Fluid level questions T-20

[twaynej]

I'm sorry to have to post this when it looks like it would be elementary. Anyway my question is how much fluid does T-20 hold? Reason I'm asking my brother bought a MAX ll a couple of weeks ago and we have been doing " hopefully preventive maintenance on it" we drained the transmission, bottom plug, then put a 4 ounce GM positive traction additive and follow that up with a quart Dextron lll fluid. Now after doing this you still cannot reach down far enough with your finger to feel the fluid level? So we started adding some more it holds another quart and now you can reach it. Just doesn't make sense from what I've read. Is it overfilled if so how do you keep eye on the fluid level if you cannot go by the touch with the finder method is there supposed to be a dip stick somewhere?

[mad_max_500cc]

1 qt is full it wont be at the hole it will still be lower..... some people add an extra 1/2 qt as well ..... from the factory max (ri) uses type f ford fluid and limited slip additive from redline...... gm additive ive herd from a fue friends has caused chattering after they did a fluid change and nothing else .... after flushing it twice it was fine and then they used mopar additive with far better results..... as for checking the fluid level all i can tell you is if there are no leaks than its still full.

[twaynej]

Great, thanks for clearing that up it just seems so odd to me that the fill hole would be so high up on the case when it wasn't meant for the fluid level to be there. I don't see any signs of any leakage around the case I'll probably draw out a bout three quarters of a quart.
Appreciate the detailed response. Thanks

[micmac]

Hold on twaynej I'm not sure if you know this but you leave both plugs out when filling. Fluid goes in the top one and when it runs out the bottom one your done. you most likely have too much fluid in there.

Micmac

[twaynej]

Hold on twaynej I'm not sure if you know this but you leave both plugs out when filling. Fluid goes in the top one and when it runs out the bottom one your done. you most likely have too much fluid in there.

Micmac

that's what had me confused to start with, how can you use the same drain plug to empty the fluid, then add fluid till it runs out the same hole .and expect it to be filled with the proper amount of fluid. ? does it have a third hole that was the drain hole that we did not see. I did not take out the drain plug myself but it looked as though my brother took it out from underneath the transmission, I know he soaked up the fluid with a bunch of rags. I have read several posts that mentioned just a procedure you said.
Still puzzled.

[micmac]

OK I think we are getting somewhere. Most guys use some type of fluid suction to get the old stuff out or some lift the front of the machine as high as they can with ramps etc. Personally I use a suction hand pump I got at an auto-parts store. There are a few threads on the different techniques on the board. Good luck I hope that clears things up

Micmac

[mad_max_500cc]

ive got to be honest only 3 times have i had to fill a t-20 in a max and all three were because i had the tranny apart for something so i was starting with an empty trans the guys at the factory always said 1qt and 1 bottle of additive so i just dumped that mutch in and ran it never realy checked the fluid level with the plug! ...... just rember to put the right plug in the right hole one is vented the other is not when the fluid gets hot it expands and the level rises, or it will get splashed out of the vent if it is in the lower hole!!!(i know it sounds basic but ive seen it done before) also make shure the vent is not cloged (in the plug) or pressure can build up in the trans and blow out a seal or oring!!!!!

[twaynej]

Thanks guys for your input, think I'll invest in a suction device. I suspect a lot of the owners of these machines probably never touch the transmission. Just wait for something to happen which I understand these are almost bulletproof except if you let them get low on fluid and that would probably not happen until the O-rings a round the lower front plungers starts seeping over a period of years more than likely. If the owners are like most car owners are they never worry about the transmission until it starts to slip then add a quart of automatic transmission fluid. You can sort of get by with that for a while but with slippage comes wear and we all know what that means.
Thanks for sticking with me on this I feel somewhat responsible for him buying the max. He won't be doing any swamp rides with it but he loves to trap so when trapping season rolls around he just wanted to have it in good shape. I think with this he'll be able to cover a lot more ground.
I have some other questions but I'll post a new thread that way everything is on topic. Again thanks everyone