Yea I saw that with the B&M stick. One of the videos I watched said it wasn't worth the hassle. The other thing I'm concerned about is getting the transmission up to the required 206 degrees to check level... mine seems really cold natured and rarely gets above 200 degrees unless I'm towing. Any thoughts on the best way to get it up to temp to check? Brake torque it?
First, do not brake torque it much or for very long. The main heat source in a transmission is the shearing of the fluid inside the torque converter.
Fluid doesn't leave the torque converter real fast (if it did it probably would not work), if you brake torque heavy for a length of time you will boil the fluid inside the torque converter, and blow your torque converter seal out.
Just to confess my sin, almost 30 years ago I did this twice. Both on days were the temp was about 10 degrees. Jump in truck, 1/4 inch of ice on the windshield freezing my ass off, certain tests can't be completed until engine gets to certain temp. Don't want to pull in the shop and choke other techs out with exhaust. So put transmission in drive, and apply throttle. About 2-3 minutes later transmission fluid everywhere. Engine never got to 70 degrees. Trans temp sensor never registered over 90 degrees.
Not putting two and two together, it happened next time about 3 weeks later.
Both times, pulled transmission to replace torque converter seal and both torque converters crazy color of purple and ballooned (expanded outward).
2nd time I figured it out.
The transmission temp required to check the transmission is because Ford wants to make sure the transmission thermostat has opened and flow has went through the cooler, this is to push any air out of the cooler. They don't want air in the cooler, you set level to the mark, you go tow, thermostat opens and fills the cooler and now you are a quart low inside the pan.