WomanNeedsJeepExpertise

Hey Guys,

Your favorite gal is back :-)...over the weekend I got my customary oil change done, at Firestone, and since it was time for a tranny fluid drain and fill, u decided to let them do that also. I mean how can you go wrong with that?

Now I've seen white smoke coming from the tailpipe twice. It's like a combustion and then slowly disappears. Also, it smells like tranny fluid, checked the dipstick seems like a little too much fluid!

I'm definitely bring it up there tomorrow, but what could be causing this?

Thanks.

Larry's XJ

The smell could be a little that splashed on the pipe from the change.

Bobolink

What is your procedure for checking the tranny fluid level (just so we all know that you're doing it properly)?

WomanNeedsJeepExpertise

Start engine
Put in neutral
Let her warm up
Check dipstick

WomanNeedsJeepExpertise

Would the splash of tranny cause tailpipe smoke?

Larry's XJ

No, that would be on outside from when they changed it.
No possible way for trans fluid to get into exhaust.
Quite common to get vapor coming from exhaust when weather is cold, which would be less common in NC. Here in MI we think nothing of vapor coming from exhaust in winter, it's just like "seeing" your breath in the cold.

WomanNeedsJeepExpertise

Is it common to see white smoke while driving on the highway? FYI: it's not so warm in Charlotte, and I'm a native NY'er.

Bobolink

Check while engine is running, right?


You got it. It reads a lot higher after you stop the engine.

Bobolink

It's common to see the water vapor from a cold engine driving down the road, but shouldn't see much once the engine is at operating temp. It also depends on the relative humidity. Much more visible vapor when it's cold and damp.

Radi

While you're over there again, ask what they used for transmission fluid.
Hopefully Dex/Merc and not ATF+

If it's overfilled it might be blowing a bit of fluid out of the overflow tube, which hits the exhaust and rolls out the back, looking like it's coming from the exhaust. A good look around underneath will tell you.

CCKen

Actually the proper way to check it is to drive the Jeep for about 15 miles to bring the trans fluid up to operating temp (170*F). Park the Jeep on level ground. Set trans to PARK. Set the parking brake. Leave engine running at idle, check the fluid level on both sides of the dipstick. The level should be at or just below the MAX line on the dipstick.

WomanNeedsJeepExpertise

I was told to set to Neutral. I wish I had the owners manual. I will do it in PARK. Here's pic, it shouldn't be above that last mark correct?

CCKen

Pic is too blurry to see what you have.

Your '94 dipstick may have "FULL" stamped on it, with a line below the word.

PARK was chosen by Chrysler to make sure the Jeep stayed put while you were working in the engine bay. Neutral or Park will work. Just make sure if you use Neutral to fully set the parking brake and block the wheels.

IJM

IIRC, it doesn't make any difference with the AW4 trans, but some transmissions only circulate the fluid in neutral, not park. When in doubt (like when working on someone else's car), use neutral. The fluid needs to be both hot and circulating to get an accurate reading in an auto trans. Just don't be a moron and let it roll away.

SG Mason

I couldn't find a 94 FSM, but the 93 FSM says check in neutral, and the 98 says check in park park. Both give the same pre-check instructions as CCKen, but add in cycling through all the gears.

If you want access to a FSM they are available at Morris 4x4 center in an online version for free. I bought a downloadable version from Pacific Coast Manuals. Only problem is you can not copy and paste text to share information from it. You can however print pages from it and have it on hand while working on your Jeep and just throw out the dirty pages when you are done.