DarkFormula

iTrader: (80)

When I pulled my heads, I neglected to remove the tranny dipstick tube bracket from the back of the passenger one. All in all, I find out I broke the spot welds in the dipstick after getting everything back together, and didn't wanna pull the tranny to remove/install another one.

I cut the stock one out, and went to Jegs and bought the "24 inch Lokar firewall mount flexible 4L60E" dipstick so I could snake it in and fasten it down. It worked flawlessly.

However, the damned thing is telling me I have like three quarts too much tranny fluid. Stock capacity according to Alldata is 11.8 quarts. So I filled the converter (TCI SSF 3500) with a quart before installing it upright in the tranny. I then added 12 more quarts after everything was installed, since I have a TCI deep tranny pan (+2 quarts) and also run a B&M 50k GVW cooler.

All in all, I should be hovering around 14-14.5 quarts total. Again, there's only 13 total in there now, yet this Lokar dipstick is telling me I'm like three quarts over the "hot" line with the car idling.

The dipstick assembly has been fully inserted into the tranny, but what the hell do I do to figure out my correct level? I no longer have the old dipstick tube, so using it as a comparison is out of the question. The only things now is that the tranny isn't slipping, and there's no fluid coming out of the overflow tube from the tranny itself.

Thanks

DarkFormula

iTrader: (80)

Morning crew? Hopefully some sembance of an answer when I get home from work today...

2001WS6Vert

The only thing I could say is to get an OEM tube and dipstick and compare it to the Lokar.

DarkFormula

iTrader: (80)

I have Lokar calling me back, they don't even show a 4L60E unit, though I have the package for one...

DanZ28

iTrader: (5)

Stock capacity of a stock panned 4L60E is 6 quarts I believe. The converter probably holds 2-3 quarts. With your deep pan (+2 quarts), the tranny (+6 quarts), the TC (+ 2.5 quarts), the cooler (+2 quarts?) = approximately 12.5 quarts.

when I just did a fluid change with my 3 quart deep pan, I only put 9 quarts back in till it was full.

Dan

DarkFormula

iTrader: (80)

Dan, you posted this about five minutes after I got done draining three quarts from my car. You and Lokar agree, that although stock capacity is rated at 11.8 quarts, this is with a bone dry tranny/converter. Mine was just rebuilt.

So yeah, draining three quarts put my level right in the middle of the hatch area of the dipstick (car is cold), and I'll top it off next time I drive it and warm it up.

Thank God for aftermarket pans with drain plugs

Thanks to you as well, Dan

DarkFormula

iTrader: (80)

BTW, the cooler only holds like 1/3 quart with the lines. This puts the total right about 10 quarts, right in the ballpark!

DarkFormula

iTrader: (80)

Ok, ok. One last question.

I drove about 50 miles this past weekend, but very lightly (new SD tune, so no WOT or hard driving yet until tuned) and the max tranny temp I saw was 180* in traffic.

How bad is this, running around with an extra three quarts in there? My overflow tube from the tranny never sent anything out, and I'm wondering what risk/damage could have been done?

Thanks again....

DanZ28

iTrader: (5)

Probably no damage, but definately not a good idea to over fill it by that much. 180* is about where it should run.

I was thinking you had a monster cooler on there to support the 50K GVW and was guessing at the capacity .

Out of curiosity, were you able to measure the end of your stock dipstick and tube to compare with the lockar one?

Dan

DarkFormula

iTrader: (80)

Good. Nothing seemed weird while driving around, shifted fine and all.

The cooler is pretty huge, but still only has some lines running through it and nothing much more. I'd guesstimate 1/3 quart, but not much more.

My stock dipstick is available, but not the actual tube. The one part that was removed from the top was tossed, and the remaining part is pretty fucked up (as well as the dipstick is stuck in it). I wouldn't even know where to start trying to measure, especially being the marks on the dipstick are within tenths of an inch.

joecar

Get 5/16" or 3/8" fuel hose about 5 ft long, poke it down the tube and it will hit the "stop" in the case;

mark the hose level with the top of the tube;

pull hose out and lay next to original dipstick to compare
(bottom end of dipstick lined up with bottom end of hose, minus 1/4" or less);

mark hose at the dipstick's "Full Hot" mark;

compare hose with new diptick (line up with top of dipstick) and file a notch on the new dipstick to match the "Full Hot" mark from the hose.

Be sure to get all metal shavings off.

DanZ28

iTrader: (5)

It just occurred to me that I had my tube and dipstick sitting on the garage floor.

The dipstick was inserted and fully seated in the tube. I measued from the tube where it seats in the tranny (raised lip) to the end of the dipstick and it was 3 1/4". I don't recall where that raised lip actually seats at on the tranny though, think it was flush with the surface of the tranny where you insert it at.

Dan

DarkFormula

iTrader: (80)

The guy at Lokar told me today that from the seating surface of the dipstick housing to the end of the dipstick (fully inserted), should be 2 5/8".

DarkFormula

iTrader: (80)

Oh yeah, the Lokar dipstick is plastic with a billet aluminum "handle".

GDM Z28

iTrader: (16)

i have a lokar as well and my package doesnt say 4l60e....it says 4l60/700r4 but it works. i was also thinking that im low on fluid because i didnt add that much but according to the dipstick im "full".

what happens if you run too much tranny fluid.

DanZ28

iTrader: (5)

I measured the stock one again, and the tube itself is 2 5/8" from the seating surface to the end of the tube. With the dipstick installed and fully seated, it's 3 1/4" from tube seating surface to end of dipstick. I trust the stock measurment (mine) personally. I would double check with Lokar cause I don't think it's right unless it seats further down than the stock one.

Dan

DarkFormula

iTrader: (80)

I took a total of just over 2.5 quarts out and it reads fine while at temp, right where the line says it should be.

PITA dipsticks, especially for $62.

koolrayz

iTrader: (26)

I think the lokar needs to be about 8" longer. I have the same unit I had to switch because the stocker conflicted with my direct port. If it ever stops raining maybe you can get to the track. I havent been out in over a week. and the next few days dont look very good

DarkFormula

iTrader: (80)

Yeah Ray, no ****.

However, I still need quite a bit of tuning to get dialed in. The new SD tune is running the car suprisingly well, probably about 80% (I've driven it across town several times and logged 300+ miles with minimal issues). But no WOT or 3500+ RPMs yet, gotta play it safe.

I dunno, I might head your way to D42 if I feel froggy

And yeah, the Lokar needs to be a bit longer. I hate to see the "tranny mount" version for us

DanZ28

iTrader: (5)

I see most people buying the 36" Lokar. I seen it mounted to the cowl, looked real clean.

Dan