Need measurement, ATF, cold

[tom3]

Sure appreciate it if someone would give me a measurement from the bottom of the stick to the fluid line on your 6L80 trans. dipstick when sitting level, cold, and engine off. I know this is not how it's supposed to be checked but:

Did a filter and fluid change on the 6l80 (2019) transmission. Pulled and drained 5 quarts of ATF, put in 5 to start. Got it hot and idling and started checking it. That D6 fluid is so thin and clear when hot and that long stick gets coated going back in seems like. I cannot get a good reading on it. Stick is wet, just can't see a line, front or back of stick. Did add another half quart to allow for drips and filter but really need a check to sleep better. Cold check is better than nothing? Sure never ran into this before.

 

[Marky Dissod]

Unfortunately, no such thing as cold checking ATF; that's just not how transmissions work.
You need a different colour of light.
Another thing you can try:
remove, carefully clean, and thoroughly dry the ATF dipstick, do NOT put it back in.
Start it. Once it warms up, park, reverse, neutral, drive, neutral, reverse, P, R, N, D, N, R, P.
Go put it back in, you should be able to discern the dryness vs the wetness (hehheh, heh).

 

[Doubeleive]

just drive it until it heats up to operating temp if it's a qt low or something stupid you wont hurt anything doing a test drive
it's not a nuclear weapon

 

[blondie70]

I can get that measurement tomorrow. Will that help ?

 

[tom3]

Yes, maybe. Not sure how the transmission internals and cooler might be different on a 2012 and my 2019. A cold check would have most of that fluid drained back to the pan and yours might be somewhat different. I've been wrenching on cars for a long LONG time and never ran into a situation like this. I'll try the deal mentioned above leaving the stick out for a while and then make a quick check too.

 

[OR VietVet]

If it drives, fine and get it up to normal engine hot temp. Then park it flat and idle in park and check. When you chrck right after fill, the fluid is clinging inside tube and getting stick wet. Get a bright light to read.