Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Auto Trans Fluid Level

[Hahn007]

I feel foolish asking this please read in entirety before casting judgment.



My signature gives vehicle details. I have noticed when checking the fluid level in the 47RE that on one side of the dipstick the fluid level is at a much different level than the other side. I am checking it at full operating temperature with the engine idling and trans in neutral as stated on the dipstick and the owners manual. If I rotate the dipstick 180 degrees I get the same readings. i. e. the high and low readings switch sides. I have noticed that where the dipstick penetrates the trans housing one side of the dipstick is shrouded by the housing. Could this be the cause of my "low" reading and the fluid motion the source of my "high" reading? If so, which reading is correct?

 

[DLBurns]

Mine is darn hard to read on the stick... . I just changed my trans fluid and added 15 quarts to the Mag Hy Tek DD trans pan, and Suncoast Torque Converter. When I get up to operating temps and check the fluid level, I can't really tell whether or not it is full or empty

Just a light film of oil on the stick???

Is this normal

 

[Fireman Dave]

Chris,



I've noticed this through the years on various vehicles. I've also seen it on engine oil dipsticks. I just take the high reading as the actual and ignore the low reading.



Dave

 

[Scheibins]

I've been told to use the low reading. I don't know why

they are different. I check it about ten times before I'm

sure I have the correct reading.

Anyone else.

 

[Lsfarm]

Welcome

Hello Chris, welcome to the TDR.



If you look under the truck at the dipstick/fill tube you will see that it makes a turn just before entering the transmission case. As the dipstick is pushed through this turn it rubs on the outside or back of the curve of the tube. As the dipstick enters the case there is always a drop or two of ATF on the top or rear of the tube and this is picked up by the dipstick and dragged up the dipstick as it is pushed further into the trans.



So the top of the dipstick shows a higher level, and usually an irregular reading, on one side or edge of the dipstick. The underside of the stick usually has a neat even line of ATF all the way across the stick THIS is the correct reading from the bottom of the dipstick.



I often turn the stick upside down so the low/high markings are on the bottom and are not altered by the ATF on the end of the fill tube.



With the ATF hot it is thin and hard to see, the best way is to wipe the stick dry, take a look at it in a bright light [either headlamp or sunlight] and tip the stick so you can see the light reflect on the stick surface. Then dip into the trans and remove, then look for the reflection of the light again. You will see the dry dull surface, and then the shiney wet surface take your reading from this line.



Hope this helps Greg L

 

[JPittman]

"So the top of the dipstick shows a higher level, and usually an irregular reading, on one side or edge of the dipstick. The underside of the stick usually has a neat even line of ATF all the way across the stick THIS is the correct reading from the bottom of the dipstick. "



Just had the oil changed, did not drain the converter. I have a Mag-Hytec DD pan, per their instructions refilled with 9 qts. Dipstick shows Max on the cross-hatch side, and low on the other side (1/2" up from the bottom) as described above. If I follow what is said, I have to add alot more to bring it to "level" on the side opposite the cross-hatch. I feel this will overfill it. Now what?

 

[Lsfarm]

Not a lot more

The difference is probably only about half a quart. There are only approximate amounts to refill a trans after the pan has been off, even though you didn't drain the TC, some of the ATF in the TC will drain. How much drains depends on how long the pan was off and the filter was off.

You should always fill to the correct level on the dipstick, there is no other accurate way to fill the trans. .



As for the different levels showing on the stick, there are several ways or reasons that there could be a higher reading on the top of the stick. But there are no explainations for how there could be a neat clean lower reading on the underside of the stick unless there a Leprechaun in the trans wiping the stick dry as you withdraw it to create an arificially low line. Think about it. The correct and accurate level is the lowest one on the back or bottom of the stick.



A slight overfill of an automatic trans is not a disaster. Only a very high reading will cause the ATF level to be high enough to be in contact with rotating part causing foaming of the ATF.



Hope this helps. Greg L

 

[DLBurns]

When I changed mine last month I drained the TC also. Put 14 quarts in the Mag Hy Tek DD pan and TC. Read the dipstick and it looked low so I added another quart!!

When it gets up to operating temps I still cannot see the damn fluid on the dipstick!!!

Now trying to figure out why I just got a P-1763 code

Leaving for the PNW tomorrow... . perfect timing!!!!

 

[Lsfarm]

Photo of stick

Here is a photo of the fill tube with the dipstick sticking out it it as it would be if in the pan. The front of the trans would be to the right in the photo.



You can see that the top of the stick touches the fill tube on the back of the tube. If there was [and there aways is] a drop of ATF on the fill tube, then it would drag the drop of ATF up the stick as it is inserted into the tube and pan. Notice that the bottom of the stick does not touch anything but would dip into the ATF in the pan without any contamination from the fill tube.



Hope this helps, Greg L

 

[JPittman]

Greg L,



Thank you for your responses. I understand what you are saying & it makes sense. So according to my reading I'm about 1/2 qt low, the straight line of the oil on the smooth side is about 1/4" below the hole for min. Is low better than high? Just afraid to overfill. I would also think that the two "V's" on the stick would prevent the oil contamination of the stick from the tube.



Just a rhetorical question: Since the correct reading is on the smooth side & disregard the reading on the cross-hatch, why doesn't Dodge use the smooth side for the correct reading? They do think different don't they?



Thanks again for your help.

 

[Lsfarm]

Low is a N0-Go!

I would recommend that the ATF level always be at least near the middle of the range.

With a stock trans pan this is critical, the slosh of the ATF in the pan during acceleration, deceleration, and cornering can cause the filter to suck up air instead of ATF, and guess what?? then some clutches slip, and even if for only a moment, it is extra wear. So keep the ATF up to or near the full line.



With a DD pan this is less critical, but why run it low?? If you look at the trans case/pan line and measure up to the first rotating part you will find that a trans must be overfilled by several quarts to cause the ATF level to touch the rotating parts in the trans. So a little above the full mark when hot is not a problem. An inch or more above the mark must be corrected.



I've had several trucks come to me for a shifting problem that turned out to be low fluid level. When the truck accelerates with low ATF, the fluid sloshes away from the filter, the trans sucks air, the line pressure drops, then the trans tries to shift, the clutches don't engage and/or they slip, the shift feels funny or isn't there at all. And the only problem is low ATF.



The ATF level must be checked after a road test when the trans has gone though all the gears and all the air in the passageways has been purged. Then the level will be accurate. Dealers often don't take the time to road test and recheck the fluid level, this has been the cause every time I found low ATF levels.



The 'W' bent into the dipstick does help center the stick in the tube, but as you can see from the photo, it doesn't do a perfect job. Just turn the stick upside down and insert in the tube, the cross hatched area will be on the bottom and give a good reading. Then just to make the engine room look right return it to it's correct position so you dont have to stand on your head to read the handle.



Greg L.