Is there a trick that y'all use when checking the auto trans fluid level. I do all the steps: car warm, in park, while idling. but the actual level is tough to tell. I've had this problem with all of my automatic cars. Tranny fluid isn't like oil in this regard. With motor oil, I can see the definite mark where the level is. Auto fluid is that weird red, is real loose, viscosity wise.
Someone told me about a trick coating the dipstick with vasoline, but I'm reluctant to do so.
Does anyone know some "old mechanic tricks" to accurately check the Transmission oil level???

Thanks,
Tony

 

Just keep cleaning the fluid off and rediping the stick. It picks up alot of the tube its self. After about 5 times i can get a good reading

 

Thanks,

Just one more thought, Is there anything that I could paint the end of the stick with? Something that wouldn't be affected by auto tranny fluid, and would allow the color to show up better then the grey metal? I was thinking of some kind of white paint that's coefficient of friction was enough that the fluid wouldn't drip off.

Any thoughts?

Tony

 

I take it out and wipe it and then insert the dipstick in all the way and take it out real fast. Do this a couple of times and you should see that your reading is the same.

 

HAHAHA leave it to an engineer to over engineer something. Just stick it in and pull it back out a few times and you will get a good reading. I mean how many times do you really need to check your tranny fluid levels?

Sorry if I sounded like an *** but I am an engineer too and without seeing your username as soon as I read this post I thought are you kidding me this has to be some engineer.

BTW the paints coefficient of friction? I think that the viscosity of the trans fluid and the surface tension of the fluid would have more of an effect than anything else.

Here is an idea just drill a few small holes a few inches up the dipstick that will allow the surface tension of the fluid to overcome gravity. A much easier solution than researching paint properties.

Mike

 

only thing i can add is when i just got done with tranny work i usualy take about an hour to get it just right full. after you add fluid it is real hard to check so i add and then clean the garage or something and just recheck it like 20 minutes later, do that a few times till it is just right. that way i have a clean garage about the time it is ready for a serious drive(thrashing)

 

No offense taken, I actually was laughing. Yeah, I know you're right, leave it to us engineers.
The surface tension of the fluid is what I was after. I don't know why I said coefficient of friction? I mean once you spray paint, it's supposed to stick to the surface, if it slides right off you're doing something wrong.

I'll definately try you're idea. Parish's idea is good too. I just like to check all the fluids every once in a while. When I had my old Chevy 1/2 ton, it had a small leak which made me check the fluid weekly. I have always had trouble determining the exact level on the tranny dipstick. (I had always heard that too much fluid could hurt the transmission. how much is too much? Well I don't know what kinda safety factor the GM engineers built into that equation.

Thanks,
Tony

 

I too, find it difficult to get a reading on the transmisson oil level.

The other day I checked the transmission oil, after going to the bank, a stop at store and then came home 30 minutes later. Before I turned off the engine I parked the car, ran thru all the gears then checked the transmission oil, the dipstick was hot, but the dipstick only showed oil on the first hole and not the second hole of the dipstick, so I added about 1/4 transmission oil from a new quart of oil. The trans oil finaly reached the second hole to show its at the full hot mark, but the trans oil was barely noticable on the scond hole in dipstick, hopefully I didn't over fill or underfill.