I don't know about you, but I have a darned hard time seeing just how far up the transmission fluid is on my dipstick when I'm checking the level. The hot fluid doesn't cling to the stick very well, and when it's new and clean (like mine is), it's transparency makes it even harder to see. So I came up with a little trick to make it easier. I have some 2 1/2" by 1" mailing labels that I use in my computer. I take one of these amd cut it into 1/4" strips. When I check the fluid level, I take out the dipstick, wipe it off, spray it with brake parts cleaner and wipe again to clean off all traces of oil, and stick one of my strips to the end. Then I insert it into the dipstick tube all the way and withdraw it. The paper strip will be pink where the fluid level comes to, and white the rest of the way. You can see your fluid level exactly this way. Remove the strip, noting exactly where the fluid came to. Use the brake parts cleaner and wipe again if any residue from the strip remains.

Thats a good idea, just seems kind of labor intensive. Best thing Ive found to do is hold the dipstick upside down and watch for where the fluid beads up. All the fluid will flow to the ground, but surface tension will keep it from moving onto dry areas at first. When the fluid starts colleting at the lower end (filled height) you will see a bead forming. Try it..

Neat idea but I would be worried that the hot oil would cause the adheasive to release and the lable fall off.

I just wipe it the check and move the stick around and look for the reflection off the oil. You can tell where the line is then.

But whatever trips your trigger...!

[This message has been edited by Dodgerunner (edited 11-13-2006).]

One of the easiest ways is to drill two fairly small holes, one at the low line and one at the full line...

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You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it.

- Robin Williams

quote Originally posted by KlingonFiero: One of the easiest ways is to drill two fairly small holes, one at the low line and one at the full line...

This is what I did, on my oil dipstick, should work on trans as well. I used a small dremil drill bit 5/64, IMHO the smaller, the better this works, and made 1 at full, 1/3 down, 2/3 and add whatever. The spring steel is hard to drill and requires some patience. A small punch is almost indespensible in getting hole started in the right place. This worked very well, if the fluid does not cover the hole, the fluid is lower than that, having 4 holes gives you a compairison of what to look for. It's kinda nice to see how clean your fluid is too.


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Ol' Paint, 88 Base coupe auto.
Turning white on top, like owner.
Leaks a little, like owner.
Doesn't smoke, unlike owner

[This message has been edited by DtheC (edited 11-13-2006).]

paint the back side of the dipstick with FLAT black paint.

i do this on engine oil and tranny dipsticks on cars that i expect to come back to my garage.
i also write down the size of the oil drain plug, that way i only take one tool under the car with me.

When mine is inserted, the back side of the stick seems to show the fluid level, this is with the hooked top of it facing towards the engine, if I turn it around backwards---it will read on the marks on the stick ? What the hell is that--It never comes out with both sides of the stick having the correct/equal/level amounts of fluid on it ? Like engine oil does. Anyone elses read this way?

quote Originally posted by 3800superfast: When mine is inserted, the back side of the stick seems to show the fluid level, this is with the hooked top of it facing towards the engine, if I turn it around backwards---it will read on the marks on the stick ? What the hell is that--It never comes out with both sides of the stick having the correct/equal/level amounts of fluid on it ? Like engine oil does. Anyone elses read this way?

Yes I've seen this on mine and other Fieros I've had. Sometimes I put the stick in backwards as well to get a reading. Maybe we're checking it too soon after driving it and the oil hasn't settled yet in the pan?

quote Originally posted by Gokart: Yes I've seen this on mine and other Fieros I've had. Sometimes I put the stick in backwards as well to get a reading. Maybe we're checking it too soon after driving it and the oil hasn't settled yet in the pan?

I was thinking the same thing the last couple times--then I let it sit for 30 minutes each time I checked, the weird part is --if you have someone put it in drive, it will read ok on both sides of the stick ?? But the stick says to check *Hot* in Park at idle. I wonder if everyone has this same thing with the automatics, for as picky as the trans needs to be an acurate reading, they sure gave us a goofy way to check it..lol...