Panning for gold
05-15-2019, 05:25 PM
#42
If everyone has factory dipsticks and tubes, then the amount to overfill it or the amount that it takes to reach the top of valve body, must be a place on the dipstick at or above the hashmarks that is similar on every 4L80E. Share the info! How about you, sight glass boy? 
05-15-2019, 06:06 PM
#43
you make a strong argument. I know i'm not the only one who fills to the top of the hash marks while hot, then pour on another 1/2-3/4 quart. No problems yet. I see your reasoning. i'll continue to do it wrong though i guess. Maybe i'll find the sweet spot next time i have the pan off, but the built 4l60e with a trans brake i had filled over the hash marks has been running strong for about 4 years now over 950 rwhp behind a crew cab silverado. my dip stick must have been too long lol. My 4l80e that's over filled about the same is running strong at whatever RWHP a heads/cam blown 408 stroker makes at 18psi.
i've honestly only had 1 transmission puke some fluid. My wife's tahoe left a 5 gallon bucket sized ring of pink on my driveway after i did a rear main seal. it did that probably twice and has been fine since.
i've honestly only had 1 transmission puke some fluid. My wife's tahoe left a 5 gallon bucket sized ring of pink on my driveway after i did a rear main seal. it did that probably twice and has been fine since.
05-17-2019, 07:26 AM
#47
1/2 to 3/4 of a qt more than what the factory hash mark says...that's drastically different than just dumping fluid in until it pukes.
The factory hash mark is usually not perfect...typically on the low side. For most stock vehicles it will never matter...and filling even 1 qt overfull usually won't hurt...because it will bring it up to level on the pan rail...where it should be.
The ONLY way to have the perfect fluid level is to drop the pan with the trans in the car and mark the dipstick level with the pan rail.
Anything else is either guessing or just being ok with "close enough"
for anything stock that I rebuild...close enough is close enough. But if you're trying to shove 600 horse through a 60 in an f body...I'm going to take the 20 minutes to verify
The factory hash mark is usually not perfect...typically on the low side. For most stock vehicles it will never matter...and filling even 1 qt overfull usually won't hurt...because it will bring it up to level on the pan rail...where it should be.
The ONLY way to have the perfect fluid level is to drop the pan with the trans in the car and mark the dipstick level with the pan rail.
Anything else is either guessing or just being ok with "close enough"
for anything stock that I rebuild...close enough is close enough. But if you're trying to shove 600 horse through a 60 in an f body...I'm going to take the 20 minutes to verify
05-17-2019, 06:50 PM
#48
Twenty minutes in an equipped shop is different than doing it in the driveway and having to remove a custom exhaust pipe that is directly under the pan. I couldn't even gather the tools I need in twenty minutes! 
That's the reason I am trying to poll people where the level is on their dipstick. Mostly laziness, the rest is inconvenience.
That's the reason I am trying to poll people where the level is on their dipstick. Mostly laziness, the rest is inconvenience.
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