Needing some help reading my 2001 1500 5.9L, 46RE tranny, dipstick when motor is off, cold (sat overnight). Outdoor temp is 30-40F.

Since I don't have a tranny temp gauge I'm having trouble reading the at temp range and I'd like to know what to look for when the motor is cold before starting my day of driving.

Here is the stick reading this morning. Truck off, cold, in park. I saw/read somewhere the cold/motor off reading should be more in the kink area of the dipstick...if that's accurate I'm running low correct?

 

Not at those temperatures. At 80F fluid temperature with engine running the level would be below the "MIN" letters, it doesn't get into the marked area until ~140F fluid temp. With engine off the level is higher but that's not the way to check the level so it's anybody's guess.

Just do it the right way, engine/transmission warmed up and in Neutral.

 

yeah I'll drive it around for a while and use a laser thermometer to see what the trans oil reads on the dipstick. It won't tell me the EXACT temp but it's better than nothing. I was thinking a 20 or 30 minute drive at 60-70mph would get adequate trans temp...thoughts?

 

Obviously it depends a bit on the outside temp and if the truck has the additional trans cooler but generally that should be more than enough. Some uphill in lower gears will heat it faster. I'd measure the temp at the transmission pan.

This might help:

 

I have the service manual and found that same graph and have been referencing it to judge where i'm at. I drove around for 30 minutes and using the laser it was showing 83F and dipstick level was below the "MIN" letters. I got back home and it was reading 65F and was right at the hole. The service manual section relating to this graph/fig. 90. said to park, shift to Drive, then to Reverse, and then to Park.

I tried the other method just for fun. Being in Neutral it check the fluid and it all but disappeared from the dipstick, only 1/16th of an inch was showing on the tip of the dipstick (laser showed dipstick tip at 65F). Obviously the trans fluid had to be a LOT warmer for this approach to show accurate readings.

So far I've added 1.5qts. to get how it's showing.

I'll wait to test again after another little drive and/or warmer day but I think I'm safe enough to drive around for now. I'm also going to add an in-line Trans temp sensor and stick the gauge inside the cab. I'll tap the return line just after it leaves the trans.