auto trans showing over full after severe leak ( wreck)

[45acp]

An idiot cut in front of me and then slammed on her brakes. I hit her. REally messed up " my baby" ( 1999 4dr 3.0 L, 4/overdrive auto trans. 86000 miles. VERY well maintained). Didn't do any sheet metal damage but trashed the front bumper some plastic - and the trans cooler. ( serious fluid leak). The tow truck guy was great ! he unhooked the trans cooler line and re hooked it to cut out the trashed cooler so that I could drive it enough to unhook the john boat I was towing and to park it. He told ( obvious) to refill the trans before I did that. ... So I got a gallon of Dex Mercon and went to refill it. .... BUT... the dipstick was showing OVER full. I knew this was impossible so I added about 2-2, 1/2 quarts. let it idle a while and put it in gear( F & R). and it still reads over full on the dipstick while it is still probably low. Can anyone explain this and tell me what to do. I need to drive it to the body shop about 3 miles away but don't want to ruin my trans which worked perfect and has had the fluid changes every 30K miles. Thanks for any help

 

[rusty ol ranger]

An idiot cut in front of me and then slammed on her brakes. I hit her. REally messed up " my baby" ( 1999 4dr 3.0 L, 4/overdrive auto trans. 86000 miles. VERY well maintained). Didn't do any sheet metal damage but trashed the front bumper some plastic - and the trans cooler. ( serious fluid leak). The tow truck guy was great ! he unhooked the trans cooler line and re hooked it to cut out the trashed cooler so that I could drive it enough to unhook the john boat I was towing and to park it. He told ( obvious) to refill the trans before I did that. ... So I got a gallon of Dex Mercon and went to refill it. .... BUT... the dipstick was showing OVER full. I knew this was impossible so I added about 2-2, 1/2 quarts. let it idle a while and put it in gear( F & R). and it still reads over full on the dipstick while it is still probably low. Can anyone explain this and tell me what to do. I need to drive it to the body shop about 3 miles away but don't want to ruin my trans which worked perfect and has had the fluid changes every 30K miles. Thanks for any help

probably is showing over full because you took the cooler out of the equation.

Or you didnt lose as much as you thought. Even 1/2 qt looks like alot laying on the pavement

Driving it 3 miles even over full is not really likely to hurt it regardless

 

[Blmpkn]

Yeah.. a cooler and it's lines hold more than one would imagine.