Start the engine and drive it for 15 miles or so, or let it warm up for a long time. I've been told to put the selector in Neutral so the fluid will circulate, in Park it won't. Then once it's at operating temperature check the fluid level with the trans in Neutral.

If you check the level when it's cold you are not going to get a true reading.

 

So the cold reading isn't really that important just the running hot. Well then I'm good to go. Funny how in my 06 Ram with it not running, cold, the tranny level is right in the middle of the two dots and after I run it and leave it in neutral the fluid is in the middle of the two hot dots. Just as long as I'm o.k. then I will roll with it.

 

Injun:

Sorry for the confusion on my previous post. If you check it cold and turned off, it will read overfull even though the fluid is cold because the pump is not running.

What I was trying to convey is that fluid temp as well as engine running or not running will effect what level you see on the stick.

Don

 

doesn't it say how to check the level right on the dipstick?
something like: (check with engine running and transmission in neutral)

 

Mine does,
FF

 

So why have the cold mark? Doesn't seem like it is needed as in the only fluid level necessary for the tranny is the running hot. I checked my Tranny Dip Stick and it doesn't say a thing. Just two dots for the cold and two dots for the hot.