Pan drop and filter change snafu

[dsmith41]

I dropped the transmission pan on my Ranger this afternoon which has the 5R55E transmission. After the pan dropped, I replaced the filter and put everything back just as everyone has spoken of doing on here a million times before.

Now my Haynes manual says a pan drop should remove 3 quarts. But I poured the used fluid into a gallon jug and it basically filled it up. One gallon is 4 quarts so I put 4 quarts back into the transmission through the dipstick hole.

I have always been told that ATF needs to be at operating temp and the engine must be running with the transmission in park when you check the fluid level. So I drove around the block a couple times and it seemed to be shifting jerky. I brought it home and checked the dipstick and it was basically dry even though I put back the same amount of ATF as I removed.

I am thinking maybe it was not all the way up to temp which caused it to read low on the dipstick but I was afraid to drive it any more because it didn't feel right. Should I just drive it anyway and make sure it gets up to temp? Could it have been shifting rough because I did not disconnect the battery to reset the computer?

This is the first time I have ever done any transmission service and I guess I need some help. Thanks.

 

[Vizzy]

Sounds like you might have missed something or the filter is not correct or installed incorrectly. You need to recheck your work.

 

[bluestream]

Did you put the 2 o-rings back on the filter? Did you remmeber get the bolt tight that holds filter in place? Use a new pan gasket or reuse oild one? Those transmissions are also prone to have the dipstick tube rust out. If that happened and you re-filled on a gravel driveway the fluid may not have made it back in.

 

[bluestream]

double post

 

[hisilver]

You may not have the filter seated correctly, not allowing correct pressure to be sucked through the filter.

 

[dsmith41]

I did put new o-rings back on the new filter and I also replaced the pan gasket. Maybe I put the filter on wrong but I don't know how.

 

[Colt45ws]

If the stick is dry thats your problem. It will expand some but if its dry thats too low even for only warm.

 

[bluestream]

That filter has a small hole and a large hole, so it would be hard to put it on wrong. Even if it was on wrong, that would not effect the fluid level. I find little or no difference in the fluid level when checked hot or cold. Why not add more fluid and see if it begins to show in the stick? Maybe you were low to start with.

I have the same transmission, and 4 quarts/liters is what that pan holds. Did the dipstick tube get knocked out of the red rubber connecter when you were working down there? Have you checked the tube for a rusted through spot?

 

[mechtech2]

The fluid level was OK before the change even with a qt less?

 

[exranger06]

Just add some more fluid until it shows on the dipstick. Drive it till it's warmed up and check again. Add as necessary. When I did this on my Ranger, I drove it around the block and the flevel was low. I added some fluid, drove some more and went home. In my driveway, it looked low again, so I added some more fluid again. It was fine (and has been fine) since then.

 

[dsmith41]

Okay, I think I miscalculated a little and I didn't quite put 4 quarts in. It was late and I was tired and messy. I slept on it and came back today and I think I got it right. I am wondering what the proper level is on the dipstick though. On the stick, there are 2 holes just like on an oil dipstick. One is higher than the other and above the top hole is an area of about 0.5-1 inch of hash marks. It says not to add if the level is in the hash marks. Should I shoot to be in the hash marked area or just make sure it is between the 2 holes?

 

[exranger06]

Keep it in the hash marks.

 

[Colt45ws]

The bottom hole is absolute minimum to drive. Between the the holes is where it should be at room temperature (70-95F) and the hash area is where it should be at operating temp (150-170F)..

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
If the stick is dry thats your problem. It will expand some but if its dry thats too low even for only warm.



That's IT. My gosh, I don't care if he forgot the filter entirely. No filter is going to "create" a fluid level beyond the space it takes up ..functional or not.

 

[dsmith41]

I got it right now. I just had to add a little bit. All is well. Thanks guys.