Reading the Auto Trans Fluid Dipstick?

[SWRT]

Does anyone know how to get an accurate reading?

From what I'm seeing it has a hot and a cold side. I just refilled a few quarts the other day after an engine swap and torque converter nightmare and from what I'm seeing it's either still in the fill tube or when you shut the car off it all drains back up the filler tube so when is the best time to check it? I recently drained the torque converter so that fluid's gone and I think I overfilled it, but it says it's like waaaaaay overfull and I find that hard to believe. I'm thinking there was about 4 quarts that spilled out of the torque converter, a quart from the trans and a bit from the lines. I filled it back with about 4 and a half quarts. It says it's super full. Any ideas?

[Legacy777]

You may have it way overfilled. Here is the proper procedure to check the automatic transmission fluid.

• - You should check the fluid level with the trans at normal operating temp (hot)
  - Drive the car around, 5-10 miles
  - Park on a flat surface
  - With the engine still running, slowly cycle the gear selector from park to 1 and back to park
  - Leave the engine running, and check the ATF level against the "hot" marks

Checking the ATF level without the engine running will NOT give you an accurate reading. It can be kind of difficult to read the ATF fluid on the dipstick. Remove the dipstick, wipe it clean and then reinsert it. When you remove it a second time, try and hold it flat after removing. You can use the reflection of the fluid vs. the bare metal to try and pick up where the line is of the fluid. There may be some spots where fluid may be on the dipstick, but there should be a very clear line where the fluid level is. That's the mark/line you're looking for.

Make sense?

I'm going to add this to the sticky since this question comes up frequently.

[Florin1]

I always had trouble checking it too until a week ago when I was at a transmission shop and I got an excellent tip. (Always had a hard time reading the dipstick) What he told me was to try and put it in gear and pull the ebrake hard, so car doesn't move, and then check it. (With car running and up to temp of course). It worked great.

[SWRT]

I see. Yeah, it probably is way overfull then. I'll try and drop another quart or two out of it and see what happens.
Thanks for the help, man!

Unfortunately my e-brake doesnt work for some reason. I really ought to
tear it down. I hate doing drums though.

[Legacy777]

The gear selector should be back in park to check the level. I think slowly cycling through the gears right before you check it helps.

[SWRT]

I've been checking it in Neutral. I'll have to give that a shot tonight. Thanks, man