Albin
Veteran Member
I'm embarrassed to admit that checking the transmission fluid level is something I have done less than almost anything else on my boat. It's probably because the readings are so inconsistent. The manual for my Borg Warner velvet drive 1013 series transmission says check the dipstick reading "immediately" after shutting down the engine because oil flows back from the oil cooler after shutdown giving an artificially high reading. So that already sounds like a two person job because by the time I crawl back down in the engine room after shut down, the oil will surely have already flowed back from the cooler. So solo sailors can't check their fluid level??
For that reason, some people I know check the fluid when the engine is running and up to temperature. However, when I do that the reading is quite low and appears to be in need of oil.
Can anybody add some insight here? What is the best way to do this to get an accurate reading? Can I damage the transmission if the there is 1/2 quart over the full mark? I added some just recently because it seemed low but now I am second guessing that.
Thanks for any suggestions,
Jeff (Albin 40)
For that reason, some people I know check the fluid when the engine is running and up to temperature. However, when I do that the reading is quite low and appears to be in need of oil.
Can anybody add some insight here? What is the best way to do this to get an accurate reading? Can I damage the transmission if the there is 1/2 quart over the full mark? I added some just recently because it seemed low but now I am second guessing that.
Thanks for any suggestions,
Jeff (Albin 40)