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transmission dipstick [message #362409]

Mon, 15 February 2021 11:16

ktcnyc

Messages: 25
Registered: September 2020

Karma: -1

Junior Member

Hello- My coach has a crazy long dipstick for the tranny running to the front of the engine bay -also a cute lil funnel for adding fluid-that's the good part.
The problem is I can not get a good read on the fluid level. The fluid seems fresh and clear so I can barely tell if the level is OK. I do not want to overfill but unfilled is well, you know.
Was this converted from a short stick in the engine bay? It's a 1977 with a 455.
Any suggestions on how to read the light colored fluid on the very long stick?
Can or should I convert to a short stick-is that possible?
Thank you for any help on this

Kevin Cloutier

Kevin Cloutier -'77 Eleganza II-455, 6 disk brakes, Edelbrock carb, headers, , resident of NYC and Dingmans Ferry, Pa. '72 MGB-GT & '73 MGB convertible Member GMCMI since 8/20

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Re: transmission dipstick [message #362410 is a reply to message #362409]

Mon, 15 February 2021 11:34

Ken Burton

Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana

Karma: 10

Senior Member

Yes that long stick is an aftermarket add-on. Yes it could be converted back if desired.

One of the things I do reading oil or trans fluid that is almost transparent, is to take a paper towel and lay the stick after dipping in the measurement area on the towel. Now you cab see which area of the stick has fluid on it and which area is clean.

Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

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Re: [GMCnet] transmission dipstick [message #362411 is a reply to message #362410]

Mon, 15 February 2021 12:17

stu@97381.com, Emery

Messages: 232
Registered: June 2020

Karma: 2

Senior Member

You might try roughing up one side of the dipstick area that you read. This might show up the oil better. Also perhaps deepen the grooves that show low and full so that the oil will show in the grooves.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick CO

> On Feb 15, 2021, at 10:35 AM, Ken Burton via Gmclist wrote:
>
> Yes that long stick is an aftermarket add-on. Yes it could be converted back if desired.
>
> One of the things I do reading oil or trans fluid that is almost transparent, is to take a paper towel and lay the stick after dipping in the
> measurement area on the towel. Now you cab see which area of the stick has fluid on it and which area is clean.
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
>
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Re: transmission dipstick [message #362414 is a reply to message #362409]

Mon, 15 February 2021 16:51

JohnL455

Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL

Karma: 12

Senior Member

Also the odds of that thing being properly calibrated are not high. I find opening the hatch to check the fluid is also a good time to check PS fluid and look for any chaffed belts, hoses, errant fluids or odd odors.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II

[Updated on: Mon, 15 February 2021 16:51]

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Re: transmission dipstick [message #362416 is a reply to message #362409]

Mon, 15 February 2021 17:46

Matt Colie

Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan

Karma: 7

Senior Member

ktcnyc wrote on Mon, 15 February 2021 12:16

Hello- My coach has a crazy long dipstick for the tranny running to the front of the engine bay -also a cute lil funnel for adding fluid-that's the good part.
The problem is I can not get a good read on the fluid level. The fluid seems fresh and clear so I can barely tell if the level is OK. I do not want to overfill but unfilled is well, you know.
Was this converted from a short stick in the engine bay? It's a 1977 with a 455.
Any suggestions on how to read the light colored fluid on the very long stick?
Can or should I convert to a short stick-is that possible?
Thank you for any help on this

Kevin Cloutier

Kevin,
If rotate the stick until it reflects light, the fluid will reflect differently than does the plain steel. I don't remember if I sanded mine or just drilled holes in it because I got tired of having to pull out the short stick and then position my body so I could get light to reflect off it.

Question for you...
How do you live in Dingman's Ferry (PA) and NYC. They are at least 60 miles apart with no good road between? (Asked by a refugee from the megopolis.)

Matt

Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit

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Re: transmission dipstick [message #362417 is a reply to message #362409]

Tue, 16 February 2021 09:11

SteveW

Messages: 538
Registered: June 2005
Location: Southern California - Ora...

Karma: 1

Senior Member

Greetings from Southern California !!

Don’t know if it’s a good idea or not - but I was shown a trick of lightly dusting the dipstick with a bit of talcum powder.

I don’t recall if this was before inserting the dip stick or after pulling it out - but either way - it more clearly indicates the oil level.

Steve W

Steve W 1973 : 23' Southern California

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Re: [GMCnet] transmission dipstick [message #362422 is a reply to message #362417]

Tue, 16 February 2021 12:41

James Hupy

Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010

Karma: -62

Senior Member

Rough up the back side of the dipstick. 80 grit sandpaper works. Then read
the back side, and turn the stick over. Won't say much for the accuracy of
the long stick. They are wrong more often than right.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

On Tue, Feb 16, 2021, 7:12 AM Steve Weinstock via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:

> Greetings from Southern California !!
>
> Don’t know if it’s a good idea or not - but I was shown a trick of lightly
> dusting the dipstick with a bit of talcum powder.
>
> I don’t recall if this was before inserting the dip stick or after pulling
> it out - but either way - it more clearly indicates the oil level.
>
> Steve W
>
>
>
> --
> Steve W
> 1973 : 23'
> Southern California
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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>
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Re: [GMCnet] transmission dipstick [message #362430 is a reply to message #362422]

Wed, 17 February 2021 07:55

ebyker

Messages: 37
Registered: May 2016

Karma: 1

Member

with the long dipstick you can check hot and not burn your fingers

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Re: transmission dipstick [message #362432 is a reply to message #362409]

Wed, 17 February 2021 09:01

Larry

Messages: 2875
Registered: January 2004
Location: Menomonie, WI

Karma: 10

Senior Member

Here, check this for explaining your dipstick issues.

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/IDY5/cenex-life-lessons-powered-locally

Very Happy

Larry

78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.

[Updated on: Wed, 17 February 2021 09:02]

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Re: transmission dipstick [message #362534 is a reply to message #362414]

Thu, 25 February 2021 14:08

Richard RV

Messages: 631
Registered: July 2012
Location: Full-timer for 12 years, ...

Karma: -17

Senior Member

JohnL455 wrote on Mon, 15 February 2021 15:51

Also the odds of that thing being properly calibrated are not high. I find opening the hatch to check the fluid is also a good time to check PS fluid and look for any chaffed belts, hoses, errant fluids or odd odors.

"That thing"...? You're such a purist, John! Razz

I bought my remote dipstick from a vendor and was told that the stick is correctly calibrated for the GMC. You've heard the expression about getting the short end of the stick, and that's bad, right? The expression came from the short GMC dipstick...I will be creating the Wikipedia reference page shortly to back me up on this.

I wouldn't go back to the let's-blast-hot-air-and-dust-into-the-coach-while-making-it-onerous-to-perform-frequent-maintenance short stick.

All the other under hatch inspection can be done with the engine off. That's how I prefer to do it.

Richard

'77 Birchaven TZE...777; '76 Palm Beach under construction; ‘76 Edgemont waiting its turn

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Re: transmission dipstick [message #362537 is a reply to message #362534]

Thu, 25 February 2021 17:02

Matt Colie

Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan

Karma: 7

Senior Member

Richard RV wrote on Thu, 25 February 2021 15:08

<snip>
I wouldn't go back to the let's-blast-hot-air-and-dust-into-the-coach-while-making-it-onerous-to-perform-frequent-maintenance short stick.

All the other under hatch inspection can be done with the engine off. That's how I prefer to do it.

Richard

Richard,

If your fan clutch works right, the cold fan will be disengaged before you can get the engine hatch loose.

Matt

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