Am I level? Where do I check, you ask?

[JD001]

Originally Posted by The_mediocre_guy

the paranoia in this thread is real

Is this your own opinion or are others saying the same?

[BirdTRD]

OK, got the car leveled (yes leveled!) up on jack stands and checked a few other places for reference, for all the paranoid, detail oriented, even anal people out there that like to do things right, everyone else can just suck it.

Pinch weld, Rocker panel and Threshold are all pretty much on the same plane, so checking any of those spots will work, it's just the threshold is more convenient.

Transmission case is definitely not level, it's exactly like the cutaway view of the drive line shows, about a 5 degree decline. Bottom side of the pan is much closer to level but it still angles about 1.5 degrees toward the rear, which make sense since the main drain plug is at the rear of the pan.

[BirdTRD]

Originally Posted by Norville Rogers

Ah bless.

It's still tip and drip but you carry on.

Yes, but tip too much and you'll drip too much. Unlike the manual transmission, the Auto is much more sensitive to fluid level. If I'm going to put it up on stands anyway, why not throw a level on it and make sure it's right? Just sayin'.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by Norville Rogers

Look at your picture. Does the bottom door shut look parallel to the ground.

Not that it really matters with a fill level plug system. So funny.

?? Not sure what picture you're talking about but the door threshold and the bottom of the door aren't the same thing. The threshold is parallel to the ground, the bottom of the door isn't.

Here's a picture:

[Ultramaroon]

Ok, OP, I just reviewed the maintenance manual.

The incline of the base of the oil pan matches the incline of the transmission in your transparent view. It is parallel to the bottom of the car. This is the best orientation to extract the most possible fluid out of the pan when changing it.

The first steps of the process are:

1. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID FILLING
CAUTION:
• Perform procedures when the automatic transmission fluid is sufficiently cool.
• Always be sure to switch to oil amount adjustment mode when filling automatic transmission fluid.
• Slowly add the fluid. Adding the fluid rapidly can cause the fluid to hit internal parts and splash
around resulting in fluid flowing out of the refill hole.
1) Lift up the vehicle and maintain in a horizontal position.
2) Remove engine under cover No. 1.
3) Remove engine under cover No. 2.
4) Remove the refill plug and O-ring.
5) Remove the overflow plug using a socket hexagon wrench.

I retract my earlier suggestion. The car must be level.