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Reading a dip stick

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Old Mar 18, 2007 | 07:31 PM
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wrm
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Reading a dip stick

06 With 48 Re.there Are Three Marks On The Dip Stick One Says Min.an The Other Says Max. Then The Next One Says When Hot.does When Hot Mean Normal Operating Tempature Or Does It Mean When Its Hotter Than Normal.sorry For Such A Stupid Question.
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Old Mar 18, 2007 | 07:44 PM
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I am no dodge genius but usually "hot" means operating temp.
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Old Mar 18, 2007 | 08:02 PM
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53 willys's Avatar
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when the trans fluid is @170* it is fully expanded and that would be considered "hot" if you don't have a trans gauge then I would say go by engine op temp...
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Old Mar 18, 2007 | 08:07 PM
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53 is right. The book says you need to drive it about 15 miles to get the trans temp "hot" (180 degrees). I have a trans temp gauge, and I haven't been able to get mine above 150 yet. You really do have to drive it awhile before the trans fluid gets hot . . . these trucks have such a big cooler on them. You also need to check it with the engine running.
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Old Mar 18, 2007 | 08:10 PM
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Ive Been Changing Oil Pans Lately And Paying Atention To The Dip Stick .i Do Watch The Temp Guage Just Trying To Figure Out If I Have The Right Amount Of Fluid. Thanks Guys
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Old Mar 18, 2007 | 08:50 PM
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hmmm... I messed up. When I saw the subject matter, I thought it was a class on how to understand weird people. Sorry!
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Old Mar 19, 2007 | 11:50 AM
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My tranny gauge has only hit 140* once if I am lucky. Most of the time it is around 100* all the time. I have a JC Whitney LED gauge and the sending unit is in the Hot line that I got from Mass Diesel.

Even when I had a normal tranny Temp gauge, it only read about 120*, maybe, if I was lucky.

I don't tow or haul anything, just a normal driving dodge that likes to do burnouts now and then. But I can't believe it runs so cool.

I even hear the tranny shift into OD on cold morning long before the gauge starts reading at 70* and I think OD won't shift until it is at least 70*.

Thought about trying to get another sending unit but am afraid that it would be the same readings.
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Old Mar 19, 2007 | 01:20 PM
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From: Udaho
Originally Posted by FirstDodge
53 is right. The book says you need to drive it about 15 miles to get the trans temp "hot" (180 degrees). I have a trans temp gauge, and I haven't been able to get mine above 150 yet. You really do have to drive it awhile before the trans fluid gets hot . . . these trucks have such a big cooler on them. You also need to check it with the engine running.
..truck level, and in neutral with the parking brake set.
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Old Mar 19, 2007 | 07:52 PM
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From: New Jersey, near New York City
Yet another reason not to have the out of park alarm recall done! Does the stupid alarm at least stop when you close the door after exiting the vehicle? Or do they expect you to check the transmission fluid level with the horn blaring about three feet away? What committee of lawyers and bean counters came with this one!?
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Old Mar 19, 2007 | 08:04 PM
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From: Cary, NC
Originally Posted by Nuttymopar
My tranny gauge has only hit 140* once if I am lucky. Most of the time it is around 100* all the time. I have a JC Whitney LED gauge and the sending unit is in the Hot line that I got from Mass Diesel.

Even when I had a normal tranny Temp gauge, it only read about 120*, maybe, if I was lucky.

I don't tow or haul anything, just a normal driving dodge that likes to do burnouts now and then. But I can't believe it runs so cool.

I even hear the tranny shift into OD on cold morning long before the gauge starts reading at 70* and I think OD won't shift until it is at least 70*.

Thought about trying to get another sending unit but am afraid that it would be the same readings.
From what I have heard, your readings are normal. They are the same as mine (generally). They are made so that when you tow at capacity in 95 degree weather, it runs around 180-195. So if you are driving empty in 70 degree weather, that gauge isn't going to move much.
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Old Mar 19, 2007 | 08:56 PM
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From: wilson,ny
nuttymopar- those temps seem real low-especially for winter time in vermont! i am in ny. i just moved my probe from the port on the side of the tranny where you get cooler temp readings-which were still higher than your temps! i installed the tranny line you have on saturday. sunday, the temps around here were in the 20's. i took the old lady for a drive and saw tranny temps has high as 160 degrees in mixed driving!!!!.
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