Method of controlling operation of a vehicle

A method of controlling a fluid level around a transmission gear of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) storing a set of predetermined operating conditions in an electronic control unit, each predetermined operating condition having a corresponding predetermined fluid level requirement including a first predetermined operating condition having a first fluid level and a second predetermined operating condition having a second fluid level, each of the first and second fluid levels providing lubrication to the transmission gear;
• (b) operating the vehicle at an actual operating condition;
• (c) using the electronic control unit to determine a predetermined operating condition equivalent to the actual operating condition;
• (d) providing a sump region around the transmission gear and providing a reservoir in fluid communication with the sump region;
• and
• (e) arranging a fluid level in the sump region to be equivalent to one of the first and second fluid levels by transferring fluid between the sump region and the reservoir,
• wherein the predetermined operating condition is at least defined by a direction of torque being transmitted through the transmission gear.

A method of controlling a fluid level around a transmission gear of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) storing a set of predetermined operating conditions in an electronic control unit, each predetermined operating condition having a corresponding predetermined fluid level requirement including a first predetermined operating condition having a first fluid level and a second predetermined operating condition having a second fluid level, each of the first and second fluid levels providing lubrication to the transmission gear;
• (b) operating the vehicle at an actual operating condition;
• (c) using the electronic control unit to determine a predetermined operating condition equivalent to the actual operating condition;
• (d) providing a sump region around the transmission gear and providing a reservoir in fluid communication with the sump region;
• and
• (e) arranging a fluid level in the sump region to be equivalent to one of the first and second fluid levels by transferring fluid between the sump region and the reservoir,
• wherein the predetermined operating condition is at least defined by a longitudinal inclination of the vehicle.

A method of controlling a fluid level around a transmission gear of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) storing a set of predetermined operating conditions in an electronic control unit, each predetermined operating condition having a corresponding predetermined fluid level requirement including a first predetermined operating condition having a first fluid level and a second predetermined operating condition having a second fluid level, each of the first and second fluid levels providing lubrication to the transmission gear;
• (b) operating the vehicle at an actual operating condition;
• (c) using the electronic control unit to determine a predetermined operating condition equivalent to the actual operating condition;
• (d) providing a sump region around the transmission gear and providing a reservoir in fluid communication with the sump region;
• and
• (e) arranging a fluid level in the sump region to be equivalent to one of the first and second fluid levels by transferring fluid between the sump region and the reservoir,
• wherein the predetermined operating condition is at least defined by an amount of contaminant of the fluid.

A method of controlling a fluid level around a transmission gear of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) storing a set of predetermined operating conditions in an electronic control unit, each predetermined operating condition having a corresponding predetermined fluid level requirement including a first predetermined operating condition having a first fluid level and a second predetermined operating condition having a second fluid level, each of the first and second fluid levels providing lubrication to the transmission gear;
• (b) operating the vehicle at an actual operating condition;
• (c) using the electronic control unit to determine a predetermined operating condition equivalent to the actual operating condition;
• (d) providing a sump region around the transmission gear and providing a reservoir in fluid communication with the sump region;
• and
• (e) arranging a fluid level in the sump region to be equivalent to one of the first and second fluid levels by transferring fluid between the sump region and the reservoir,
• wherein the predetermined operating condition is at least defined by a previous actual operating condition in such a way that, if the second predetermined operating condition is met, the control unit will maintain the second fluid level in the sump until a system reset is performed.