Trans Fluid Level Question

**Alcharger** · 05-05-2009, 10:10 PM

My stall torque converter installer gave me the dip stick he used to set the fluid level without any temperature sensors. I've wanted to check the level and my wife gave me a Dashhawk for my birthday, she knows how to keep her man happy. To my surprise the dip stick he gave me didn't go to the bottom of the trans.

Today I picked up a dip stick from a junk yard full size van, marked it off at 10 mm increments and pushed it to what I thought was the bottom. It went in easy then hit an elbow or something then went in further. It was not clear that I was at the bottom. This dip stick is about 120 mm long.

So, it measured about 55 mm at about 170*F. The chart level chart showed it should have been at 65 mm.

Does 55 mm sound right? How low does the trans have to be before it goes into limp mode?

I concerned about filling it up to 65 mm and blowing a seal.

Last question, about how much fluid is needed to raise the level 10 cm?

Side note, it's interesting that this chart is both metric and English units.

**JBs_300c** · 05-05-2009, 10:58 PM

i need to borrow that dashhawk! lol

just remember its a lot easier to add than it is to take away. if anything run by the dealer and tell them you thought you seen some tranny fluid under the car you want them to check, should be free

**GasGunR** · 05-05-2009, 11:45 PM

Did you have the car in gear when you checked the temp with the dashhawk? Seem to remember reading that it reads engine temp until you put it in gear.

**Alcharger** · 05-05-2009, 11:55 PM

Not the entire time.

I'll try it in gear.

**GasGunR** · 05-06-2009, 12:06 AM

Should be ok to take the temp in gear, put it back in neutral so you don't get run over and then take the level as long as you do it right away.

**Maistro69** · 05-06-2009, 12:22 AM

yup cant read temp unless it's in gear

**GasGunR** · 05-06-2009, 12:36 AM

Hasn't posted in almost an hour... he must be run over...

**Maistro69** · 05-06-2009, 01:00 AM

Originally Posted by GasGunR

Hasn't posted in almost an hour... he must be run over...

LOL ummm wait maybe that's not funny

**GasGunR** · 05-06-2009, 01:17 AM

I'll reserve judgement

**JBs_300c** · 05-06-2009, 02:26 AM

dibs on teh dashhawk just encase your right

**Alcharger** · 05-06-2009, 08:36 AM

No luck no getting the Dashhawk, I'm still alive. lol

Yep, I cycled in and out of gear, temp was 170*F, 45 mm is what I measured and the chart says 55 mm. I'm still not convinced that the did stick is long enough.

Any know know or have a dip stick tell me how long it needs to be?

Thanks

Originally Posted by JBs_300c

dibs on teh dashhawk just encase your right

**Hemi31** · 05-06-2009, 09:00 AM

I know the ram pickup dipstick is about 2" too long....as far as the actual length I never measured it once it was trimmed.

**Popeye's Hemi** · 05-06-2009, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by Alcharger

My stall torque converter installer gave me the dip stick he used to set the fluid level without any temperature sensors. I've wanted to check the level and my wife gave me a Dashhawk for my birthday, she knows how to keep her man happy. To my surprise the dip stick he gave me didn't go to the bottom of the trans.

Today I picked up a dip stick from a junk yard full size van, marked it off at 10 mm increments and pushed it to what I thought was the bottom. It went in easy then hit an elbow or something then went in further. It was not clear that I was at the bottom. This dip stick is about 120 mm long.

So, it measured about 55 mm at about 170*F. The chart level chart showed it should have been at 65 mm.

Does 55 mm sound right? How low does the trans have to be before it goes into limp mode?

I concerned about filling it up to 65 mm and blowing a seal.

Last question, about how much fluid is needed to raise the level 10 cm?

Side note, it's interesting that this chart is both metric and English units.

The others are right in that if using the dashHawk to read the temp the trans needs to be in drive or reverse. Otherwise it will read the coolant temp. 55 mm is ok to run but if the chart indicates the level should be 65 mm @ 170 degrees then I would add a little fluid 4-8 onces at a time. It helps to shift the trans through the gears and then recheck. It's very easy to over fill and a PITA to remove. These trans have a float system and don't like to overfilled. If you do a trans fluid change you should be able to put in 4 quarts and start from there. I just finished flushing my trans due to water intursion via a bad filler tube gromet and causing the trans to shudder. As per the TSB I bought 13 qts of ATF+4, a new pan gasket although it is re-useable, filter and ATF-RTV for $102.58
Then I put in a pint of Seafoam Trans Tune drove it for 30 minutes and started the flushing of the trans by draining and adding 4 qts and draining again. You get the picture. That seafoam trans tune will clean the internals of these trans very good.
No more shudder and she shifts great know.

Good Luck

**Alcharger** · 05-06-2009, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Popeye's Hemi

The others are right in that if using the dashHawk to read the temp the trans needs to be in drive or reverse. Otherwise it will read the coolant temp. 55 mm is ok to run but if the chart indicates the level should be 65 mm @ 170 degrees then I would add a little fluid 4-8 onces at a time. It helps to shift the trans through the gears and then recheck. It's very easy to over fill and a PITA to remove. These trans have a float system and don't like to overfilled. If you do a trans fluid change you should be able to put in 4 quarts and start from there. I just finished flushing my trans due to water intursion via a bad filler tube gromet and causing the trans to shudder. As per the TSB I bought 13 qts of ATF+4, a new pan gasket although it is re-useable, filter and ATF-RTV for $102.58
Then I put in a pint of Seafoam Trans Tune drove it for 30 minutes and started the flushing of the trans by draining and adding 4 qts and draining again. You get the picture. That seafoam trans tune will clean the internals of these trans very good.
No more shudder and she shifts great know.

Good Luck

I read about your water in the trans PITA deal. Thanks for the info, I'll put in gear, note the temp, take out of gear and read the level and add 4 to 8 oz at a time.

When we put in the noids or valve body I'll get some Seafoam Trans Cleaner.

Glad you got yours fixed before needing a new tranny.