C4 overfilled - is this a problem?

Here's a dumb one. My C4 is very much overfilled. It's been like that since I got the car apparently, as I have never added any fluid. I keep meaning to deal with it but I never think about it because it runs and shifts fine. Is this something I should actively seek to remedy, or should I just drain some fluid out next time I'm under the car and feel the need to get extra filthy?

Thanks!

 

I'm pretty sure overfilling is a bad thing, as with anything that requires oil or lubricant. Not 100% but pretty sure. Just go buy a pump that will go down the dipstick tube and siphon out the excess.

 

Lube shops can do it...

 

Good point, didn't even think about the obvious, easy way. I was gonna "T" into the lines on my transmission cooler. I'm just one of those guys for whom the words "Take it to the shop" come to mind far, far down the list behind other more complicated ideas, not first on the list like normal people. These "normal" people probably have much less hassle in life than I do...

Anyway, about whether "I think probably maybe" it's a bad idea to have it overfilled, that much I already assume. And about how to get the fluid out, that's not really the question either - I can definitely get it out somehow.

What I want to know, mostly just for curiosity at this point, is what if any ill effects come from overfilling a C4?

 

other than a portion of the overfilled tranny fluid puking out of the dipstick, landing on the hot exhaust and causing a fire..... not much.

 

Blowing out seals is the one I can think of...

 

There ya go... These are some answers... Eddie, as I have observed, the place it will puke from is actually on top of the trans, so the fluid just goes all over the undercarriage and makes a disgusting mess that's difficult to clean up. It does, however, get real close to the exhaust so you could be right about the fire potential.

Gene, mercifully I haven't seen signs of blown seals, but that's reason enough to get on this and take care of the problem.

Would anybody be so kind as to measure the length of their transmission dispstick? I am not convinced mine is original, and I already had to change the oil dipstick because it was wrong, so I don't trust it. That's one reason I hadn't been in a hurry to drain fluid out - because I would rather run with too much than not enough and I don't know that my dipstick is accurate.

 

Bah. Ah, nevermind. It looks like I've got a much more interesting problem to deal with. Reverse is slipping really bad, making noise. It started last night and I thought I fixed it by adjusting the bands, but that just postponed it. It looks like I'm gonna need a trans.

 

Faceless; had a trans shop fill mine till it wouldn't hold any more. Had a cloud of trans fluid coming out the vent and all over everything. It didn't hurt mine. I dropped the pan, drained the fluid and did a refill, with the right amount. Good thing....the bottom of the car won't rust!!!!!

 

Overfilling will cause the fluid to foam up or aerate. This means your pump is now pumping a mix of fluid and air which is definitely not good. Could be why your trans started slipping.

Russ

 

Maybe so. Who know? This trans has been a little funny since day 1. Won't stay in park, sloppy shifter, always did make a freaky noise in reverse occasionally, only now it's definitely slipping.

 

I wonder how far from PaulS you are... I would try one of his if I were closer. Good luck...

 

I'm just gonna continue this conversation here: http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=41776

This suddenly got a lot more serious than too much fluid.

 

I believe it would be easier to unhook one line from the oil cooler and jut started the motor. It will poump out (hopefully in a controled way) fluid til you think it's right. Screw the fitting back in and check the level. make the proper adjustments after that.
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Might remove the coil wire...