Hi, all.
I was responding to a question about auto trannny fluid level a few messages down, when I remembered that I always wanted to bring up a little "fact" that I discovered accidentally, to see if anyone else also discovered, or has heard of, this.
On the several 240's I've had, at least from 1980 through 1993 (and maybe even earlier ones, but I can't remember "when" I came to realize this), I've found that when I have the ATF level correct (based on a warmed up transmission and the proper dipstick scale for the temperature), I've confirmed that there is also a way to reliably (at least, consistently) confirm proper fluid level when the engine is stone cold and not running....e.g., after you've let the car sit overnight.
On the dipstick, above the plastic part (that has the two temperature-specific scales), there is a little rectangular notch on the metal portion. Assuming the fluid level is correct, and the car is stone cold and you haven't started the engine yet, if you withdraw the dipstick and wipe it off and then reinsert it, then upon withdrawing it for this second time the fluid level should be on that notch.
[this does NOT work if you just withdraw the dipstick and look at it -- you MUST withdraw it, wipe it off, and then reinsert it before withdrawing again to read the level. I don't know why you need to withdraw it twice, but it works.]
Has anyone else ever discovered this?
I'd love for others to try this out and see if you find the same thing (the ATF level must be correct in the first place, of course).
Let me know if you find the same thing.
Thanks.