I changed out my transmission fluid a couple weeks ago. When I checked my level then, it was very hard to read the dipstick, however it didn't appear to be over or under full, so I thought it was okay.

I am preparing to pull my camper( about 7,000 pounds) for 4 hours to the beach on Thursday, so this morning when I pulled into the parking garage at my office, I checked the tranny fluid again. The engine was running when I checked the fluid level and had been on the highway for about 20 minutes (55-70 mph) before the check. It read above the "Max" line, but short of the bend in the dipstick. The fluid on the dipstick also seemed to have lots of little air bubbles on it.

This was the first time I had changed the transmission fluid in ANY vehicle. The change went fine, very messy, but without incident, however getting the level right seems to be quite difficult.

Please advise, is this is something I should be concerned with or am I okay.

Thanks in advance for reading and replying!!

Jason

 

I had the same issue, is your truck in nuetral when checking it? I let mine sit overnight on a level surface, start the truck put it in nuetral and let it run for a minute, then pull the stick wipe it and re dip it, the fluid was at the add hole on the bottom end of the stick so I add 1/2 quart, wait a couple minutes then recheck and the fluid level was right at the bottom of the crosshatch marks so I leave it alone and road test to get hot. I check the fluid on the same level surface idleing in nuetral and it is over the full mark up to the bend in the dipstick and loaded with bubbles, I let it sit overnight and follow the same order in the morning, the oil was right at the bottom of the crosshatch with no air bubbles so thats where I'm leaving it.

 

The trans oil check should be done with a hot transmission, on level ground, engine idling, trans in "N". If it is still over the full mark they make an "oil sucker". It looks like a grease gun with a hose. You can use it to suck out excess oil. You may have to reduce the hose down to a size that will fit, but it will work without dropping the pan.

Foamy tranny fluid is an indication of over full. The air makes it shift weird.

Good luck, keep us posted. I like sucess stories!

 

...I had it in Park this morning when I checked it. Could/would this cause it to read higher?

I will check again this evening when I get home, in Neutral this time!!

Thanks guys,

Jason

 

If it's still high, go to Wally World and look in the boat section for an oil sucker.

 

Tranny needs to be in neutral, idling at normal speed with tranny up to operating temp.

 

How many quarts did you put in?

 

I put in 5, and couldn't get a good read on the dipstick, so put in about another 1/3-1/2 quart.

 

yes, Nuetral vs Park is different...

 

Please make sure and update us on what you find

The Pakman

 

My 2006 took 6.5 qt's of fluid when I had the filter changed.

 

it will read higher in park-put it in neutral when fluid is hot-at operating temp!

 

....and it is reading just to the bottom of the hole below the crossing lines. So I'm going to go get another quart and add some more.

Thanks to all for your feedback, it is greatly appreciated by rookie, wrench turners like me!!

Have a great day!

Jason

 

I drained a small amount, appx 1/4-1/3 qt from my pan which brought the level just above the add hole cold. Drove the truck around and got the trans to 160* and rechecked hot, fluid level just below top of the crosshatch so it looks good to me. The Mag-Hytec pan sure makes it easy to adjust fluid level.

Thanks for all the help gentlemen, Tim