the pressure build-up.

Hence if you ignore the symptoms of an overfilled transmission system discussed below, you can end up spending hundreds of dollars on transmission system replacement. With the potential consequences of overfilling the transmission system above in mind, it should be clear that this is a serious problem that you should not overlook. And to make sure that you can intervene and resolve it in a good time, here are some of the most common symptoms to look for.

But while this might be a simple method as you only need to take out the dipstick and check the level of the fluid, it is not always a reliable one. The transmission fluid will have a thinner consistency when the vehicle is operating at an optimal temperature and turn thick when the temperatures drop.

Hence, the dipstick might not provide a very reliable indication. If you are using this method to diagnose an overfilled transmission system, the right idea would be to first allow the vehicle to run for at least 5 minutes.

If you are having difficulties shifting gears, it often means there is an issue with your transmission system. In some cases overfilling your transmission system might be the source of the problem. An overfilled transmission system can result in an excessive pressure build-up and create a foam which affects the fluid's capability to lubricate.

This results in a chain of other problems such as the breakdown of seal and fluid leak that eventually ends up making it hard to shift gears. And besides making it hard to change gears, a fluid overfill can also lead to gear slipping and other gear issues such as hard shifts.