Check your transmission fluid

[pbethel]

Do we know if our oil pump is always running, even in park ?

My old Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ pump did not run while in PARK. Procedure was to run until hot, momentarily shift through all gears, then check level while in NEUTRAL. Checking while in PARK without the pump running resulted in a false high level.

The pump is directly connected to the flywheel and is turning if the engine is.

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[ctechbob]

The pump is directly connected to the flywheel and is turning if the engine is.

On the older Chrysler transmissions, the pump would still run, it was the valving that caused it to not pump fluid into the converter. There are valve mods that will solve that problem though so that converter drainback isn't a problem.

Sonnax explains it better on one of their aftermarket valves:

" Listed Chrysler transmissions often suffer delayed engagement, converter bushing failure, overheated converters and dragging Forward clutches. These symptoms can be a direct result of the design of the OE manual valve, which does not allow converter or cooler charge in Park. Sonnax manual valve 22771-09 is engineered to overcome the OE shortcoming by allowing fluid into these critical circuits when in Park. "

 

[pbethel]

On the older Chrysler transmissions, the pump would still run, it was the valving that caused it to not pump fluid into the converter. There are valve mods that will solve that problem though so that converter drainback isn't a problem.

Sonnax explains it better on one of their aftermarket valves:

" Listed Chrysler transmissions often suffer delayed engagement, converter bushing failure, overheated converters and dragging Forward clutches. These symptoms can be a direct result of the design of the OE manual valve, which does not allow converter or cooler charge in Park. Sonnax manual valve 22771-09 is engineered to overcome the OE shortcoming by allowing fluid into these critical circuits when in Park. "

But the pump was still pumping.

 

[ctechbob]

But the pump was still pumping.

Yes, said that in the first sentence.

 

[Ranger_Rocks]

On the older Chrysler transmissions, the pump would still run, it was the valving that caused it to not pump fluid into the converter. There are valve mods that will solve that problem though so that converter drainback isn't a problem.

Sonnax explains it better on one of their aftermarket valves:

" Listed Chrysler transmissions often suffer delayed engagement, converter bushing failure, overheated converters and dragging Forward clutches. These symptoms can be a direct result of the design of the OE manual valve, which does not allow converter or cooler charge in Park. Sonnax manual valve 22771-09 is engineered to overcome the OE shortcoming by allowing fluid into these critical circuits when in Park. "

Yep, that's it.

 

[RangerPhx]

I finally managed crack loose the dipstick cap. getting ready to drive around and get things up to the correct temp. Are you guys driving around without the cap, just leaving the dipstick in? Or are you removing the cap afterwards while idling? Trying to find best practice for this to avoid getting burned.

 

[Cmar]

I finally managed crack loose the dipstick cap. getting ready to drive around and get things up to the correct temp. Are you guys driving around without the cap, just leaving the dipstick in? Or are you removing the cap afterwards while idling? Trying to find best practice for this to avoid getting burned.

I wouldn't be driving around without the cap holding the dipstick in, it would be pretty easy for it to blow out, and either leak or even get lost. Once you've cracked the cap just do it back up again but a bit looser so you can easily undo it when you finish your warm up.

 

[RangerPhx]

Thanks Cmar! It’s not hard here in Phoenix to get things warmed up this time of year so I’m doing it early this morning while it’s still a brisk 97 degrees. ?

 

[RangerPhx]

After getting it up to temp it was reading 5 on the stick. I added enough ULV to bring it between 4&5. I’m no engineer but this would make more sense if the numbers were reversed on the stick. Just my 2.
Appreciate all the input from all on this forum to help sort these things! ?

 

[Fitzmotor]

After getting it up to temp it was reading 5 on the stick. I added enough ULV to bring it between 4&5. I’m no engineer but this would make more sense if the numbers were reversed on the stick. Just my 2.
Appreciate all the input from all on this forum to help sort these things! ?

I fully agree, it's backwards, fuller should be a higher number.

 

[thndr8]

To all those guys that think they need to run the snot out of their truck to get it up to temp to check the level. I went for a easy 10 min drive around town before checking my fluid. I dropped a food thermometer in the hole to check fluid temp because I have nothing else to read temperature. Held 210 degrees all day as long as I left the truck running. I found running through the gears and waiting 5 minutes before dropping the dipstick in, gave me the most consistent reading at 210 degrees. Turn the front wheels to the left, remove a few pins from the splash guard, used a fireproof welding blanket to cover the catalytic converter so I could reach the fill hole, was the easiest way for me.

 

[Msfitoy]

To all those guys that think they need to run the snot out of their truck to get it up to temp to check the level. I went for a easy 10 min drive around town before checking my fluid. I dropped a food thermometer in the hole to check fluid temp because I have nothing else to read temperature. Held 210 degrees all day as long as I left the truck running. I found running through the gears and waiting 5 minutes before dropping the dipstick in, gave me the most consistent reading at 210 degrees. Turn the front wheels to the left, remove a few pins from the splash guard, used a fireproof welding blanket to cover the catalytic converter so I could reach the fill hole, was the easiest way for me.

I monitor the temp in real time and it ranges from low of 195 while running to high of 210...neither under extreme loads so I'm not sure what is causing the difference...

 

[Cmar]

To all those guys that think they need to run the snot out of their truck to get it up to temp to check the level. I went for a easy 10 min drive around town before checking my fluid. I dropped a food thermometer in the hole to check fluid temp because I have nothing else to read temperature. Held 210 degrees all day as long as I left the truck running.

I'm not surprised, doesn't the 10R80 have a thermostat valve on the outlet to the cooler like the 6R80 does. On a short drive the oil probably never even made it to the cooler.

 

[Utope]

I fully agree, it's backwards, fuller should be a higher number.

It’s just counting down until fluid runs out of the fill hole ?

 

[ctechbob]

A better way to do it and keep from having to deal with scalding hot exhaust components is to do the check cold. As long as the level is at the lower end of acceptable cold, it will be in the completely acceptable range hot.

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