I have a 2006 dodge durango limited 5.7 hemi. The question is I recently serviced the transmission as in I dropped the pan changed the two filters and reapplied pan. I filled the tranny with valvoline atf 4 while it was running in neutral until it was in between the two hot lines. I, while in park, ran through all the gears and checked again. Everything was fine however yesterday when I returned home from work approximately 40 miles I left the engine running and checked the tranny again. The fluid did not even touch the stick. I left the vehicle sitting all night and again this morning checked. The fluid was in between the top cold and the botton hot lines??? Shouldn't the fluid be lower. Doen't seem right. What is the proper way to check to see if you have enough fluid in. While it is cold sitting all night or when you have been driving it and the engine is warm and still running.

 

THe transmission fluid should be checked with the engine at operating (warm) temperature running in neutral

 

When just turned on, the wife's 2006 has fluid barely at the cold mark. When warm, its usually just a bit above the hot mark.

+2 for neutral. Park will give you a false high reading, the reason being the fluid pump does not run while the vehicle is in Park.

 

Injun:

Recall that while trans fluid expands as it warms, your fluid level will drop when the engine is running due to the tranny pump filling all the little passages.

A drain and refill on the 545RFE should be 5-7 quarts.

Don

 

So what is the proper way to get a true measurement. SHould I run the vehicle through all the gears and pull in the driveway, flat level ground, and keep the vehicle running neutral and check the stick making sure, while the engine is running, that the fluid reads in between the two marks for the hot? Or is there a better way. I know the trans fluid expands when it is hot and the transmission fluid is moving with the pump while the engine is running, so with that in mind how can you get an accurate reading while the vehicle is running. Little confused with last post.

 

Best way to check it is when it is hot.

However, if you just start it up, and put it into Neutral, you can check it to see if the fluid level is at the COLD mark. Pull the stick, wipe it, stick it back in, pull it back out, check the level. Should be at the COLD mark, barely registering on the stick.

Sometime after a short or long drive that got you somewhere near operating temp, before you shut the engine off, pop it into neutral and do the same procedure with the stick. It should be very close to the HOT mark.

 

O.K. ran the vehicle for about thirty miles, pulled inside the garage with the vehicle in neutral and running and checked the stick. It was measuring below the cold bottom mark. I poured a third of a quart and ran the vehicle through all the gears and checked again while the engine was running. The fluid level came up slightly each time until I reached the bottom of the hot mark. It ended up taking about one and two thirds of a quart of fluid. I ran the vehicle the next day and it drove like a dream. I just checked the fluid level after the vehicle had been sitting for an entire day nice and cold and the fluid level at cold was way above the top hot mark. I know that running a vehicle with too much tranny fluid is worse than running with too little so could someome please tell me what I should do. I don't want to screw this vehicle up and I can't afford a costly tranny rebuild. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

When it was cold and your checked it was it running? All the fluid flows back to the pan from the cooler and the torque converter. Must be checked running hot.

 

He did check it hot, read the beginning of post #7. He is asking about fluid level being too high when the trans is cold.

I am sure someone will chime in here soon that knows for sure.

 

When I checked cold the vehicle was not running. Should I start the vehicle, place in neutral and then check the stick?