So I changed out my tranny fluid this past weekend on my 01 with the 70w transmission - drained torque converter, dropped pan, swapped out filter and refilled with 12 quarts of valvoline mercon V. I filled slowly after starting the truck a few times to cycle fluid back into the torque converter.

Original readings on my dipstick showed that I overfilled - fluid exceeded the do no add mark both when the fluid was cold and when the fluid was at regular operating temp with the truck running. Since I thought I overfilled I drained the TC again, refilled 5 quarts slowly, startgin the truck a couple times to cycle fluid back into the TC and my dipstick readings were low. So I filled another quart.

Now when I check the fluid level cold with the truck not running the level shows I filled it to the correct level - top of the cold mark on the dipstick. When I check at operating temp with the tranny in park and running, my dipstick has no fluid on it at all. Has anyone experienced this or is this something I should be worried about? Maybe I need another quart, but if so why is the fluid level ok when cold? I understand the fluid expands when it is hot, so something doesn't seem right here. The truck is running and shifting fine.

Thanks for any help that anyone can give me!


Aaron

 

I think it is still low.

I have never really checked the fluid level when the truck is shut off and cold but I have pulled the dipstick and the girlfriends Blazer and noticed it looked high. When it was checked hot and the right way it was fine.

I would go by what it reads when it is warm, running and in park. Whenever you add more fluid slowly shift it from P to 1 and 1 back to P stopping in every gear for a few seconds. Then check the fluid level.

 

Thanks. I guess once its cooled down and shut off some fluid from higher parts like the cooler or lines may drain back into the pan and create the higher reading. I'll fill a little more and re-check when its when its warm and running after shifting thru the gears.

Still confused why it was originally reading high though after only refilling 12 quarts. Huh....maybe I wasn't checking properly.

 

I think shifting it through the gears is an important part of checking the fluid level that a lot of people overlook when adding fluid. Did you check it this way originally?

 

Yes I did check it this way originally on a warm engine and the fluid level was to the very top of the plastic on the dipstick. It was on a warm engine but I hadn't driven it 20 miles. The engine temp was warm so I figured the tranny would've been warm enough.

 

Figured it out. Drove it 20 miles, shifted thru all the gears, pulled the dipstick off cleaned it, put it back in, checked it and it was low. I think the trick on my truck is you need to check it immediately after cleaning the dipstick, otherwise it reads that it was overfilled.

Thanks grizzstang.

 

You never check with motor OFF and cold!!!!!
You check with fluid at operating temp and yes you always pull the stick ,wipe it off,put back in and pull it right away.
Hope you got it right now.

If I want to check mine before I go for a ride. I start the truck,let it run for a little wile,put it in R with foot on break,hold that for a min or two,put it in neutral for a min,put it in D ,1,2,3.All the gears. Then back to P and check it.
By the time I do all that and go through the gears a couple times its warmed up good.

Phil

 

ALL automatics are ALWAYS checked warm, running, in Park. Seems to me that's what it says right on the dipstick.

 

dodge... idle in neutral =) and honda's are not running