Are the dip stick accurate on ECV trucks ?

[HUMMER H1]

I bought an ECV humvee that was sold as not runner,
I started today and runs beautifully.
However transmission doesn’t engage unless I raise the Rpm to 2000 ish

all the symptoms show no fluid, transmission pan bolts were taken off ( I assume to drain the fluid)

but the dip stick shows a little over than normal X mark,

is it possible the dip stick is not accurate?

later model 4L80e transmissions don’t have a drain plug I can’t drain and start all over,

thank you

Eric

 

[TOBASH]

1-“dip stick” not always accurate on hand built trucks.
2-drop the pan, catch the fluid, and reseal with NEW FILTER.
3-I will look for tranny troubleshooting guide.
Edit - Mogman posted below but I will post here also… https://www.steelsoldiers.com/threads/new-humvee-owner-transmission-question.216108/#post-2528478

4- I told you on the phone that this is exactly what my M1165 did, so we added fluid and that fixed it. Overfilling can cause problems and damage though.

Engine sounds awesome!

 

[HUMMER H1]

1-“dip stick”.
2-drip the pan, catch the fluid, and reseal with NEW FILTER.
3-I will look for tranny troubleshooting guide.
4- I told you on the phone that this is exactly what my M1265 did, so we added fluid and that fixed it.

Engine sounds awesome!

drop the pan and drip

I guess since I don’t know how much ATF is in the transmission, I have. I choice but to stop the pan and start over again, at that time I’ll also add drain plug.

 

[Mogman]

The guide

 

[TOBASH]

Mogman beat me to posting . Nice work Mog.

 

[thompsoncustom]

the guys on here were really helpful when my tranny was acting funny.

have you tired using a jumper wire and seeing if there are any tranny codes?

 

[tomelroy]

did you check the trans level with the engine running or engine stopped?

 

[Coug]

did you check the trans level with the engine running or engine stopped?

I'll second this.
If checked and not running, level will be much higher than when checked with engine in park and engine idling, which is how the manufacturer says to check level.

 

[TOBASH]

Eric has forgotten to update.

Fluid was checked with truck running.

Eric dropped the tranny fluid pan and tranny only had a couple of quarts in it. Dip stick was very innacutate.

Eric refilled with correct volume and tranny shifts properly.

I don’t mean to steal his thunder. I just thought you all deserved an answer to all outstanding questions. He and I talk daily.

 

[HUMMER H1]

Eric has forgotten to update.

Fluid was checked with truck running.

Eric dropped the tranny fluid pan and tranny only had a couple of quarts in it. Dip stick was very innacutate.

Eric refilled with correct volume and tranny shifts properly.

I don’t mean to steal his thunder. I just thought you all deserved an answer to all outstanding questions. He and I talk daily.

thank you Charles

so yes dipstick showed normal operating level however transmission only had 3qts of ATF in there,
And because those transmissions don’t have drain plug, I had no choice but to remove then pan to drain everything and start all over again,

With the large transmission cooler of ECV
It takes about 4 gallons of dextron 3 to get the transmission working again. Dipstick is not accurate in ECV humvees, now I check the level and it shows well about the X mark,
In fact I compared that to my other running M1152 and that also shows well above X mark.

first wash

 

[HUMMER H1]

did you check the trans level with the engine running or engine stopped?

engine running in park gear,

 

[tomelroy]

I would drop the pan again and calibrate the dip stick. Can’t see why this would only be relevant to ecv

 

[Retiredwarhorses]

Calibrate the dip stick? Not accurate?
I service maybe 2 Transmissions per week…all turbo and NA 4 speed trucks, never has a transmission taken 4 gallons of ATF.
it takes quite a bit of time to fill properly, it cannot be rushed, you get a false reading on the dipstick from fluid still in in the filler neck, also engine must be running in park and shifted through all gears, pay attention to the hatch mark side of the stick, not the smooth side.

Dry 13.5 qt (12.8 L)
Drain & Refill 7.7 qt (7.3 L)

 

[HUMMER H1]

Calibrate the dip stick? Not accurate?
I service maybe 2 Transmissions per week…all turbo and NA 4 speed trucks, never has a transmission taken 4 gallons of ATF.
it takes quite a bit of time to fill properly, it cannot be rushed, you get a false reading on the dipstick from fluid still in in the filler neck, also engine must be running in park and shifted through all gears, pay attention to the hatch mark side of the stick, not the smooth side.

Dry 13.5 qt (12.8 L)
Drain & Refill 7.7 qt (7.3 L)

14 qt is 3 gallons
if it seats longer period eventually big ECV trans cooler also drains into the pan.

to refill everything back up is 3.9 gallons to be exact

 

[tomelroy]

dipstick calibration | Bowler Performance Transmissions

proper fluid levels for automatic transmissions

www.bowlertransmissions.com

 

[Retiredwarhorses]

dipstick calibration | Bowler Performance Transmissions

proper fluid levels for automatic transmissions

www.bowlertransmissions.com

ok, this pertains to custom tubes in custom cars and trucks, our trucks are OEM and all turbo trucks use the same tube and stick, as does the A2, as does the 3 speed th400 use there own specific OEM parts, no calibration is required…

 

[tomelroy]

Confirming that the dip stick is measuring the correct depth of fluid in the pan should be ruled out. If everything else is done right, maybe somebody swapped out the dip stick from something else or ??? 99+ percent it was correct off the line. Only way to rule this out is droop the pan and make sure it is correct. If it is correct I would assume I am doing something wrong in my check procedure.