Transmission dipstick. Worthless?

Qyota

Qyota

New member
OK, I'm having trouble doing something that should be very easy! :cry:

Yesterday, I drained my transmission fluid (it was brown and murky...not good!), and added 3 quarts of Dex III. I checked the dipstick (cold, engine not running), and it showed right on the COLD mark.

I then started the truck and drove around the neighborhood until it warmed up. Shifted fine, although I never got past 2nd gear probably.

Got the truck back into the garage and left it running. I ran through the gears, put it in park, and checked the dipstick again. It was well BELOW the cold mark, but still registered on the stick.

I drained it again, to get more of the crappy old fluid out. It looked more pink this time, but still mostly brown. Then I put 3 quarts back in. The dipstick showed the level right at the COLD mark again. This is good.

But, when should I be checking the level? And why is the "warm" check I did showing so much BELOW the cold mark?

Lastly, during my drive around the neighborhood, I could hear some light clinking coming from the rear end somewhere (could have been wheel/suspension related, or could have been rear diff). It was very sporadic and I couldn't put my finger on exactly where it was coming from. Could it be related to a low trans fluid level?

Anyone else find the trans dipstick to be unreliable and difficult to insert?
 
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I'm not saying I'm a master tech or anything, but when I service a tranny in the shop, generally I will fill to cold. Then drive. Then check again while running. On my runner, the level is usually lower after the first fill. I think this is because fluid is being pumped back into the tranny cooler. I don't top off to highest mark because tranny fluid expands when it gets hot. Haven't had any issues with my Runner or any of the customer vehicles.
 
Thanks LINY. I did that tonight after a test drive, and it's nearly at the HOT mark. This is after 3 quarts added after draining. The manual says it should only take 2.1 quarts! And on this site: http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/tacoma_4runner_30k/maintenancep4.htm#tranny he says he uses 4 quarts! Strange to see such a disparity.

Anyway, I checked it hot and it was about 1 inch below the hot mark. I'll drive it around some more and check it again afterward. If it's a bit low, I'll add some.

I also changed the rear diff oil with fresh 80W-90. I took it for a test drive tonight and it drives and shifts smoother than ever! Let's hope that takes care of the issues I've been having...
 
Oh, and the "light clinking" I'm hearing I think is from the front brakes! Not sure why I thought it was coming from the rear. The noise went away every time I touched the brake pedal, so my guess is it's the dreaded brake pad clink. Oh well, it's not serious at least.
 
Transmission Dipstick

Qyota said:
OK, I'm having trouble doing something that should be very easy! :cry:

Yesterday, I drained my transmission fluid (it was brown and murky...not good!), and added 3 quarts of Dex III. I checked the dipstick (cold, engine not running), and it showed right on the COLD mark.

I then started the truck and drove around the neighborhood until it warmed up. Shifted fine, although I never got past 2nd gear probably.

Got the truck back into the garage and left it running. I ran through the gears, put it in park, and checked the dipstick again. It was well BELOW the cold mark, but still registered on the stick.

I drained it again, to get more of the crappy old fluid out. It looked more pink this time, but still mostly brown. Then I put 3 quarts back in. The dipstick showed the level right at the COLD mark again. This is good.

But, when should I be checking the level? And why is the "warm" check I did showing so much BELOW the cold mark?

Lastly, during my drive around the neighborhood, I could hear some light clinking coming from the rear end somewhere (could have been wheel/suspension related, or could have been rear diff). It was very sporadic and I couldn't put my finger on exactly where it was coming from. Could it be related to a low trans fluid level?

Anyone else find the trans dipstick to be unreliable and difficult to insert?
Click to expand...

Good posts above. However, I will address your dipstick concern.

I find it to be difficult inserting it back in. I have to find the right angle, use a lot of force to be able to get it in. But I believe you don't have much option here, do you ?

My way of dealing with how much fluid needs to put in and whether it is in the HOT or COLD mark or either 3.5 or 4 quarts is appropriate, is to measure in quarts how much went out of the transmission. The process maybe a bit unconventional, but I feel safe knowing I am putting the exact amount in against what came out. Then I will pull my dipstick out ( knowing I have to insert this PITA back in ) just to confirm the fluid level.

I do not know if the dipstick is useless or not but it sure takes a little patience to put it back in. My 2 cents !

Drain and fill for me.

Cheers,

Walter
Las Vegas
 
Well, only filling what you drained might work fine if you knew that the amount that was in there was correct! Since the fluid I drained was so ugly, I can only assume it hadn't been changed in a LONG time, and the person who did it last may not have put in the correct amount.

Jeers to the hard-to-insert dipstick! :-)
 
you have to put it in a certain way....you see the little 'kink' at the bottom? that'll guide it down the right way...

it's hard to explain, but when you do it all the time like I do working at toyota, you just get the hang of it, i guess haha

practice makes perfect
everyone go out and hump your transmission via dipstick until you got it down!
:runaway:
 
I used to have a hard time putting the dipstick back in too. It's easier for me now..I guess practice does make perfect.
 
Qyota said:
Thanks LINY. I did that tonight after a test drive, and it's nearly at the HOT mark. This is after 3 quarts added after draining. The manual says it should only take 2.1 quarts!


its more like 12 quarts i think, theres just a bunch left in the tranny and the lines and the tranny lines in the radiator, when you pull the plug your only getting whats in the pan. to get the best results either hook it up to a machine that will push all the fluid out and replace it with new stuff or empty the pan, fill it through the tube drive it for a couple days and do it again... do this like 4 times or so .

and DONT break the B.S. garbage dipstick in the tube.... thats what i did, easy to get out (depending on how much you broke off ) but yeah thats an extra 15 buck i didn't need to spend on that
Click to expand...
 
I usually spin the dipstick 180 degrees and try again. Sometimes it works, but mainly I think it's because I somehow spun it after I took it our.
 
Ancient thread wooo :rockon:

For the record, I don't know why everyone *****es about the dipstick for the tranny. I have never had an issue putting it in/out; though maybe that "issue" was fixed during the previous years...
 
On my 1999 it was a PITA for me to put back in the tube, but on my 00' it was quite easier. It seems they shortened the dipstick...who knows
 
This answer might be a little off the beaten path but regarding putting the stick back in, as my dad always said just put hair around it and like magic it goes in every time! Just saying......
 
My '97/98 is a pita to put back in as well.
Push it in half way and it sticks.
Pull it out and turn 180* and re-insert.
Fish it up and down a few times gently applying a little more downward force each stroke praying the thing don't break off in your hand.

I hate it !
 
I got a 1998 and 1999 with the worthless dipsticks, wonder what the guy was smoking when he designed the tube and flimsy stick.
 
My '02 Tacoma 3.4 tranny dip stick went in & out just fine. The one on my '00 4Runner is a fight every time to cram it back in without kinking it in half.
 
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