When looking at my trans. fluid level dipstick it looks like fluid is covering it up to where it should when hot. The problem is neither of the circular cutouts in the dipstick retain any fluid in them.
Should I see fluid spanning the circular cut outs on the dipstick when full & hot or just look more for where the wetness ends?

 

The fluid level will be about one inch over "Full hot" when the engine is off. The engine must be running and trans up to operating temperature to read the fluid level accurately.

 

^Thanks. I am testing while hot and idling. Just having a hard time getting a clear, consistent reading. It's hard to tell if fluid has just splashed on the stick or it's full.

 

Did you just change your fluid and add ? The fluid should hold in the holes, you could be low and it is just showing up on the outside of the dipstick due to the dip stick hitting the tube after just adding there for can kinda be hard to read sometimes

 

Thank you for "understanding" my first reply - not everyone knows that the engine has to be running and I wanted to be sure.
I recall getting a fairly consistent reading.
Perhaps let it idle for a few minutes to reduce any splash in the dipstick tube. Wildly different readings might indicate a clogged filter.

 

Just so you know op, I have the same issue. I can never really be sure about my trans fluid level. The holes never appear to hold fluid. I just try to go by where the fluid appears to be on the stick.

 

If your car is an F-Body it is hard to get a good reading after you have just added fluid. The dipstick/filler tube is horizontal before going down to the trans and fluid will set in that section for a while. I just try to get it close and then let it set for a little while and then recheck. I will always come back several hours or even the next day and check it again. I seem to get a better reading this way.

 

Thanks a ton for the replies.
I recently added a tranny fluid cooler and just did a filter change so I'm guessing a bit at what it should take to fill it back up. I'm getting a good, consistent reading when it's warm, not hot, and the fluid is thicker. It's a lot easier to see exactly where it's at on the dipstick. I think I'm good now, and thanks again guys. Glad I'm not the only one who finds it more of an art than a science getting a good fluid level reading on the 4l60e.

 

Also fill it on the high side / top hole

 

ya wish i had read this before i checked my lvl with car off, puked like crazy out the fill tube,lol