tampabayota

where should my automatic transmission fluid level be on the dipstick first thing in the morning .tempeture out side is around 65 degrees. Right now it shows up past the hot mark. 22rtec 1986

keithguts

It has to be hot to check, You can't check it cold!!

snap-on

i thought it had 2 marks on the stick...(labed) hot and cold.

tampabayota

any one else?

GSGALLANT

You can check it cold, but only to get you in the ballpark. You should always do your final check and adjustment when it is at normal operating temperature, using the "hot" lines on the dipstick.

I don't mean to sound rude, but you do know the proper method checking auto transmission level, right?

1. Drive truck around to get transmission to normal operating temperature (long drives at highway speeds will get it too hot... in that case, let the truck sit 15-20 minutes before checking the fluid level).

2. Starting in Park, with the truck idling, slowly shift through all the gears (P, R, N, D, 2, L), pausing for a second or two at each gear, then shift back up through the gears (L, 2, D, N, R, P), pausing for a second or two at each gear.

3. When you get back up to Park, leave the truck running, and go check the level on the dipstick. Reading should be between the hot marks. Adjust fluid level as required to get to proper level.

tampabayota

yes i now about checking the level after driving and in neutrual. But in the am when the motor is cold should it be at the cold mark, mine is at the hot mark?

TNRabbit

As long as you do the procedure that GSGALLANT recommended, it doesn't matter what it reads cold.

GSGALLANT

It's Park, not neutral.

In the morning, when you first start up the truck, with it cold and idling, after having gone through all the gears from P to L and back up to P like I mentioned above, you should be close to the cold range on your level, but like I mentioned before, this just gets you in the ballpark. It's used when you refill your tranny after having drained it. Since you're driving it like this now anyways, don't bother checking it cold... just warm it up and check it properly at operating temp.