Trans dipstick for 2003?

[rodeo02]

Could it be the 4L30E's for 2003 had a dipstick?? Check the engine pics of this 2003 rodeo sport: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Isuzu...spagenameZWDVW

Joel

[Mirock]

Looks like it's a trany dipstick.

[surferfletch]

I could only find the oil dipstick on the pass side of the engine. Looks like a nice vehicle.

[amigo-2k]

yup. Looks like it. That has to be a very rare RS. I didn't even know they made them in 2003 (I checked edmunds and they did)? Also you can see it has the updated dash buttons on the 03-04 rodeo's and the unpainted valve covers and then air intake is oval instead of round.

[Mirock]

Look closely Surferfletch it's there a little bit to the left from oil dipstick

[surferfletch]

Ahh! No kidding. The tranny stick jumped out at me and I didn't look closer to see the oil dipstick. That'd make life a little easier when servicing the 4L30E

[rodeo02]

They would have to go and do that right at the end of production! How sweet would that be to have a drain plug on the pan AND a dipstick to fill from and check level. You could dump and refill 3-4qts of ATF every other oil change and never worry about it. I bed you'd get 250Kmi outa that 4L30E .

Joel

[tomlcollins]

Originally Posted by rodeo02

You could dump and refill 3-4qts of ATF every other oil change and never worry about it.

Lol, that might be a little overboard....but I agree with the idea, at least.

I think the question we should be asking here is whether or not we can buy and install that dipstick on our own trannys. I've never really examined mine, but is there simply a plug or something you can pop out to install a dipstick?

[df2000]

If you see dipstick it is not 4L30E tranny but AW 4-speed. Isuzu lost connection to GM in 2003 so no more supply of GM tranny.

[rodeo02]

Originally Posted by df2000

If you see dipstick it is not 4L30E tranny but AW 4-speed. Isuzu lost connection to GM in 2003 so no more supply of GM tranny.

That is not an AW 3080LE. That trans was only installed (OEM) on the 2004 DI 3.5L equipped rodeos and axioms.

Joel

[directory]

can you install a dipstick on out non-dipped tranny's? or at least find a way to insall a port up top to allow us an easier way to change the fluid....

i wish that GM never went in this direction with the non-dipped tranny...

[rodeo02]

Not unless there is a boss for one with a plug on the side of the case near the pan mounting flange. I havent seen on on a dipstickless 4L30E.

Joel

[directory]

what about...and i'm grasping here....if you pull the tran housing and drilled a hole, welded a tube, and screwed on a cap (or plugged it with a filter--unless pressure is needed).

is this a possiblity? of course metal shavings would be an issue, but for you hardcore engine overhaulers--you could remove the trans totally. would this be a good work around? then you could fill as needed. there is bound to be a surface on the trans housing that would allow this--right? anyone have a photo of the trans?

[tomlcollins]

There is no question that you could find a suitable spot on the tranny to install a dipstick. The hard part would be getting the thing to measure fluid correctly. Also, the shavings would be dangerous. Auto trannys do not respond well to trash.

[directory]

Originally Posted by tomlcollins

There is no question that you could find a suitable spot on the tranny to install a dipstick. The hard part would be getting the thing to measure fluid correctly. Also, the shavings would be dangerous. Auto trannys do not respond well to trash.

ok, what if....

we install a fill neck. not to worry about checking it--but to make it easier to fill, then we could change it out every other oil (or 3) oil changes. just to make it easier.

of course, in order to properly install it, we'd have to drop the tranny