GM 4L60E Automatic Transmission Teardown (Time-Lapse) 

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Great question. Fluid level is very important. It should not take 30 min of driving to get the trans up to temp. If you don't already know, the engine and the trans typically share the same cooler (radiator). So, if the engine is up to temp, the trans is up to temp. Does your vehicle have a temp gauge on the instrument panel? I imagine the engine can be brought up to operating temp within 5 minutes of driving.......but, I've never actually timed this. =/ For the 4L60E, the dipstick has two sections on it; one for checking the level when the trans is cold, and one for checking the level when the trans is hot (up to temp). For the most part, I only check the fluid level after the trans is up to temp. A few things that come to mind when checking fluid level: 1). Get engine/trans up to temp. 2). Park vehicle on a level surface. Shift trans into Park. Apply emergency brake, and chalk tires. 3). Pull stick, clean stick, stab stick, pull stick, then read stick. (repeat as necessary) 4). Examine both sides of the stick. There's only writing on one side of the stick, but I still examine both sides. Whichever side is lower is the reading I use (Not sure if that's what everyone does...but, that's what I was trained to do, and it's worked for me). Note: Be careful to avoid any moving engine parts, and hot parts, while working under the hood of your vehicle. Loose clothing, and long hair, can get caught in moving engine parts. Etc. Etc. Please exercise caution. I may be forgetting things...but, I hope this helps. This was a great question, regarding a super important topic. I really need to spend the time creating a video on this topic, and share more tips and tricks. Thanks for dropping me a line.

​@@SouthpawAutoworks thanks for your help! I did find a vid last night on the 4l80 (not my 4l60e) where the person insisted an extra quart was key to prevent cavitation on WOT from a stop. Also that Bobisoilguy forum had a comment on how it might be ok to be over in the winter but in the summer it would expand too much - and better to do it now before I forget. I did actually just remove about a pint - I will double check at running temperature. So I should still be a bit over but not too much. I actually had a Dealer "tech" put in 8 quarts on a pan drop/filter change - (deep pan again 4l60e) something I discovered after I was getting air bubbles and burning overflow. I didn't know what was wrong at first! I never confronted the dealer about this - and I think the receipt might of even said eight quarts! YES I just double checked! 8 units of 88862156 Dex VI fluid! That's a GM 2.2 lbs so that's 8 quarts!! ( If you are have a “shallow” pan, you will most likely take 4-5 quarts, whereas a deep pan will take 5-6 quarts.) I went to a trans flush machine at Victorylane - and they confirmed it was three quarts over - (they removed 19 pints out of the pan!) and then my transmission failed 30,000 miles later (two years later). Admittedly I was driving it hard - had 6000 rpm a couple times - and the transmission had 270K on it. Now that I think about it - I should have added back some extra ATF but I didn't know better!! So I never complained to the dealer but I did read last night on some forums how it's a pretty common problem since the transmission tech is the lowest paid rung at the dealer - so they don't do a very thorough job to check the fluid level. Yeah so I got a Reman trans last Fall - and it lasted the year warranty but it had some roughness to it. So I just installed an OEM Magnefine external filter from Australia (they don't make the OEM anymore but I got it on ebay). I used an OEM 9/16 quick connect to a female UNF thread with a 3/8" barb connection to the hose. So that seems to be doing well - the transmission actually seems to run smoother now after a 500 miles of running with that Magnefine filter. Hopefully I didn't overtighten the clamps on the filter but the OEM plastic is very strong - it was the aftermarket China made Raybestos filters that had the plastic breaking (NAPA has the wrong Australia-made advertisement and then if someone buys the filter it's actually the China-made fake one). I got a metal version too but that is the later version (made by Filtran) that has a smaller magnet attached to the paper filter. The OEM has the magnet separated from the filter (different patent) so the magnet collects metal bits on both sides of the magnet - good for 30K miles. I think an "inline magnet" filter - actually GM sent out a TSB about this since the pressure control solenoid was messing up after collecting the iron bits. Someone wrote: "An inferior Delphi Pressure Control Solenoid(PCS) was introduced too replace the more expensive Holley sourced PCS in late 2002. This was never an issue before the Delphi switch!" "TSB # 08-07-30-040B Revision released May 5, 2009 2002-2009 Cars and light duty Trucks with 4T40, 4T45, 4T65, 4L60 Transmissions. A new transmission oil pan magnet, P/N 29535617, was released for service. The current square transmission oil pan magnet may become saturated with normal ferrous sediment and the Pressure Control Solenoid (PCS) is now collecting ferrous sediment, making it vary from design. For a given current, the PCS electromagnet is stronger, causing the line pressure to be less than needed." "The new updated part replaced the square magnet with 2 round magnets." Yeah I just have 15K on this Reman 4l60e but the receipt didn't even have any parts listed (I realize that is the norm)! so I have no idea what they did. I flushed the ATF via the dipstick - since flushing off the return line actually can damage the transmission - during the flush. And now with the new Magnefine and new ATF - it does seem better. The garage bought the Reman work from a local transmission shop - and I called up that shop to just ask if they put in a new torque converter - and I think maybe I asked about upgrade in servos. I didn't say I was the one getting the reman 4l60e but I did say it was about a 4l60e. hahaha. Then the estimate I was given ended up low - and I didn't complain about the price increase but I did complain about a noisy part - that I think they replaced for free since the noise vanished. hahaha. The Sway Bar Link!