Refilling and checking ATF after cooler line flush

[Donald]

I did a cooler line flush yesterday and added about what I pumped into drain containers, give or take a QT. But I needed to wait 1-2 hours to get a good reading on the ATF dipstick since it has a large curve in it and I am sure lots of fluid was around the curve smearing onto the dipstick.

Then when adding enough fluid to make the level perfect, I had to wait another 1-2 hours between each fill and re-meaasure. (Two tries did it).

Obviously the flush machines add fluid via the return line and do not encounter what people doing a cooler line flush encounter.

While not a big deal if one plans for it, is there any good solution?

 

[JHZR2]

I find ATF readings to be extremely difficult to do right. There is always a difference from one side to the other on the dipstick, and AT dipsticks are rarely a direct shot to the sump, making it tougher. Maybe on FWD it is easier, but Ive not found a good solution.

 

[Gary Allan]

Well, they're difficult when done right after adding. The stick typically touches the sides and the tube may have fluid over its entire interior due to the volume/rate of the add. Now checking it when nothing has been added is usually fine.

The fwd's that have the stick directly in the pan (no tube) don't have the issue.

On a Cummins that I did with my neighbor (his Cummins) he had to run it a few miles to get everything enveloped. The shifting through the gears when sitting just didn't make it. We had to wait a decent amount of time to have the tube clear to get a good reading.