I did a trans filter and fluid change on my 2001 Dodge durango 4x4 with tow package.So I pour in 4 qts then start the truck and check the fluid. It was barely showing on the dipstick. I pour the fifth qt then check , it's barely showing on the cold dots. I get it to the engine temp gauge almost being towards the middle then check again and it's showing good in cold section but nothing in hot section. So I poured a total of 8 qts and it still shows a little overfilled in the cold section but doesn't show fluid in the hot section . I am confused as to why it's happening like this. Took the durango out for a drive and it's shifting good but I am still concerned about this. I am about to take a trip and need to make sure I am not going to damage the transmission. TIA

you need to check the transmission fluid with the truck warm, the transmission warm (drive it 12-15 miles), and the engine idling in nuetral, also run through the gears, one by one (park-reverse-nuetral-drive-2-1-2-drive-nuetral then check the level)

you should also be parked on a level surface,

(direct from the 02 shop manual for the 45rfe transmission)

if you have the 5.9l engine then it is

Thanks for the reply. I already did the above , went for a drive then checked it right after on a level surface. Put it in all gears back to park then parking brake then nuetral again. First check without wiping the dipstick shows all the way to the hot section on dipstick then I wipe it put it back in and it shows only in the cold section . I don't want to keep adding fluid at this point since I already added 8 qts. Also forgot to add this is a 4.7 .

I drained the fluid when the durango was on stands , I wonder if that had anything to do with maybe more fluid draining that usual?

Changing the filters and adding fluid to a 45RFE transmission will take up to 8 to 9 qts of fluid.

Ok, thanks!