Transmission Dip Stick correct length

Raynestorm · **Joined:** Fri Feb 21, 2014 4:28 pm **Posts:** 22

Does anyone know what the correct length the dip stick should be? I plan on modifying mine by adjusting it from the handle side, and want to make sure I don't take too much off.

I'm starting to think that's why my tranny started to fail, the dip stick keeps popping up, and all the trees are budding up around here, I now am pulling tree bud husks up on the dip stick from out of the transmission...

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Tue Apr 25, 2017 12:24 pm

Common Problem on Dipstick!
The problem is the dipstick is just a little bit too long and contacts the bottom of the transmission oil pan and that is what causes it to keep poping up. :roll:

Simple solution, cut about 1/4 to 1/2 inch off the end of it and remark markings with a file, or using some pliers, simply bend a slight lazy "Z" in the stick to make it a little shorter.

Raynestorm · **Joined:** Fri Feb 21, 2014 4:28 pm **Posts:** 22

Thanks Diesel, that's exactly what I want to do with the bends.

My question is, what should the finished length be? I tried slowly sliding it in trying to determine when I hit the pan, to get an idea on how much to long it is, but I couldn't tell when I hit bottom.

Anyone know what the correct length should be, so I bend it the correct amount?

Thanks

GordnadoCRD · **Posted:** Tue Apr 25, 2017 5:44 pm

I cut 1/2" from the end of mine. It no longer pops out.

Raynestorm · **Joined:** Fri Feb 21, 2014 4:28 pm **Posts:** 22

Gordnado and diesel, can you measure what your total lengths are now? I see some people take 1/4 " off and some take 1/2" off.

I'm concerned, if I put bends in it to take up 1/2", and i only needed to take off 1/4", I could overfill my transmission. But maybe I need to take off a 1/2"?

I was hoping someone on here had figured that magic length out by now. It should be the same for all of us with stock pans.

Thanks

GordnadoCRD · **Posted:** Tue Apr 25, 2017 8:04 pm

Overfilling just that little bit does not pose a problem. This transmission is happiexst when a bit overfilled.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Tue Apr 25, 2017 9:44 pm

GordnadoCRD wrote:

Overfilling just that little bit does not pose a problem. This transmission is happiexst when a bit overfilled.

X2,
so very true, these transmission are most happy when slightly overfilled by 1/2 to 1 qt....
They are BIG transmissions and a little extra fluid does not hurt anything, it only helps them.... :wink:

Raynestorm · **Joined:** Fri Feb 21, 2014 4:28 pm **Posts:** 22

Ok, I will shorten by bending lazy z's to take up 1/2"

Thanks guys.

Good to know these transmissions are good with a bit extra fluid

mrhemi · **Joined:** Tue Dec 08, 2015 10:46 am **Posts:** 180

My question is based on the observation of the two, 2006, CRD Liberty's that I own. One the trans dipstick will pop out, the other does not. Both dipsticks are exactly the same when compared side by side. The dipstick tubes appear identical as well (although difficult to confirm for sure due to location). The Jeep that still pops out is a Limited with an earlier manufacture date than the other Sport model that the dipstick never pops out. Does anyone know if there was a change during the production run to explain this, deeper pan, different tube? At first I thought it was due to vibration from worn out motor mounts, but these has been changed on both vehicles and the problem still persists on the earlier one. I don't dispute that the dipstick may be too long, but having two vehicles side by side to compare counters that assumption.

Mountainman · **Posted:** Wed Apr 26, 2017 12:36 pm

mrhemi wrote:

My question is based on the observation of the two, 2006, CRD Liberty's that I own. One the trans dipstick will pop out, the other does not. Both dipsticks are exactly the same when compared side by side. The dipstick tubes appear identical as well (although difficult to confirm for sure due to location). The Jeep that still pops out is a Limited with an earlier manufacture date than the other Sport model that the dipstick never pops out. Does anyone know if there was a change during the production run to explain this, deeper pan, different tube? At first I thought it was due to vibration from worn out motor mounts, but these has been changed on both vehicles and the problem still persists on the earlier one. I don't dispute that the dipstick may be too long, but having two vehicles side by side to compare counters that assumption.

No changes that I've seen, but on the dozen or so that I've owned, some pop up, some don't. I believe it's just slight differences in how the stick is bent. Personally, I cut mine to where all I see are all of the hot fill marks.
Works great. I think I cut about 1.5-2" off, but I can't really remember

thefunk · **Posted:** Tue May 09, 2017 12:03 am

interesting story: I have the "dipstick too long" problem on my Liberty Transmission, and I also have the "dipstick too short" problem on the 2.4L in my Wrangler (a slightly less-known problem that causes you to add an extra quart of engine oil).

I solved the problem by swapping transmissions.

:roll:

95Z28A4 · **Joined:** Sun Mar 30, 2014 9:53 am **Posts:** 297

I cut the tranny dipstick in my wife's CRD at the bottom hole and drilled another small hole above the top hole. The new top hole is spaced equally from the old top hole as the old top hole is spaced from the new bottom hole. I round the bottom corners of the dipstick after I cut it.

GordnadoCRD · **Posted:** Sat Jul 22, 2017 9:21 pm

GordnadoCRD wrote:

I cut 1/2" from the end of mine. It no longer pops out.

Was I ever wrong. Cut another 1/2" - Still comes out.

Here is my final cure for my Transmission dipstick PES problem.

(Actually I may have this again finally solved, in the same manner as Thefunk, above. If so, then good, but I'll still probably miss this one. Something about redneck engineering that actually works, that I find endearing.)

about a foot of 3/4" steel banding, bent vaguely into and R shape, with a very long back leg and a very short front one.

The back leg is attached to the dipstick tube about 4" from the end, more or less, with a SS worm type band clamp.

The front leg of the R is what holds the dipstick fully tight to the tube.

When I wish to check the fluid, a finger through the dipstick handle, and a thumb on the chest of the R, pushes, the front leg to the side of the cap so the dipstick can come out. To re-install just put the dipstick back, and when it's all the way down, the front leg of the R pops back over the cap part, and holds it from coming out.

The whitish powdery stuff on the engine cover is powdered plastic from the dipstick handle cap from vibration contact with the cover. I haven't taken the time to re-bend the dipstick tube. It's contacting there, and on the other side, barely contacting the corner of the coolant overflow bottle. It's perfectly centered, just not bent quite enough, and I don't want to collapse it caveman style as I'm prone to do.

Inboard Marine applications have a similar type of thing, only WAY more elaborate in most cases. It's like a contest to see who can get the most polished stainless to do the simplest little things. :roll:

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Mon May 24, 2021 11:17 pm

Kinda reviving an old thread.
Removed my OEM transmission pan today to replace it with a PML deep sump aluminum pan.
I noticed after removing the stock oil pan evidence of where the transmission dipstick was touching the bottom of the oil pan.
This is even after I had shortened the dipstick a few years back.
So there is NO question that the dipstick touches the bottom of the oil pan which causes it to pop out of the tube.

Here is the evidence:

Transmission Dip Stick correct length

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