My 85 van had an ATF dipstick with cold and hot levels. (Cold range is below the hot range).

If I check it when it's cold, (or vehicle shut off for half an hour), it actually reads full, in the higher hot range.

If I check it when hot, (idle for a minute, shift through the gears, check in park), the dipstick basically has nothing on it (or maybe a few millimeters at the very bottom.)

Vehicle is being checked on level ground, dipstick is all the way in.

What gives? LOL. Am I checking it right?

If I add fluid, it will be far above the highest (hot) full line while cold.

Thanks.