I think I need to add transmission fluid before I can even drive my car to the shop. Any idea how long it needs to idle to get it up to operating temperature, so I can check the fluid?

It's a '75 Cutlass Supreme. I know ideally I should drive it to get it warm, but I don't want to do any damage by driving it. Thanks.

 

Fill it up to the 1 pint low mark cold, drive a few miles and then fill it to the full mark. This was explained in your previous post.

 

That's not helpful - the dipstick has an add line and a full line. I put a pint in it already, as was explained in my previous post, and the problem is just as bad as ever.

I didn't just make a new thread for fun - I'm trying to get a question answered that wasn't answered before - how long does the car need to idle to get it up to temperature? Thanks anyway, though.

 

That's a hard question to answer, seeing how most manufacturers recommend that the car be driven 10-20 miles for the trans to reach operating temperature. I agree with oldcutlass, fill it to the add line while it's idling cold, which indicates 1 pint low at operating temp.

EDIT: I've checked mine cold before when I've known it was full, and for some reason I document these things... so, mine reads around 1/4 way up from the add line when its first started/shifted through the gears and checked. So filling to the bottom of the add line should get you real close once it's warm. Better to do it that way and be a tad low than to overfill!

 

To answer your question, it will take a long time to get the fluid warm just idling. Fill it to the add mark cold, drive it, then top it off. Driving 1 pint low will not harm your transmission. Driving it very low, or overfilled will!