Big Terry
Senior Member
So I am trying to figure out the consensus on the correct level of ATF in the trans. I can't even come to a solution for how to check the level because the manual says one thing and the info on the dipstick says something completely different, so figuring out what level to run the fluid at is equally perplexing.
Thus far I've had the dealer do all maintenance on my truck so aside from checking the oil, I haven't done squat. I'm preparing to pull my trailer cross country though, so doing a little bit more on the pm side to prepare.
The manual says if trans fluid is cold, it should be between the cold holes. If trans is at operating temps, it should be between the hot holes. Manual also says operating temp is between 170-180; mine never gets that hot unless I'm towing, so I got it up to about 155, and it was a bit below the halfway point.
My truck is an 18, my buddy with a 17 checked his and his was in the same place as mine.
All that said, I'm a bit concerned that I can't find documentation that says it's OK being at the halfway point on the dipstick. Neither one of us has had any trans service done, our trucks are different models and years, bought from different dealers... Safe assumption that with them both being at the same level, this was intentional from the factory.
Would my fluid getting 20 degrees hotter really expand it that much as to rise a full inch on the dipstick? I have no problem buying a quart of ATF and filling it more, but don't want to run the risk of overfilling at a sub-operational temp only to have it be overfilled, and find that out the hard way as I'm climbing mountains with 12000 pounds behind me.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
Thus far I've had the dealer do all maintenance on my truck so aside from checking the oil, I haven't done squat. I'm preparing to pull my trailer cross country though, so doing a little bit more on the pm side to prepare.
The manual says if trans fluid is cold, it should be between the cold holes. If trans is at operating temps, it should be between the hot holes. Manual also says operating temp is between 170-180; mine never gets that hot unless I'm towing, so I got it up to about 155, and it was a bit below the halfway point.
My truck is an 18, my buddy with a 17 checked his and his was in the same place as mine.
All that said, I'm a bit concerned that I can't find documentation that says it's OK being at the halfway point on the dipstick. Neither one of us has had any trans service done, our trucks are different models and years, bought from different dealers... Safe assumption that with them both being at the same level, this was intentional from the factory.
Would my fluid getting 20 degrees hotter really expand it that much as to rise a full inch on the dipstick? I have no problem buying a quart of ATF and filling it more, but don't want to run the risk of overfilling at a sub-operational temp only to have it be overfilled, and find that out the hard way as I'm climbing mountains with 12000 pounds behind me.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
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