Checking ATF

I would not imagine that would be the best pulling the stick and finding nothing but dust , im doing a drain and fill soon, just gotta check the cold spot and the running hot spot. The filter is not that expensive, wouldnt hurt to just change all and have a starting point, though I've heard you change the filter around 100,000 and drain and fill around 30,000. Not trying to drag this out but someone posted here about not switching out the atf fluid, maybe that was only for autos, but im sure someone will come along and add input

To answer your first question though, I checked fluids the other morning and found mine at the right levels, so it should show if you got it in there.

If anyone needs an ATF pan gasket and filter I have one. Send it to you cheap.

I'd say if you had more like 150,000 miles and you never changed atf before but you should be changing atf along with what the manual says. If you are over you should be fine. When I got mine at about 45,000 I just changed with synth. I was going to change the filter but it wasn't needed so I pumped the fluid out through the trans line to the radiator.

Did you check it with the engine and transmission warmed up to operating temps?

The dipstick might look bone dry if both are cold.

I should probably take a picture

Maybe I wasn't clear - it's not that I see nothing now, but what I see is a little red against the cross-hatch pattern on the stick. Some comes off on my rag.

I'm just not sure if that's a positive reading or if it only scraped a little off the sides of the tube!

I checked it warm

jonbth said:

Did you check it with the engine and transmission warmed up to operating temps?

The dipstick might look bone dry if both are cold.

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I had just driven 22 miles to a meeting at church when I did the first check - I got a "Service Engine Soon" light so I did a quick check of oil and tx fluid and I don't think there was anything to wipe on a paper towel that time.

After it sat for an hour I drove down the road to buy the ATF and it was still good and warm when I checked the stick and wasn't sure if there was enough there that it was showing anything.

Then I drove all over the place for several hours and it still looked the same when I got home.

I guess I should just put another half-quart in and see if I can tell any difference.

-Jeff

I was told if you haven't changed it by say, 70,000 miles, you should leave it alone. That's what I have done. Put 145K on a Pathfinder in 9 years and never changed it. Took it to the Dealer to change it at 80K and that is what they told me.

Jeff03FCrew said:

I got a "Service Engine Soon" light so I did a quick check of oil and tx fluid and I don't think there was anything to wipe on a paper towel that time.

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From the Tx, I mean - plenty of oil

1. drive the truck for about 15 minutes to reach operating temp
2. park on level ground and set parking brake
3. put the tranny in neutral while truck is running
4. remove dipstick, wipe clean, and put it back in.
5. remove dipstick again, and check level- that is your accurate reading.
6. add fluid while truck is running in neutral untill desired fluid level is reached. unless you are running external coolers other then factory, don't overfill more than one quart.

i'm using redline full synthetic high temp fluid and it has been working great.

roastbeef said:

1. drive the truck for about 15 minutes to reach operating temp
2. park on level ground and set parking brake
3. put the tranny in neutral while truck is running
4. remove dipstick, wipe clean, and put it back in.
5. remove dipstick again, and check level- that is your accurate reading.
6. add fluid while truck is running in neutral untill desired fluid level is reached. unless you are running external coolers other then factory, don't overfill more than one quart.

i'm using redline full synthetic high temp fluid and it has been working great.

Click to expand...

DITTO!