How to Check Transmission Oil
- 1). Consult your vehicle owner's manual, as the initial step will vary depending on the make and model of your car. Check to see if your car should be warmed up and with the engine running as most do, or if it should be turned off but still warm.
- 2). Open the hood of your car and locate the transmission fluid dipstick towards the rear of the engine, generally opposite from the belts in the front. Sometimes the transmission fluid dipsticks are labeled as such and may even state the type of fluid you should use.
- 3). Grasp the transmission fluid dipstick with your hand, pull it out and wipe it completely clean with a rag. Return the dipstick to the hole and push it all the way to the bottom.
- 4). Retrieve the dipstick once again and look at the level of the fluid on the dipstick. All automatic transmission fluid dipsticks will indicate the levels with lines portraying high and low levels.
- 5). Observe the smell of the transmission fluid in addition to the level. If the fluid smells similar to burnt toast (referred to as "pink stink"), you will need to replace the fluid.
- 6). Use a funnel to add transmission fluid if the level is low. Add only approximately ¼ quart at a time as until the level on the dipstick indicates that it is full. Be careful not to overfill your transmission fluid.
- 7). Check your transmission fluid once every two years or at every 24,000 miles to avoid running low or using ruined oil, thus creating the potential to harm the transmission itself, a costly component to replace.
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