Automatic Transmission 2-Speed thru 10-Speed GM Autos | Converters | Shift Kits
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

4l60e dipstick reading

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 8, 2018 | 12:44 PM
  #1  
trilkb's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,106
Likes: 80
Default 4l60e dipstick reading

So when the vehicle is hot, and nothing is on the dipstick does it read the same as an oil dipstick? needing atleast 2 quarts?

Im just trying to figure out where I stand right now and I cant find any info on reading the dipstick apart from cold, warm, hot. If its hot and nothing is on the dipstick id like to know if that means it needs a quart...2 quarts?

If anyone knows it would be useful to know. Just good general knowledge.
Reply
Old Jun 8, 2018 | 12:55 PM
  #2  
bbond105's Avatar
TECH Junkie
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 715
From: Poplarville, MS
Default

I would start out with two pints. IIRC the dipstick marks are in pints.

Last edited by bbond105; Jun 8, 2018 at 04:32 PM.
Reply
Old Jun 8, 2018 | 01:40 PM
  #3  
01ssreda4's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (96)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24,241
Likes: 89
From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
Default

No, its the opposite. When an engine is hot the oil is still up in the top of the engine, so the level will appear slightly lower then actual. When a transmission is hot the oil expands, making the level appear to go up. You have a cold warm and hot reading area on the dipstick.
Reply
Old Jun 8, 2018 | 04:55 PM
  #4  
trilkb's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,106
Likes: 80
Default

Right, I know there's cold warm and hot readings

if you are doing a hot reading and nothing is on the dipstick, do you start with 2 quarts, or pints, as said?

a completely cold, not ran for a day, dipstick should read way high if you pull it without the car running right? ( Fluid drains from converter). Then you start it and the converter sucks up what drains and that gives you the lower cold reading, and hot it has expanded making it read higher, correct?
Reply
Old Jun 9, 2018 | 07:13 AM
  #5  
bbond105's Avatar
TECH Junkie
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 715
From: Poplarville, MS
Default

Yes, correct
Reply
Old Jun 9, 2018 | 11:17 AM
  #6  
Jays_SSZ28's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 56
Default

Take a look around. Think about adding too much. How will you get it out?
Yea, you get a long hose and suck it out through the tube. A transmission shouldn't be run overfilled, an engine can to a point. But of you overfill an engine you can just pull the plug and drain it, easy.

The point is go a pint or two at a time as said.
And a tip: let it sit 5 minutes running or not before you check it again. When you add fluid and check it you're scraping fluid out of the tube and you get a false high reading.
Reply
Old Jun 9, 2018 | 04:52 PM
  #7  
2ToeRacing's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 585
Likes: 17
From: Atlanta Ga,
Default

If it's not reading on the stick put a QT in. A little overfilled DOESNT HURT THE TRANS! You want it to read on the top mark or slightly over when hot.
Reply
Old Jun 9, 2018 | 05:00 PM
  #8  
Jays_SSZ28's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 56
Default

Originally Posted by 2ToeRacing
If it's not reading on the stick put a QT in. A little overfilled DOESNT HURT THE TRANS! You want it to read on the top mark or slightly over when hot.
Try overfilling a th400. A lot of times it'll blow it out through the dipstick tube. And usually hit the exhaust and catch on fire. But yea you're right, too much fluid won't hurt the trans the fire will.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 11, 2018 | 07:12 AM
  #9  
MaroonMonsterLS1's Avatar
TECH Junkie
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,614
Likes: 1,326
From: Iowa
Default

The post is about a 60e. Not a 400.

About a pint over the full mark isn't going to hurt, and many have reported it curing some upshift issues when at WOT with a shallow pan.
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2018 | 08:17 AM
  #10  
trilkb's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,106
Likes: 80
Default

Yes 4l60e

Awesome, thanks.
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2018 | 09:17 AM
  #11  
fst100's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 24
From: lancaster, pa
Default

IIRC you check while the engine's running at operating temp, not when the engines off fwiw. i'd say get a quart and slowly pour in bit by bit and check the fluid level via dipstick.
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2018 | 11:08 AM
  #12  
trilkb's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,106
Likes: 80
Default

Yea its while running.

The problem with adding it bit by bit on these cars is that you never get another good reading right away, like stated, need to wait around 5 minutes between readings
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2018 | 11:20 AM
  #13  
01ssreda4's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (96)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24,241
Likes: 89
From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
Default

Its recommended to run the 60e a quart over. I do on mine and have for years. It also has a vent tube on the top so it should not blow a dipstick out.
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2018 | 11:57 AM
  #14  
MaroonMonsterLS1's Avatar
TECH Junkie
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,614
Likes: 1,326
From: Iowa
Default

The issue with running them too full (i don't think one quart over is *too* full by the way...but 2 or 3 definitely is) is that it foams the fluid. Overfull can be just as detrimental as under full.

Personally, I like to run a stamp'd steel deep pan with the plastic "new" deep pan filter. I don't have to run it over-full to band-aid the issue of sucking the sump dry under acceleration and that keeps it from foaming. The added capacity is always nice as well.
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2018 | 02:28 PM
  #15  
01ssreda4's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (96)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24,241
Likes: 89
From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
Default

I may have had a deep pan or two.
4l60e


4l80e



4l60e
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2018 | 04:29 PM
  #16  
Jays_SSZ28's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 56
Default

I run my 60e's on the full mark - no problems.
Never said overfilling would hurt it.
Gave an example of when it might hurt something because this thread will be here for 15 years and who knows who is going to read that as a universal statement. 400's have vents too.

Only on the internet can we have 1000 ways to fill a transmission and whats wrong with all 1000. It's a bit rediculious to have such a long thread on adding fluid to a transmission.
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2018 | 04:53 PM
  #17  
trilkb's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,106
Likes: 80
Default

Hahaha, yes it is rediculous, and noone really knows if a dipstick showing nothing on it when doing reading "hot" means add atleast x amount of fluid lol, but noone will say. We all know what it means on an engine oil dipstick, I was just trying to see if that logic carried over.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:49 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE