Not having a transmission dipstick Is not good.

C

Chris142

Joined
Jun 5, 2003
Messages
29,873
Location
Apple Valley, California
A couple days ago I was under the Trooper and noticed a transmission line leaking. I tightened it up and forgot about it.

Yesterday my wife said that the transmission seemed to be slipping. Of course she told me this when I got home and not 10 minutes before closing when I could have brought my transmission filler pump home.

Had some errands to do today so we took another car. I grabbed a gallon of atf at Walmart but they didn't have a pump. Went to O'Riley's in the same parking lot and they too didn't have a pump.

Stopped at AutoZone on the way home and they did have a pump.

Proceeded to slither myself under the Trooper and pumped 2 qts of fluid into the trooper with the absolute garbage pump that broke as soon as the fluid started running out the level check hole so it's full now.

Got atf all over me, the slab I work on etc. Huge mess.

If it had a dipstick all I would have had to do was fill it there. The fill underneath became a huge messy project.

I know deleting the stick and tube saved the manufacturer millions but it sure does make working on it at home a messy and time consuming job.

Rant off.
 
Why stop there?
Think of all the other stupid, needless stuff the auto industry foists upon us.

I clearly recall the old VW ads deriding the needless model year changes done by car companies.
There was no mechanism to voice our distain for their marketing garbage because they were "all doing it".
 
Chris142 said:
A couple days ago I was under the Trooper and noticed a transmission line leaking. I tightened it up and forgot about it.

Yesterday my wife said that the transmission seemed to be slipping. Of course she told me this when I got home and not 10 minutes before closing when I could have brought my transmission filler pump home.

Had some errands to do today so we took another car. I grabbed a gallon of atf at Walmart but they didn't have a pump. Went to O'Riley's in the same parking lot and they too didn't have a pump.

Stopped at AutoZone on the way home and they did have a pump.

Proceeded to slither myself under the Trooper and pumped 2 qts of fluid into the trooper with the absolute garbage pump that broke as soon as the fluid started running out the level check hole so it's full now.

Got atf all over me, the slab I work on etc. Huge mess.

If it had a dipstick all I would have had to do was fill it there. The fill underneath became a huge messy project.

I know deleting the stick and tube saved the manufacturer millions but it sure does make working on it at home a messy and time consuming job.

Rant off.
Click to expand...
No it really didn't save them much. It a modern day sales creation~
 
I'm guessing that's a GM 4L30 trans. Not familiar with these but looked up a YT vid and obviously that's a pretty annoying fill / check procedure. I've got a burn scar on my wrist from doing that on a similar 5L45 in a Cadillac. Besides the cost savings, this was driven by the assembly plants who wanted pre-filled units and avoid setting levels on the line.

Since pretty much no consumer buys a new vehicle based on its maintainability these days, this is becoming pretty much the industry standard.
 
Many moons ago I needed a way to put lower unit oil in my boats lower unit. I went to my local marine store and they had a pump setup that would screw onto a qt bottle of oil. It screwed into the drain hole, then when it was full, oil dribbled out the top vent hole. I cant see why that wouldn't work in your case ( if you had one at the time). You can modify it to fit your situation so your not spilling more oil , than your putting in.,,,
 
Saved manufacturing costs, and boosted the service departments' bottom line. Makes it a real pain for those of us who like to check our own fluid levels. The real kicker is when manufacturers like Ford underfill them from the factory and you end up with mechanical problems, when some of us DIYers could have avoided the problem with a simple pull of the dipstick. I'm waiting for all manufacturers to get rid of the engine dipstick as well. 🤬
 
Chris142 said:
Our Toyota is easy. Atleast the fill plug is horizontal. It's vertical on the Isuzu.
Click to expand...
All we have left that’s old school is the 2017 Tahoe … love it.
The other’s are goofy - worst being Lexus bcs they put the cat back system over the fill plug …
 
I have been doing my daughters Edge. You can fill from the top vent. But you have to remove a plug on side of trans. Then heat fluid to about 195 degrees F. When it is heated to proper temp, and finished draining cap it.


I have 2 6R80 Ford vehicles that I use a funnel and hose, with curved metal tube going into the trans. It is on the slow side. I had an accident doing it on my F150. I had a piece of silicone tubing connecting the PCV tube to the funnel. I wrapped electrical tape around that area. When I was almost done with the job it popped off. Big mess with about a half qt trans fluid.

I am going to make a better set up for that job. Really fun on the F150, and Expedition with a catalytic converter right next to the trans. They require the fluid to be scalding hot to finalize fluid level. Of course with the engine running..... Nothing more fun than 200 degree fluid, and several hundred degree converter right next to my hand.

B&M is gouging for the dip sticks for sure.
I need to get the funnel set up perfected with a valve inline.
 
Chris142 said:
A couple days ago I was under the Trooper and noticed a transmission line leaking. I tightened it up and forgot about it.

Yesterday my wife said that the transmission seemed to be slipping. Of course she told me this when I got home and not 10 minutes before closing when I could have brought my transmission filler pump home.

Had some errands to do today so we took another car. I grabbed a gallon of atf at Walmart but they didn't have a pump. Went to O'Riley's in the same parking lot and they too didn't have a pump.

Stopped at AutoZone on the way home and they did have a pump.

Proceeded to slither myself under the Trooper and pumped 2 qts of fluid into the trooper with the absolute garbage pump that broke as soon as the fluid started running out the level check hole so it's full now.

Got atf all over me, the slab I work on etc. Huge mess.

If it had a dipstick all I would have had to do was fill it there. The fill underneath became a huge messy project.

I know deleting the stick and tube saved the manufacturer millions but it sure does make working on it at home a messy and time consuming job.

Rant off.
Click to expand...
You have a transmission that is LEAKING-some where. It's not normal. A normal transmission DOES NOT LEAK. It's a sealed system. The fluid doesn't evaporate. It's has no where to go-assuming it's not leaking. A dipstick is not needed.
 
CKN said:
You have a transmission that is LEAKING-some where. It's not normal. A normal transmission DOES NOT LEAK. It's a sealed system. The fluid doesn't evaporate. It's has no where to go-assuming it's not leaking. A dipstick is not needed.
Click to expand...
1738476676626.webp


Jesus, calm down, it isn't a Ford transmission. He already fixed the leak.

And dipsticks are more than for measuring, they make changing fluid much easier, which is the main point of his post. Having to get under the vehicle to check the level and get it right is a pain.
 
CKN said:
You have a transmission that is LEAKING-some where. It's not normal. A normal transmission DOES NOT LEAK. It's a sealed system. The fluid doesn't evaporate. It's has no where to go-assuming it's not leaking. A dipstick is not needed.
Click to expand...
You must not have seen the part where I tightened the loose line up.
 
My wife has had several BMWs that had no engine oil dipstick but there was a feature on the info screen that would show oil level. Still, no dipstick on engines and transmissions is just to ensure private shops and owners steer clear of servicing these vehicles . Manufacturers ensuring they keep the service work. Right down to the stupid electrical “reprogramming “ when replacing a battery in those BMWs. The story goes that the electrical system has to be reprogrammed to recognize a new battery. Ugh…..isn’t that what a voltage regulator has done for 100 years?
 
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