Lower dipstick

[patty]

hey all,
I'm just going through everything for the road trips home and realized i have no idea what the lower dip stick is for (im assuming its tranny fluid). I checked it, and it is very low, right above the last notch. I remember a mechanic telling me that even though its a small distance between the two notches, actually alot of fluid is necessary to bring the level up.
-so what is the oil in there
-good product name to top it off with?
-where does one top it off from?

thanks

ps- i do realize iv had my deli alittle to long to be askin these noob questions, but im tryin!

[delicat]

The smaller tube is engine oil, the larger one is tranny (larger so that you can fill with the ATF...)

[patty]

alright more retarded question time, the tranny oil dipstick is below the engine oil dipstick, yes? and to fill the tranny oil, you poor down the dipsticks tube?

[TardisDeli]

yup

[Golf Cart]

yup

"Yup"
Uh Oh, Jay must have been at the computer. Had it been Christine, GPS co-ordinates in the engine bay would have been posted.

[mararmeisto]

Don't think of it so much as "lower" and "upper", because some of the tubes have been re-positioned or bent into different locations (unless you're meaning the bottom of the tubes, in which case your labels would be very apt, but difficult for most to see), and those monikers might not be representative of which is which.

Unless you're very tall or have the arms of an orangutan, one probably can't pull out the transmission dipstick in one sweep of the arm without flicking fluid all over the engine bay and yourself. Also, it's the dipstick with "hot" and "cold" on it and two sets of notches.

And when you checked the fluid level, the engine was running, yes? The engine not running, and not in Park is enough to make a difference on the dipstick as well.

Finally, yes, in order to top-off the transmission fluid, one pours new fluid down the dipstick tube. Unless you've got steady hands, a funnel is generally required.

[konadog]

Patty, is your bus an auto? If so, then the tranny fluid needs to be checked while the motor is running

[DelicaMark]

HANG ON PATTY!!! Follow what Delicat is saying here. The tranny tube is the bigger and the oil is the smaller one. Reading the replies to your second question about the location, I would say that the replies seem a little confusing to me. For my auto transmission van the white dip stick that is the highest up in the engine compartment is for the transmission fluid (bigger tube) and the one that is lower is the oil dipstick (smaller tube). A couple of replies seem to be saying the opposite to this. So I would really go with the tube diameter over location here.

-Mark

[FalcoColumbarius]

"Yup"
Uh Oh, Jay must have been at the computer. Had it been Christine, GPS co-ordinates in the engine bay would have been posted.

Is that NAD27 or GPS84?

Patty, I'm trying to remember.... I believe the tranny dipstick is the higher. Higher because, as everyone has mentioned, you've got to pour the ATF down that tube in order to fill the tranny up and if it is the lower tube then that would be exceptionally tricky, so I am pretty sure it is the higher one for that reason alone. As DeliCat et al have mentioned, it is also the fatter tube for the same reason. The lower skinnier one is the engine oil dipstick.

One other thing I would like to mention on top of what Mararmeisto and Konadog have stated, Not only should the engine be running and the transmission be in "P" but the van must be on level ground and you don't want to over fill the transmission as that can cause problems. You want the fluid level to be in between the two notches, depending whether the engine is hot or cold.

Falco.

[patty]

alright, so what iv learned today in delica class 101 is, the tranny dipstick tube is wider in diameter and must be checked while running. the engine oil dipstick is the smaller tube in diameter, and i would assume check not running... as i just checked it running and oil sprayed my glasses.

last retardo questions
- if i have an oil leak i should be keeping a close eye engine oil dipstick, right?

thanks all

[dfnder]

Also note that the 'oil dipstick' oil normally will look blacker and dirtier than any oil you can remember seeing on a dipstick (unless just changed) while the tranny oil should have a redish tinge and not look real dirty.

[Golf Cart]

Patty,

Quick way to tell.

Tranny fluid is reddish - check level running in Neutral (with parking brake on) at operating temp.
Engine oil is black - check with engine off after running a few minutes

for both - pull the dipstick, wipe and then re-insert, remove and observe the reading.

Tranny fluid goes down the same pipe as the dipstick - Canadian Tire has a long cheap plastic funnel for this.

To top up the engine oil, remove the 710 cap off the valve cover. ( pic enclosed )

.

710 cap.jpg (3.03 KiB) Viewed 3303 times

As far as type of tranny fluid, depends on what was in there to begin with. If you are not sure , then it would be a good time to pick up a new tranny filter kit and do a drain and re-fill.

[FalcoColumbarius]

There is no such thing as a dumb question, no matter how smart you are .

[mararmeisto]

There is no such thing as a dumb question, no matter how smart you are .

X2 - "There are no dumb questions, just questions poorly asked."

[thelazybrownfox]

Hey Guys and gals
These have to be the funniest replies ever!! You've made my morning. Must be a giggle type morning but the best one ever.

thanks
wayne