CVT Overfill a problem ?

[insightfulone]

The manual has a complicated procedure for checking the CVT fluid:
"Park the vehicle on level ground. Start the engine, let it run until the radiator fan comes on, then shut off the engine. For accurate results, wait about 60 seconds (but no longer than 90 seconds) before doing step 2."
Step 2 is checking the dipstick. It's the 60 seconds but no longer than 90 seconds that seems a little strange to me. Anyways, I checked it after a 1/2 hour of driving, assuming the engine was hot enough after waiting about a minute and it seemed low, below the bottom of the lower hole in the hot section. I was a little surprised as I had it replaced at the dealer only 7K earlier, but I added a 1/2 quart of the genuine Honda CVT fluid and now it reads 1/2 inch above the top hole, should I be concerned ? At most it could be 1/2 quart overfilled if it was originally correctly filled. I tried the actual procedure of starting the engine and waiting for the fans to go on. I had recently driven the car and the temp rose on my scangauge over 10 mins 168, 175 (which seems to be the temperature at which the thermostat opens to the radiator), 181, and slowly up to 193, but then it started dropping to 188 and still the radiator fans did not turn on. A which point I gave up, stopped the engine, waited a minute and checked again, still 1/2 inch plus over the top hole. Evidently the amount of fluid necessary to move from the bottom hole to the top is much less than 1/2 a quart. Any of you guys who know about the inside of the CVT have any idea of the consequences of an extra half quart ?

[Jayemtee]

I do NOT know the inside of this CVT at all. I do know a little about trannys and CVTs in general.

I think that you'll be okay. There MIGHT be some vent tubes or vents that get oversloshed. There MIGHT even be slight drops of spillage that you could smell, but I doubt it. There should be enough cushion in the specs to cover a half pint overage.

If it really bothers you, there are suction tools generally made for sucking oil out of from the dripstick tube that could be used to suck a little CVT fluid out.

Again, I think it should be okay.

[Cobb]

I dont think so. The main worry is if you have a stick shift and if its over filled it can leak and spoil your clutch.

My mercedes 240 d had a similar procedure. It used a cartriage oil filter that looked like a roll of poaper towels. It held a little more than a qt and you had to run the car, wait so many seconds, then check it.

[joecvt]

Originally Posted by Cobb

I dont think so. The main worry is if you have a stick shift and if its over filled it can leak and spoil your clutch.....

The OP is talking about a CVT overfill and the consequences (if any). The CVT uses "wet" clutches within a clutch pack.

JoeCVT = Just your average CVT owner

[Cobb]

Yeah, over filling a tranny can cause the seals to leak and possible leaks from the vent tub, which happens to be near the base of the down pipe under the car by the parking brake. Since we do not have a tradational clutch that requires a dry environment for performance, its not an issue.