Updated transmission dipstick?

KD6ICZ · **Posted:** Tue Aug 26, 2014 3:19 pm

I was wondering if Chrysler has an updated dipstick that isn't as long as the original one? Mine is about 2" to long and I know I'm not getting accurate readings.

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papaindigo · **Posted:** Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:53 am

Not that I've seen posted

gmctd · **Posted:** Mon Sep 01, 2014 4:20 pm

Possibility p.o. had deep oil pan installed? Full level wouldn't change, but minimum level would require longer stick............

dirtmover · **Posted:** Sat Nov 15, 2014 11:19 pm

KD6ICZ wrote:

Mine is about 2" to long and I know I'm not getting accurate readings.

Why? I thought that it was supposed to bottom out on the pan. Any extra length should simply concertina up in the tube. This ensures that whether it is 1/4", 1" or 2" too long you still get the same reading. I shortened mine by about an inch by bending it to form a concertina up the top half of the stick. I can still hear it tapping on the pan about 1/4" before the stick is fully home. This also makes it less prone to popping out.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Sun Nov 16, 2014 12:53 pm

I simply cut 1/4 inch off the bottom of the transmission dip stick because it kept popping out of the tube at the top. Shorting the dip stick stopped the popping out problem and I simply always keep the level about a 1/2 inch above the full mark when hot.... :wink:

2 inches though is extreme, something else must be amiss??? Wrong dip stick possibly? I will measure the full length and post...

dirtmover · **Posted:** Sun Nov 16, 2014 1:32 pm

When there's a couple of bends in the sleeve the degree to which the stick is too long depends on how it negotiates these bends. This is why it needs to be oversized and bottom out on the pan. In our case Chrysler got a bit over enthusiastic with this concept.

Reducing the length from the bottom or top doesn't really matter as long as it still touches the pan. And yeah, you're correct, if you cut from the bottom you need to move the fill marks up by the same amount.

lars0247 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 12, 2013 12:09 am **Posts:** 98

I've always thought this might be the cause of the harsh shifting 545RFE tranny, either being underfilled or overfilled, due to a bad dipstick

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Sun Nov 16, 2014 8:55 pm

Underfilled can be a major problem, can cause all kind of crazy problems...
Measured my transmission dip stick this evening, mine was exactly 37 inches from the bottom edge of the yellow top piece to the bottom of the stick.... I had cut 1/4 inch off the end of it last year to stop it from popping out of the tube at the suggestion of others on this forum.... :SOMBRERO:

Hexus · **Posted:** Mon Nov 17, 2014 12:12 am

I simply bent mine in the middle, it stopped coming out, apparently the bend in the center makes enough of a difference that it doesn't pop out any more.

geordi · **Posted:** Mon Nov 17, 2014 1:55 am

The "full" level on these transmissions seems subject to debate (with the truck itself) and they seem to like running with more fluid than you'd think. First suggestion for any problems is usually "add a quart of juice" and see if the problem persists.

As for bending the dipstick, that is a good idea.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Mon Nov 17, 2014 12:31 pm

geordi wrote:

The "full" level on these transmissions seems subject to debate (with the truck itself) and they seem to like running with more fluid than you'd think. First suggestion for any problems is usually "add a quart of juice" and see if the problem persists.
As for bending the dipstick, that is a good idea.

I agree; they certainly like having a little extra fluid in the pan!
When I first purchased my CRD, it was doing the no-go hesitation when first started and placed in "R" or "D" problem. I learned very quickly to put in in "N" for about 15 seconds and let the line pressure build up before putting the tranny in gear. I dropped the pan, changed both filters with Mopar filters and replaced the drain-back check valve; Problem was still there!
Also was having the bad shudder and engine stall right after starting and driving for about 50 to 100 feet. Acted like the TC was trying to lock up for some dumb reason at less than 5 mph when applying the brakes? :banghead:

After joining the forums and reading about adding additional fluid level in the tranny to solve some of these problems, I added an additional 1/2 quart and walla the two problems seemed to totally disappear. I also cut 1/4 inch off the dipstick to stop it from being pushed out the top of the tube. Shorting the stick solved that problem. :wink:

My theory and I think the theory of some others including my long time transmission shop friend is; low fluid level causes the transmission oil pump to momentarily loose prime from setting during long periods like overnight or in a parking lot all day and it takes the pump a little time to suck the oil up out of the pan and get everything re-filled and pumped back up with oil. During this repriming & repumping process the pump creates a lot of air or foam in the fluid and it takes some time for all the air and foam to dissipate out of the fluid throughout the system. Slightly overfilling the tranny does seem to prevent all of this.... :idea:

Rocky05 · **Joined:** Fri May 17, 2013 11:38 pm **Posts:** 44

Just curious. Has anyone looked into a locking dipstick like on the military HMMWV or Hummers as they are more commonly known? I've only done a cursory search, but it seems like it should solve the dipstick popping up issue.

Rocky05 · **Joined:** Fri May 17, 2013 11:38 pm **Posts:** 44

dirtmover wrote:

When there's a couple of bends in the sleeve the degree to which the stick is too long depends on how it negotiates these bends. This is why it needs to be oversized and bottom out on the pan. In our case Chrysler got a bit over enthusiastic with this concept.

Reducing the length from the bottom or top doesn't really matter as long as it still touches the pan. And yeah, you're correct, if you cut from the bottom you need to move the fill marks up by the same amount.

