4R44E Rebuild - Shows 1 Qt. Too High

[gregthomas]

Just had my 4R44E tranny in my '95 explorer rebuilt. I took it out and put it back in myself. I've read in many places that the tranny holds 10 qts. with an empty torque converter. After installing mine, I filled it with 8 qts. and checked the level, idling in park, and it checked 1 qt. low. I then added a qt. and suddenly it showed 1 qt. high. Drove down the road to warm it up, it shifts great, came back and checked it and it's still a quart high. I thought maybe it just hadn't filled everything up, so I let it idle for a half hour and it still checks a qt. high. Anyone have any idea why this might happen? It has a total of 9 qts. in it. I'm scratching my head...

 

[BrooklynBay]

The level always appears high when the fluid is warm. The fluid level will drop after its parked for a while, and it cools down. Keep in mind that the cooler, and the lines have fluid in addition to the fluid in the transmission.

 

[gregthomas]

Ahhhh, didn't think about the cooler. Guess I'll have to drain a qt. out.
Thanks!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Don't drain the fluid until you check it when it's cold, and see that it's too high.

 

[gregthomas]

Hmmm, I'm a little confused then... I thought the only level that mattered was when it was at operating temp in park and idling. I drained it and got the level in the cross hatch with it warmed up and idling in park. Drove it down the road and rechecked... 1/2 qt. too high. Not sure what to do next.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Check the level when it's cold, then again when it's hot.

 

[gregthomas]

Same when cold... 1/2 qt. too high.

 

[gregthomas]

I decided to go ahead and leave it as is. It shifts fine and sometimes it checks in the crosshatch and sometimes it's a 1/2 qt. too high, hot or cold. Maybe I'm being too picky?