How much ATF fluid is between the marks on the dipstick?

[wemslie97]

Just curious about this - the owners manual for my '97 3.4L states that there are 1.3 quarts of oil between the low and high mark on the dipstick. The owners manual says nothing about how to check the transmission fluid let alone how much fluid is actually between the marks on the dipstick of the 340F transmission. Don't know what the service manual says as I don't own one. I don't even need one with all the great how to's on this forum! Silly question Maybe, but it sure would help when I only need to add a small amount.

 

[shootmymime]

Just curious about this - the owners manual for my '97 3.4L states that there are 1.3 quarts of oil between the low and high mark on the dipstick. The owners manual says nothing about how to check the transmission fluid let alone how much fluid is actually between the marks on the dipstick of the 340F transmission. Don't know what the service manual says as I don't own one. I don't even need one with all the great how to's on this forum! Silly question Maybe, but it sure would help when I only need to add a small amount.

iirc about 1.5-2 qts the trans completely holds around 15 qts so 1.5-2 is not a lot just keep filling and checking.

 

[mtbtim]

What myself and other members have found is the cold level reading is not all that accurate. Use the cold reading as a ballpark measurement after you either do a full flush or a drain and refill of the pan and then take your truck out for a decent drive. I usually take mine for at least a 10 mile drive on the highway, drive back to my place on surface streets and my trans is usually at the suggested operating temperature (158-176). If you have a scan gauge or a blue tooth OBD II reader with a phone app like Torque Pro, it takes the guesswork out of knowing what temperature your trans fluid is at. I then top off the fluid based off the hot level reading on the dipstick. If you do it this way, you'll find you'll probably be showing a little high when checking it completely cold.

Just remember to get an accurate reading, you must have the engine running, shift through all the gears and then return the transmission to Park and you need to be on level ground. Dipstick readings can be deceptive, especially if you just added a little to top it off. You're looking for the spot where the solid liquid ends. Partial or streaked areas is just leftover fluid in the fill tube. Sometimes I just wait a little bit until the fluid in the fill tube is more completely drained before taking a dipstick reading.

 

[wemslie97]

Thanks for the replies!
I know the procedure and I always check it hot, running and after a shift through the gears. Mine read almost exactly between the two cold marks and the two hot marks. So I guess to clarify, from the lowest cold mark to the highest hot mark is roughly 1.5 to 2 QTS? Its such a pita to creep up on it. But I will do what I have to do.

 

[StreetCreeper]

Thanks for the replies!
I know the procedure and I always check it hot, running and after a shift through the gears. Mine read almost exactly between the two cold marks and the two hot marks. So I guess to clarify, from the lowest cold mark to the highest hot mark is roughly 1.5 to 2 QTS? Its such a pita to creep up on it. But I will do what I have to do.

Some things to consider — transmission fluid expands when hot, so pouring cold tranny fluid into a hot tranny and putting enough in to reach the hot line when you take an immediate reading — may in-fact push you over the "hot line" once that cold tranny fluid you just put in heats up after your reading.

Probably splitting hairs and unlikely an issue if sombody only added a little, but if someone has to dump a quart or more in at once, it might make a difference. Or not, since I have no evidence to support this hypothesis...

That said, I still suspect this is why some people think they are right on the line when they added it, but then when they recheck a few days later, they are "mysteriously" over the hot line.

Then again who knows. Transmission fluid levels are more frustratingly hard to read accurately — than wives. So I try to shoot for a little under so there's a bit of space for expansion.

I'm weird though.

 

[wemslie97]

That all makes sense. Automatic transmissions are strange beasts. This is the first one I've owned. Everything else has been manual and Easy by comparison. Thanks for the insight. Still much easier to understand than my wife!

 

[mtbtim]

Some things to consider — transmission fluid expands when hot, so pouring cold tranny fluid into a hot tranny and putting enough in to reach the hot line when you take an immediate reading — may in-fact push you over the "hot line" once that cold tranny fluid you just put in heats up after your reading.

Probably splitting hairs and unlikely an issue if sombody only added a little, but if someone has to dump a quart or more in at once, it might make a difference. Or not, since I have no evidence to support this hypothesis...

That said, I still suspect this is why some people think they are right on the line when they added it, but then when they recheck a few days later, they are "mysteriously" over the hot line.

Then again who knows. Transmission fluid levels are more frustratingly hard to read accurately — than wives. So I try to shoot for a little under so there's a bit of space for expansion.

I'm weird though.

It's my belief a little high or a little low is not a big deal. You just don't want to be way high or way low.

 

[frodiesel]

It's my belief a little high or a little low is not a big deal. You just don't want to be way high or way low.

You can apply this logic to life as well.

What causes trans fluid to get into the transfer case? Overfill, worn output shaft seal?

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[ZionXIX]

It would be nice if we could warm the fluid before adding

 

[mtbtim]

You can apply this logic to life as well.

What causes trans fluid to get into the transfer case? Overfill, worn output shaft seal?

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Are you saying you have ATF mixed in with the gear oil in your transfer case?

 

[alumarine]

You can apply this logic to life as well.

What causes trans fluid to get into the transfer case? Overfill, worn output shaft seal?

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What year is your vehicle?

 

[frodiesel]

What year is your vehicle?

99 model, but early 99. 11/98.

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[frodiesel]

Are you saying you have ATF mixed in with the gear oil in your transfer case?

It seemed there was some in there when i drained it.

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[mtbtim]

It seemed there was some in there when i drained it.

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I don't know if it's possible for the two fluids to mix because I don't know enough of how the transmission and transfer case connect together. But, I'm sure somebody will know. Lots of knowledgeable people on this forum.

But, one theory I have is the previous owner messed up and put ATF in there, realized the mistake and drained it, but didn't get all of it out.

 

[frodiesel]

There was just a tinge of red in there when i drained it. I did over fill it then drive it, they dont mix but you could tell it was there. I will change the output shaft seal when/if the flexplate goes unless otherwise convinced.

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