How to check ATF level?
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
I was just doing this the other day and was so confused. my dip stick is all metal with a loop at the end and 2 (O O) above that then the checkered section not like the one in the Haynes manual that has a plastic tip.
here is what i learned .
1) you can, check it either hot or cold
2) when cold, oil has to be between the 2 (O O) markings when hot between the checkered marks.
3) park in a level area.
4) read it when you first pull it because the more you pull the dipstick in and out, the more you go leaving oil through out the dipstick tube, that then obscures a clear reading, at least that's what was happening to me. so make sure to at least read the first one.
hope this helps
here is what i learned .
1) you can, check it either hot or cold
2) when cold, oil has to be between the 2 (O O) markings when hot between the checkered marks.
3) park in a level area.
4) read it when you first pull it because the more you pull the dipstick in and out, the more you go leaving oil through out the dipstick tube, that then obscures a clear reading, at least that's what was happening to me. so make sure to at least read the first one.
hope this helps
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 421
Likes: 2
From: FT. Rucker AL
I always drive it for about ten miles or so and make sure that it warms the trans up a bit. Park it on a level surface then place foot on brake run gear shifter thru the gears slowly as to fill diaphram and then put back in park with it running idle and pop hood and pull dip stick.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,844
Likes: 6
From: Albuquerque
I always drive it for about ten miles or so and make sure that it warms the trans up a bit. Park it on a level surface then place foot on brake run gear shifter thru the gears slowly as to fill diaphram and then put back in park with it running idle and pop hood and pull dip stick.
^^^ ditto ^^^
biz
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,000
Likes: 4
From: Nowthen, MN
Yes, take it for a good drive so it's up to normal operating temperature, park on a level surface, run the shifter slowly through all the gears, return to park, then check the fluid with the engine running.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 65,938
Likes: 1,432
From: Millersville, MD
...and when the fluid is running all up and down the stick, how do you know WHERE the level is??? This vehicle is harder to read tran fluid level than my old Mark VIII!
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
I was having the same frustration. I believe I'm getting an accurate reading by doing the following:
drive truck about 10 min.
park on level surface.
make sure writing on dipstick is face-up
pull stick, clean, reinsert.
pull stick and read the level on the crossed hatched side which should be facing up.
The side opposite the cross hatched always seems to have oil way up the stick and that can be confusing. I usually reinsert the stick a couple of times just to validate the reading.
drive truck about 10 min.
park on level surface.
make sure writing on dipstick is face-up
pull stick, clean, reinsert.
pull stick and read the level on the crossed hatched side which should be facing up.
The side opposite the cross hatched always seems to have oil way up the stick and that can be confusing. I usually reinsert the stick a couple of times just to validate the reading.
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