Maybe it is a little early for me, but that does not make any sense to me. How would removing material from the bottom of the dip stick have any affect on the total volume of the transmission pan? I can understand an incorrectly marked stick from the factory, but fill marks are the same whether a deep pan or standard.

CIMARRON13 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 18, 2014 9:56 am

Still rocking the zip tie. Works good enough for me to not think about it.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Tue Nov 18, 2014 12:48 pm

Rocky05 wrote:

How would removing material from the bottom of the dip stick have any affect on the total volume of the transmission pan? I can understand an incorrectly marked stick from the factory, but fill marks are the same whether a deep pan or standard.

It doesn't; what it does do is allow the dipstick to stay fully inserted into the tube and not get pushed out due to being too long and hitting the bottom of the pan... (I simply got tried of every time I opened the hood, the dipstick was hanging out the top of the tube about an inch) :roll:

As to the oil level, most just slightly overfill the oil level above the "Full" mark on the stick when the fluid is at normal operating temperature...if they are having any of the described issues :wink:

Rocky05 · **Joined:** Fri May 17, 2013 11:38 pm **Posts:** 44

WWDiesel wrote:

Rocky05 wrote:

How would removing material from the bottom of the dip stick have any affect on the total volume of the transmission pan? I can understand an incorrectly marked stick from the factory, but fill marks are the same whether a deep pan or standard.

It doesn't; what it does do is allow the dipstick to stay fully inserted into the tube and not get pushed out due to being too long and hitting the bottom of the pan... (I simply got tried of every time I opened the hood, the dipstick was hanging out the top of the tube about an inch) :roll:

As to the oil level, most just slightly overfill the oil level above the "Full" mark on the stick when the fluid is at normal operating temperature...if they are having any of the described issues :wink:

Thanks for the reply. I'm about to put on a Mag-Hytec deep transmission pan and you had me scratching my head. I'll keep looking into a locking dipstick too. :juggle:

Kinda like this... http://www.moparstyle.com/forums/showth ... -dipsticks

dirtmover · **Posted:** Tue Nov 18, 2014 5:17 pm

Rocky05 wrote:

dirtmover wrote:

When there's a couple of bends in the sleeve the degree to which the stick is too long depends on how it negotiates these bends. This is why it needs to be oversized and bottom out on the pan. In our case Chrysler got a bit over enthusiastic with this concept.

Reducing the length from the bottom or top doesn't really matter as long as it still touches the pan. And yeah, you're correct, if you cut from the bottom you need to move the fill marks up by the same amount.

Maybe it is a little early for me, but that does not make any sense to me. How would removing material from the bottom of the dip stick have any affect on the total volume of the transmission pan? I can understand an incorrectly marked stick from the factory, but fill marks are the same whether a deep pan or standard.

Because the stick bottoms out on the pan it effectively measures the fluid level from the pan up rather than the filler neck down. If you put in a deeper pan it will still take the same measurement from the bottom of the new pan which is now lower. If you don't account for the extra depth you will end up underfilling.

Rocky05 · **Joined:** Fri May 17, 2013 11:38 pm **Posts:** 44

That was my understanding. Thanks dirtmover. By the way, this new pan comes with some pretty Allen head screws, appropriate wrenches a gasket and pretty nice instructions too!

I'm not trying to sell anything or promote a specific company, but I am happy with the product.

joelukex4 · **Joined:** Thu Sep 29, 2011 4:54 pm **Posts:** 386

dirtmover wrote:

Rocky05 wrote:

dirtmover wrote:

When there's a couple of bends in the sleeve the degree to which the stick is too long depends on how it negotiates these bends. This is why it needs to be oversized and bottom out on the pan. In our case Chrysler got a bit over enthusiastic with this concept.

Reducing the length from the bottom or top doesn't really matter as long as it still touches the pan. And yeah, you're correct, if you cut from the bottom you need to move the fill marks up by the same amount.

Maybe it is a little early for me, but that does not make any sense to me. How would removing material from the bottom of the dip stick have any affect on the total volume of the transmission pan? I can understand an incorrectly marked stick from the factory, but fill marks are the same whether a deep pan or standard.

Because the stick bottoms out on the pan it effectively measures the fluid level from the pan up rather than the filler neck down. If you put in a deeper pan it will still take the same measurement from the bottom of the new pan which is now lower. If you don't account for the extra depth you will end up underfilling.

If the dipstick is pushed down to yellow piece on the dipstick it is measuring from the top down. The balance of the dipstick is either bending or sliding along the bottom of the pan. If the dipstick bottoms out on the pan you could never push it in to the yellow stop.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Tue Nov 18, 2014 10:32 pm

joelukex4 wrote:

If the dipstick is pushed down to yellow piece on the dipstick it is measuring from the top down. The balance of the dipstick is either bending or sliding along the bottom of the pan. If the dipstick bottoms out on the pan you could never push it in to the yellow stop.

So true, and in my years of experience servicing automatic transmissions on all brands of vehicles, the dipstick never protrudes deep enough into the pan to actually touch the bottom of the pan...the fluid level should always completely engulf the valve body at a normal level.
I personally think the tube on our Jeep CRD's is a little bit to short....it is much easier to shorten the dipstick than it is to increase the length of the tube... :?:

I had an aftermarket deep pan on a Dodge van years ago, and I still used the same dipstick and tube, and filled it to the normal level mark, it just took a lot more fluid to fill it with the deep pan... :mrgreen:

Updated transmission dipstick?

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