Taxi Driver Online

Automatic TX4s use a Chrysler 545RFE gearbox which can be damaged if it’s run over-filled. There is no drain plug as standard – servicing is done by removing the sump, which will drop around 7 litres of fluid.

I found a slight over-fill after recent work, with the dipstick showing about 1cm high when hot. Using various websites and trial-and-error, I removed the excess fluid through the dipstick pipe. This avoids removing the sump again and takes about 20 minutes.

Only work with the engine COLD AND SWITCHED OFF. Cab should be on level ground.

You need 6mm clear plastic tube and a syringe (both cheap on fleabay) a container for the waste fluid and paper towel to catch any drips.

Measure enough plastic tube so it’s about 15cm longer than the dipstick – it needs to be long enough to reach the sump with some spare to pull it back out. Push one end of the tube firmly onto the syringe and trim the other end diagonally.

Lay the tube alongside the dipstick and mark the tube at the dipstick cap. This shows the distance to the sump. The fluid is red, so black pen works better – don’t use tape which could fall into the dipstick pipe.

With the dipstick out, feed the open end of the plastic tube down the dipstick pipe to the mark - it may need a few attempts to get past bends. Then pull on the syringe and it should draw out fluid (if it sucks air, it’s not reached the sump).

When the syringe is nearly full, pull the plastic tube out of the dipstick pipe and empty it into a container. Repeat as needed.

Anyway, YMMV but it worked for me – if my sums are right, it was 1.6 litres over to begin with.

Other tips -

- A clear waste container eg 2-litre pop bottle keeps track of what you’ve removed.
- I purposely took out more fluid than I needed to as topping up later is a lot easier.
- Plastic tube is sold by the metre – 2M is enough.
- Some silicone tube is too soft and just folds up inside the dipstick tube.
- 150ml syringe works ok but anything larger becomes difficult to use (500ml was impossible).
- Everything soon gets slick/slippery – wipe up and change gloves as needed.

How can it be overfilled that much?

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IDFIMH

Good question - my best guess is they tried to judge the level with the gearbox cold and/or were rushing to finish the job. ATF expands with heat, so the gearbox should be dipped when it's hot.

Service kits usually come with 7 litres and the recommendation is to start checking the level after 5.5 litres. Over-filling more than about 0.5 litre is a risk.

I just hope I've caught it in time.