jeeper61 Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 Why can't they just give you a dipstick to check your automatic's fluid level? I think this started on European Brands I seem to remember VWs of the early 2000's with out dipsticks Got 50K on my ZR2 so it time for fluid changes in the drive train Its got a GM 8 speed with no dipstick so I bought a kit from Lokar to add one that was $120 Got a filter came in a box with the new GM woke logo that was priced reasonably at $16 Got the the improved low viscosity fluid that GM said was the fix for the 8 speed issues $10 a quart And I got the just incase additive that supposedly fixes the shudder issues that the new fluid cured. $32 a quart My truck was built after the fluid fix and I have never had the the torque converter lock up shudder but I don't want it to start 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtfireman85 Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 Had that issue on a 2009 Jeep Liberty. Dealer reluctantly serviced the trans at 20k, then forgot to put their plug in. If the car had had a dipstick it would not have been a problem i am sure. Took a while before I noticed and long story short they flushed the trans and changed the filter again. But they weren’t happy about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stronger800 Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 What year 8 spd? I have a late built 2018 and I’ve heard of people complaining about shutter issues with them, I asked the dealer about it but of course they’ve never heard of such a thing, and they did not know anything about the updated fluid. My truck has been fine, knock on wood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Beale Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 Well back in BC there was a spoof on "Lopo Hotting Up" which included "Double Overhead Dipsticks Shaved Radiator Cap Straight Through Glove Box " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Englander Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 I don't understand the no-dipstick for engines either. My kid's BMWs don't have them and you need a PHD in BMW to get through the dashboard menu to check. I know the car will tell you if its low on oil but I'd rather be able to check for myself. Our 6 speed GM transmissions do have dipsticks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper61 Posted June 25 Author Share Posted June 25 7 hours ago, vtfireman85 said: then forgot to put their plug in. If the car had had a dipstick it would not have been a problem i am sure Yep a rubber stopper were the dipstick should have been and the fill check is a stand pipe with a plug i.e. fill till it drips 7 hours ago, stronger800 said: What year 8 spd? 2019 built after July which surprised me they are normally done with that module year by then From what I under stand they blame the issues on a factory fill with bad fluid apparently the fluid was to hydroscopic Happened to both size 8 speeds 8L45 and 8L90 To me it sounds like bad clutch material There are some class action law suits brewing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ihfan4life Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 1 hour ago, New Englander said: I don't understand the no-dipstick for engines either. My kid's BMWs don't have them and you need a PHD in BMW to get through the dashboard menu to check. I know the car will tell you if its low on oil but I'd rather be able to check for myself. Our 6 speed GM transmissions do have dipsticks. Yup. Apparently they think BMW owners are too civilized (snooty) to get their paws dirty pulling a dipstick out to check the oil… (BTW, I own a bmw) 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stronger800 Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 It burn out at a good pace? Coworker has a ‘19 bmw car (large, pretty fancy, idk the model) but the Oil Light comes on every few weeks, he adds a half quart and goes another few weeks. I doubt he drives 400-500 miles a week. Dealership told him it’s normal, and gave him a 6 pack fancy box of quarts….like it’s a common thing. “Here we have this sturdy box, it stands up in the trunk nicely” keep it full 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stronger800 Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 Have another coworker with the large Volkswagen SUV, it’s a lease so she’s not really concerned, but it needs the antifreeze topped off every so often Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper61 Posted June 25 Author Share Posted June 25 All my newer stuff all GM goes 5k plus before it needs a quart by then its ready for a change Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars (midessa) Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 My wife’s Ford Explorer has the ‘sealed transmission’. 115,000 mi on the odometer, so far so good. Nobody around here will service those except the Ford dealer. My son’s BMW has no engine dipstick, the onboard computer tells him when to add a quart. Takes a full synthetic motor oil, and minimum of 91 octane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Takn4aFool Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 the newer heavy duty trucks with automatics don't have trans dipsticks either....one less thing to check on your pretrip😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jass1660 Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 37 minutes ago, Takn4aFool said: the newer heavy duty trucks with automatics don't have trans dipsticks either....one less thing to check on your pretrip😁 That’s because they are automated manual transmissions a leak would be noticeable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomH Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 Most car manufacturers are going dip stickless. One of the more useless applications of technology. All it really does is cause consternation for the owner and the necessity to go to the dealer when an idiot light comes on saying there is an oil problem. I think it’s BMW that if you add even a little too much you get a “oil over full correct level “ warning ⚠️ . Nice…. