Oil Checking and Changing
Checking Oil LevelNOTE: Check oil when warm (cold part of dipstick is only for reference).
Conditions: Vehicle on level surface, engine idling and selector lever in position "P".
Move selector level through all gear positions, stopping in each position for 4-5 seconds. Return lever to position P and wait 2 minutes before checking oil level.
Wipe dipstick with a nylon rag or chamois i.e. fluff-free materials.
Two types of dipsticks are in use: 1975-1978 steel ended, 1979 and up plastic ended.
High Oil Level - Drain Excess Oil
WARNING: The transmission oil may be extremely hot if vehicle has just been driven.
Unscrew filler tube from oil pan. (Drain plug fitted on 1983 and up models.) Re-torque tube fitting to 90 Nm (66 ft lb).
Check drained oil for water contamination. If water is present, transmission and torque converter must be removed and cleaned. Also oil cooler must be checked for leakage and repaired or replaced.
Heavy load on transmission can also cause too high an oil level because of extremely high oil temperature.
Oil level is normally within cold range at 20 °C (68 °F). Idling for approx. 10 minutes in workshop will usually give an oil temperature of 40 °C (104 °F).
Hot range is used for normal operating conditioning i.e. temperatures reached after road driving for approx. 30 minutes.
Low Oil Level - Filling Oil
CAUTION: Additives must not be added to transmission.
NOTE: Engine must be idling throughout addition of oil. If engine is revved with low transmission oil level, oil will foam considerably and give false reading.
Ensure low level is not due to leakage.
Checking oil level at low temperatures, below 5 °C (41 °F) may result in false readings.
Driving with insufficient oil in transmission will cause oil to foam, also giving false oil level.
Use ATF type G (F). Types F and G are mixable.
NOTE: Use DEXR0N II D for 1984 - AW 70, AW 71 transmissions.
Distance between max and min on dipstick represents:
- 0.5 liter (0.5 US qts) on AW55/BW55.
- 0.4 liter (0.4 US qts) on AW70/AW71.
Be careful when adding oil; overfilling can cause foaming and leakage.
Do not check level immediately after adding oil, as oil adhering to filler tube may wipe off on dipstick and give false reading.
Discolored Or Burnt Oil
Remove oil pan and check for abnormal quantities of solid particles of steel, aluminum or clutch facing materials.
If found, overhaul transmission
If no fault can be found with the transmission, it is possible that particles have accumulated in torque converter and suddenly moved with oil flow. Replace torque converter and clean oil cooler and pipes.
Not found, change oil and clean oil pan, filter, magnet and oil cooler
Alternatively overhaul transmission.
If oil discoloration or burnt smell was caused by harsh driving or towing (transmission operates correctly), oil should be filled according to method "Cleaning oil cooling system", i.e. fill oil until clean oil comes from return pipe.
Changing Oil
CAUTION: Transmission oil may by very hot if vehicle has just been driven.
NOTE: Always clean oil cooler if oil is burnt and contains foreign particles.
Drain oil by unscrewing oil filler tube. (Drain plug introduced in 1983).
Clean oil pan, filter and magnet. It should always be done after each oil change.
Torque filler tube to 90 Nm (66 ft lb). Fill oil. Start engine and allow it to idle. Check oil level.
Oil Fill Quantities