correct way to check atx tranny fluid level?? please read>>

[cmansturbomx6]

ok i just did the tranny filter and fluid change and now i'm checking the fluid level, i always thought that the car had to be at operating temperature and in neutral to get an accurate reading, is this correct??

also my fluid level dipstick has what appears to be two different reading levels one side says something like 68 degrees and the other side says 149 degrees which one is the best one to use.

i just need to know what the procedure is for checking the fluid and getting an accurate reading.

remember its an automatic

thanks alot

[MazdaMan069]

Well, I don't know that it has to be in neutral. I would think you can leave it in park. I always thought the 2 marks meant "full" and "low". But, since they have temps beside them, I would assume that the "68" is for when the car is cold and that the "149" is when it is at normal operating temperature. So, as long as the fluid level is around the mark at the right temp, it should be okay. Just pull the gear out, wipe it off, stick it back in, pull out and read. Just like the oil. If the car is cold, you want the level to be with the mark for the 68 degree and if it is at "normal" operating temp, it should be with the "149" degree mark. Right?

[heyitsmikey128]

make sure the car is running and drop it in drive a few times and then check it with the car running while in park (or neutral) you do this to make sure you have oil in all the little spaces and the tourqe converter because if not you'll have a high reading.

[cmansturbomx6]

alright thanks guys, mazdaman the dipstick has the different readings on different sides of the dipstick, the 149 side has the full level clearly about 1 inch up further than the full mark on the cold side, i was just curious to see which one was the better way to read it. Thanks