Transmission fluid questions

I have a 23 SR5 V6 2WD that I bought this past April with 18k miles on it. I like the truck overall, but have to agree with the sentiment of others online about the frustrating transmission. I drive mainly in S4, S5, or with ECT on and I'm still having a hard time adapting to the herky-jerky, indecisive transmission. I'm starting to conclude that my truck might be one of the ones that left the factory with low transmission fluid as I've read about. Here's my question that I'll probably get roasted for, but have any of you thinking your fluid is low from the factory gone ahead and added a half or full quart without checking the trans fluid level first? I'm in Arizona and it's another month or so until it'll be cool enough that I want to crawl under the truck running to check the transmission fluid level. My twisted reasoning is that it's already over 90 degrees in the morning where I live so I'm thinking the trans temp will already be too hot to check properly. Or, have any of you been successful with making the dealership check the fluid, they find it's low, and it's covered under warranty? Thanks in advance for any advice or beatings. I've done a lot of searches in the forums and I'm getting too dizzy clicking and scrolling.

 

Transmission check temp should be between 95-113 F. Here is a video on how to do a drain and fill (which will also show you how to check the level).

When my truck was new I pulled the Check plug and nothing came out so I knew it was low on transmission fluid. I took it to the dealer and they put in 1 quart. They said no charge because it came low from the factory. I wanted the dealer to document the low fluid in my records. When I got the truck home I checked the level again myself and a slow trickle came out so I knew the dealer added the correct amount.

I am very OCD when anyone touches my truck. When I get new tires i jack the truck up at home and loosen all lug nuts and retorque to factory specs so I know I am good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNqYpEpmUng

 

OP, the OTT tune goes a very long way to correcting the herky-jerky stock transmission performance.

I opted for the "MM" Mild/Medium ECT.
This is #3 out of the 5 available tunes.

My 2023 is factor stock, and herky-jerky in the stock form.
My shift points with a gentle foot are right at 1900~2000 rpm in standard mode, and 2500~2600 in ECT mode.
This appears to be 1,000+ rpm higher than stock for both standard mode, and 1,500 rpm higher for ECT.

I have the DIY flash kit, and am thinking about going up a step to Medium/Spicy ECT just to see how it runs.

The 3.5L is an oversquare design, meaning it is designed to rev up rather than grunt out low end torque.
The OTT tune adds a wee bit more low end torque according to their dyno charts.

Driveability with the tune is vastly improved.

 

It’s good to check the fluid level, but it’s probably just the way these behave.

 

Thanks guys. I think my first step will be to go to the dealership and pick the service advisor's brain. If they act like they won't cover the cost of the fluid check, then I'll do it myself. After I get the fluid level issue figured out my next step will be considering a tune. I've read a ton of comments praising OTT, however I live 3 hours from anyone that offers OTT. I'm just a little leery of being 3 hours away from anyone that knows OTT should any problems arise. If I don't go OTT I've also read good things about Banks Pedal Monster. Thanks again for the info.

 

IMO, the dealership will not do the proper technique for ATF checking.
It takes about 30 minutes if done properly, and they won't waste the time doing it.
My guess is they will lift the trick, pull the drain plug and check for overflow.
If none, they will add ATF cold until they get overflow, then send you on your merry way.

If you have the oil and filter done as well, look for the rack monkey to use an impact gun on the filter.
Instead of 18 ft-lbs, it will be somewhere up in the Godzilla range.

As for the OTT tune, there are five flavors.
My 100% stock 2023 is on the #3 out of 5, the MM setting.
For me, this is where it should be, and is a marked improvement from factory stock.

If you have to go 3 hours (each way) to change tunes, that is a PITA.
I bought the DIY kit ($900 with NoCo Genius 10 charger), so I can change as needed or restore back to stock.
The DIY software can be a bit fiddly (read: PITA) but it does work, *IF* you are 100.00% accurate in following the OTT instructions.
To the letter.