2005 XC90 2.5T ATF Dipstick reading

[boksalg]

Hi guys,
On my 2005 XC90 2.5T I've been doing drain and refill with the Mobil 1 JWS 3309 ATF oil four times over the last year now, and I struggle a bit with reading the ATF dipstick. I've always drained, measured, then filled new oil of the same volume. However I'm a bit cautious about the ATF and got the Volvo garage to hook up the DICE for a temperature reading. The issue is with how to read the dipstick:
1. At 30 degree Celcius (according to workshop DICE): After going through the Volvo procedure going through the gears, I pulled the dipstick, wiped, reinserted and pulled again. One side of the dipstick shows 3/4 on the cold area, while the backside showed 0/4.
2. I did multiple readings and left it for 20 seconds to no avail.
3. I inserted the dipstick the "other way around" (since the tube has a slight bend) and the same result came up (although the sides switched).

So my question is for those of you who checked your ATF dipstick: Did it show the same level on both sides or did you assume the highest/lowest as the valid reading?

[oragex]

The very best procedure is to have the box temperature read on the DICE and if it's at 80C, the fluid should be in the middle of the hot mark. The fluid temp really needs to be close to 80C, as even a slight temperature variation (such as 70C for example) will cause much variation in the fluid level and it's not a good level read.

As for which side of the dipstick to read on, look at the side where you see on top a 'droplet' of oil, that is a thicker oil mark. That is the fluid level, everything else is caused by fluid smear off the dipstick tube.

[boksalg]

Thanks oragex - I forgot to add the temp in the original post.
Agree on the ideal temp being 80 - however after 2 hours on the highway it read only 69 degree Celcius.

The sides of the dipstick were not giving me any conclusive reading either
Feel like I'm at a loss and any hints or tips are very welcome.

[cn90]

For a simple ATF drain/refill, 3.5 qts should be fine.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... 10&t=64335

[boksalg]

Thanks for the tip, however I'm too cautious to not be precise about the volumes
I've pulled variable volumes depending on for how long I leave the car to drip, and one time I got out more than 4 qts.

I will further extract a bit more since VADIS says "where room temperature is 20 degree celcius and the oil is low it will only just show on the dipstick". I'll remove a couple fl. ounces and check again. If I manage to actually get it to the low level I'll keep in mind the 2 DL (0,2 litres) range from low to high.

Argh, this is hard.

[jimmy57]

You are making it hard.
The fluid level is not THAT critical.
In Norway with cooler year round temps the fluid will likely never get to more than 80 C unless you tow a caravan.
If you drive it after the change until engine is at normal temp and it is at low end of hot side marking/upper end of cold side then you are totally safe. The fluid critical points are not so full that is gets in the way of rotating parts and gets frothy and vents out of the vent tube. It should not be so low that in spirited driving or sudden stops the fluid runs away from pickup tube and the transmission momentarily goes out of gear.

[boksalg]

Thanks jimmy57 - good to learn what the consequences are
Did not like the warning on the dipstick and would hate having to replace the tranny.
Because I overthink my plan C for a future tranny replacement is to get it in the US and have it freight shipped to save on cost.

I'll try to not worry too much now - thanks for your input.