Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

rUNNING 1/2 low on fluid.
I've found that running 1/2 qt low (somewhere about the 'low mark' on the dip stick seems to be optimal for reducing the leakage in mine. Running 1/2 qt low does not seem to affect any problems. However, i do not always run it at the 'low ' mark on the dip stick.

THis was brought up several years ago. Look at all STB's and SC's regarding the trans. Seems to me that PMCC had some variations on what they considered to be a correct amount of oil in the trans anyway.

There may be something to this after all, it has now been about 8 hours since I drove her and all I can see is one faint drop of transmission fluid on the floor drip pan. I checked the level before I shut off the engine and the fluid was still in the lower quadrant of safe.

All transmissions fluid level rises quite a bit when hot. If the tranny is on the empty level cold it may well be over half when hot. I don't know where the extra comes from.

So the tranny may actually be overfilled if you fill to the full mark when cold. This would explain the leaking when hot, and why it does not leak when the fluid level is lower.

I follow standard procedure for checking trans fluid levels. It is whatever the mafg'er recommends. It is on printed on the V8 dip stick. "hot ideling in park".