checking Hydramatic fluid

[49 Convertible]

I have been under the impression that when checking the fluid in a 48 or 49 hydramatic the car must be running, fluid warm, brake on, and in drive.  I am now told that there was a "serviceman's bulletin" stating that to check fluid the engine should be running and in neutral.  Help

[Bobby B]

Herman,
Hi….Your confusion is  justified. Every Hydra-Matic manual that I own, has a different way of checking the fluid. The method that I have used is to warm up the engine for a minute or two and then shut it down. Pull the dipstick, wipe it, re-insert it, pull it again to get a reading, and add if necessary. It's the simplest way to do it, and I've been doing it that way for years with no issues. There are other methods, and one does involve checking it at idle, in Neutral, if that's what you were referring to. Hope this helps!
                         Bobby