hello all,
The tranny dip stick on my stock '96 ctd is very hard to read.
One side shows little or no fluid while the other side shows fluid on only about half of its width. In other words, if the stick is 1/4" wide, only 1/8" of it retains the fluid when I pull it out. Where could it be getting wiped off?
I know this sounds screwy but it makes me tend to overfill.
Thanks,
John

 

Welcome to the site .
You should go to the user control pannel at top of page , to fill in the details of your truck , some ??? require the yr. , mod. , ect. info , in signature .
For me I need good light to see , thats good because it means that your ATF is not burnt , I read a some about checking the Dodge trans. in neutral , not park , some are saying that they'll add multible qts. after doing it this way .
I always fill according to the lowest mark , checking mine in neutral did not seem to make any more than 1/2 qt. diff.

 

Don't know if they're all this way but my '95 has a small hole in the dipstick at the add and full. Makes it real easy to read because fluid sticks in the holes until you wipe it off.
If mine didn't have the holes think I'd be drilling some.

 

They should definitely be checking it in neutral, park would leave the level several quarts low.

When the level reads different on one side compared to the other, "usually" fluid can be added and both sides will eventually come together.

When the truck is NOT running, the fluid level should be within the big "S" bend that's on the dipstick- close to the bottom of it with cold fluid, close to the top of it with hot fluid. Those of you with automatics should go verify that now, then you'll have a good starting point when you service your transmissions.

 

I keep a few "chem-wipes" brand towels in the shop just for checking the AT fluid. A good hard wiping with them seems to clean the dipstick enough to get an easy(er) reading.

The chem-wipes towels are kinda hard to find, but last time I got them at a electronics store.

Ed

 

It gives you a funny reading because of the way the dipstick curves a little in the tube. Use the reading on the "back" of the dipstick or turn the dipstick so the print on the handle is upside down. Let it sit in nuetral for few minutes after fluid is warm, check your level.

Yes it is hard to read. I have measured and kept track of quantity drained when flushing/replacing filter. The lower of the two is the accurate one. KD