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CC_Ranger Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 Tell me some more about this dipstick kit. First I have heard about it. I found out I didn't have a dipstick in my '15 Silverado when I went to add the additive to correct the shifting issues. Surprise, surprise! Did have the dealer flush it and add new fluid, that helped for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cattech Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 The average driver of today doesn't even know how to open the hood, much less check the oil level with a dipstick. It's probably for the best to keep said drivers from being able to mess with the level. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve C. Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 3 hours ago, stronger800 said: It burn out at a good pace? Coworker has a ‘19 bmw car (large, pretty fancy, idk the model) but the Oil Light comes on every few weeks, he adds a half quart and goes another few weeks. I doubt he drives 400-500 miles a week. Dealership told him it’s normal, and gave him a 6 pack fancy box of quarts….like it’s a common thing. “Here we have this sturdy box, it stands up in the trunk nicely” keep it full That's just wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjf711 Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 no dipstick on our range rover or on our super c either 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper61 Posted June 25 Author Share Posted June 25 2 hours ago, CC_Ranger said: Tell me some more about this dipstick kit. First I have heard about it. I found out I didn't have a dipstick in my '15 Silverado when I went to add the additive to correct the shifting issues. Surprise, surprise! Did have the dealer flush it and add new fluid, that helped for a while. Holley has this B&M Kit listed as direct fit for 8L45 and 8L90 GM trannies but it appears to be back order to the end of July I did a little digging and found some people have used this Lokar kit for 6L80 the hole is the same size that is what I plan on using since I don't want to wait A bracket needs to be made to hold it in place as the pic below shows then you will need to scribe a line for the proper level If you don't want to get a dipstick kit there is just a plug in the hole where the Dipstick used to mount on the passenger side of the transmission With a hand pump you can remove some fluid and add your additive through this hole and plug The standpipe plug is on the other side to check the fluid level Here is a video of the filter change and level check Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper61 Posted June 25 Author Share Posted June 25 2 hours ago, TomH said: I think it’s BMW that if you add even a little too much you get a “oil over full correct level “ warning ⚠️ . Nice… I have a couple hotrods that I like to run a quart high as cheep insurance so that would be an annoyance if they all go to that way On a hard launch at the strip the GM LS truck oil pans don't have good baffling to stop the pick up from being exposed from the g-force The 5.3 and 6.0 LS truck motors are popular swaps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oleman Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 Believe the Marketing Genius HENRY FORD got credit for coining the expression, "PARTS LEFT OFF OF A DESIGN WILL NEVER COME BACK FOR WARANTE REPAIRS". Engineering gets better with every money saving design!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art From Coleman Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 1 hour ago, jeeper61 said: Holley has this B&M Kit listed as direct fit for 8L45 and 8L90 GM trannies but it appears to be back order to the end of July I did a little digging and found some people have used this Lokar kit for 6L80 the hole is the same size that is what I plan on using since I don't want to wait A bracket needs to be made to hold it in place as the pic below shows then you will need to scribe a line for the proper level If you don't want to get a dipstick kit there is just a plug in the hole where the Dipstick used to mount on the passenger side of the transmission With a hand pump you can remove some fluid and add your additive through this hole and plug The standpipe plug is on the other side to check the fluid level Here is a video of the filter change and level check At least the transmission has a removable pan, AND a easily replaceable filter. BUT, one has to wonder how much extra heat the "exhaust pipe, running UNDER the pan" adds to the operating temperature of the transmission fluid, heat that the transmission oil cooler has to work that much harder to remove. I wonder if that section of exhaust pipe were wrapped with "header tape" would help out on lessening that "better idea". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper61 Posted June 25 Author Share Posted June 25 37 minutes ago, Art From Coleman said: BUT, one has to wonder how much extra heat the "exhaust pipe, running UNDER the pan" adds to the operating temperature of the transmission fluid, heat that the transmission oil cooler has to work that much harder to remove. Its another Ripley's Ripley's Believe It or Not! story I have a 05 Duramax CC Flatbed I tow with and last summer it was down waiting for a part when I wanted to make a trip up north with a loaded trailer So I took the ZR2 Colorado and pulled the trailer with it. This was near the max tow weight of 7K Believe It or Not! the transmission temperature ran significantly lower than the Alison in the Duramx does with the same trailer on the same 400 mile trip and it was in the summer heat Go figure I expected it to be maxed out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CC_Ranger Posted June 26 Share Posted June 26 Thanks for the info and pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Beale Posted June 26 Share Posted June 26 13 hours ago, Ihfan4life said: Yup. Apparently they think BMW owners are too civilized (snooty) to get their paws dirty pulling a dipstick out to check the oil… (BTW, I own a bmw) IIRC in Afrikaans BMW could be reckoned to stand for "Broke but putting on airs" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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