More Transmission Knowledge Needed

grezling · November 22, 2010

Greetings all. Perhaps this is an ez one, but since a reference to this observation was made and other posts, thought it would make a good post since its happening to me!

My truck is a 97 2500 with the 80 trans heavy duty. I regularly check fluid levels always hot in park. Anywho, after checking it yesterday it was way way high, like 4 inches over. Gasp! But when checking it again just 5 minutes later it was fine, inside the hatch. This eliminats radiator fluid intake since the reading is clearing jumping around and is sometimes fine. Drained 2 quarts to be sure and started over, well maybe. So before adding more, a few questions.

1.) Anybody else experience erratic fluid levels?

2.) Advice about proper filling/measurement methods?

O, and the 2 quarts removed from the tranny plug were examined. about 2 dozen sliver size metal shavings were found. They were silver and if grouped to gether would take up no more area then a dime. Trans shifts fine and fluid appears good, beside levels. A fluid + filter change was done by me 3 months ago with no major finding on plug, but did not look for shavings in fluid. Could be left over from manufacturing since gasket was original meaning this is its 1st change and only 40% was swapped. Anyone else get shavings like this, how much is too much...

Thx in advance!