05 Tahoe z71 4×4. I drained the transmission drain pan and added fresh fluid via the dip stick. I added less than the user manual said and warmed it up then checked it in neutral. It says way overfilled so I reopened the drain pan bolt and nothing comes out? IDK what's going on?
Transmission dip stick reading high but transmission drain pan empty.
- Thread starter bentl
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OE transmission pans on these don't have a drain plug. Is yours an aftermarket pan?
If you checked it right after filling it, you are probably getting a false reading. Need to let the tube drain out a minute or two or the fluid in the tube makes it look full.
And isn't the transmission fluid level supposed to be checked with the engine running, after shifting slowly through all the gears, in PARK?
Last edited:
strutaeng
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@bentl
Yes, sometimes after dumping some fluid thru the dipstick tube, the level shows higher than it actually is... But you removed the pan drain bolt and got nothing?! How much fluid was in the pan when you dropped it? And how much did you add?
@Fless My 99 Silverado 4L60e had a factory pan drain with a drain bolt, and assumed "some" 4L60e units had it as well... I've never been able to determine why some units had it and some didn't?
Yes, sometimes after dumping some fluid thru the dipstick tube, the level shows higher than it actually is... But you removed the pan drain bolt and got nothing?! How much fluid was in the pan when you dropped it? And how much did you add?
@Fless My 99 Silverado 4L60e had a factory pan drain with a drain bolt, and assumed "some" 4L60e units had it as well... I've never been able to determine why some units had it and some didn't?
My 2001 Suburban 4L80E had a factory drain plug.
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Must have been a FEATURE when they eliminated the drain plug for the6 speed transmissions.
My '04 Tahoe's tranny (4L60e) pan doesn't have a drain plug. Neither does the GM OE one that Rock Auto lists for the '05 Tahoe. That doesn't mean that the OP's doesn't, but that's why I'm asking.
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strutaeng
Full Access Member
Some of my vehicles with the 4L80e have the drain bolt, and others didn't.
I've been swapping pans with the drain bolt when servicing them.
You can also add a drain bolt. Just take a short 1/2-13 bolt, drill a hole on any flat surface of the pan and tack weld a nut on the inside. Use a nylon washer as a sealing ring. It works surprisingly well actually.
Or just buy a new pan with the drain plug.
I've been swapping pans with the drain bolt when servicing them.
You can also add a drain bolt. Just take a short 1/2-13 bolt, drill a hole on any flat surface of the pan and tack weld a nut on the inside. Use a nylon washer as a sealing ring. It works surprisingly well actually.
Or just buy a new pan with the drain plug.
My '02 Tahoe Z71 (4L60e) also came from the factory with no drain plug. Aftermarket drain plugs on stock pans can be a challenge as they can infringe on the valve body if not "placed" correctly...
I had checked it running in neutral and had waited a few days and done it again and it still was reading high it is the z71 4x4 and has a drain plug bolt on the transmission pan it may be aftermarket from my grandpa not sure. I will try warming it up and checking it running in park and see if any difference.
How much did you drain out and how much did you add? You can use milk jugs to measure the old fluid approximately. Make sure you add at least as much as you drained. Check the dipstick with the truck in park after slowly moving the shifter through each position , P to 1, and engine running, e brake on.
Edit: if no fluid is in the transmission pan, your truck would not be moving. There’s no way it can with no fluid in the transmission pan, because that would mean there’s no fluid in the transmission. It’s not lighter than air so its not floating around in the top of the transmission.
Something is going on, stick your finger in the hole after removing the drain plug, if you somehow have one, or something. Don’t be skeered.
Edit: if no fluid is in the transmission pan, your truck would not be moving. There’s no way it can with no fluid in the transmission pan, because that would mean there’s no fluid in the transmission. It’s not lighter than air so its not floating around in the top of the transmission.
Something is going on, stick your finger in the hole after removing the drain plug, if you somehow have one, or something. Don’t be skeered.
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Meathead16
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Is your truck moving? You said you waited a couple days to check it and I imagine you wouldn't drive it without being able to verify fluid level. You added less than manual said, but how much less? Did you drop the pan? Might as well, especially since you won't have to worry about a bunch of fluid goin geverywhere.
FWIW the OP was last seen here just before Christmas last year.
