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Transmission fluid is a slick, oily substance that keeps the transmission of your car lubricated. The type of transmission fluid you need depends on the make and model of your vehicle and whether you drive a car with an automatic or manual transmission. Check your owner's manual and follow directions for checking fluid level and fill procedures. Some manufacturers do not have a normal dipstick for checking and filling. The below steps are for the most common transmission check and fill procedures.
Steps
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Start your car. In order to get an accurate transmission fluid reading, you will need to check the level while your transmission is running and the fluid is warm. Keep your car in park with the handbrake on while you check the transmission fluid. Note that some vehicles are checked in the neutral position. Reference your owner's manual for the proper position of your car's shifter.- If you've just finished driving your car for 30 minutes or longer, it's a good idea to let your engine idle a few minutes before you check the trans fluid. [1] X Research source This will allow the temperature of the fluid to normalize.
- Note that some cars may also have a "cold" reading on the transmission dipstick. Even if this is the case in your vehicle, you should still start your engine and get the transmission fluid heated up in order to get an accurate reading.
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Without actually driving the car, depress the brake and run the transmission through all the gears, including Reverse and Overdrive. If you check the transmission fluid cold — i.e., not having driven anywhere and not having run through all the transmission gears — inspection of the transmission dipstick will give you an inaccurate reading. It will appear as if you have far too much transmission fluid in your car. To avoid this, cycle through all the gears in your car to help circulate the transmission fluid evenly.Advertisement
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3Park your car on a flat, horizontal surface. This will help assure that you get an accurate reading.
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Open the hood and locate your transmission dipstick. [2] X Expert Source Ed Beery
Automotive Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2021. Remember to set the parking brake, especially if you're leaving the car in neutral. On some cars, it is easy to mistake the transmission dipstick for the crankcase oil dipstick, so make sure you are clear on the location of your transmission.- Look towards the back of the engine, near the firewall. This is where the transmission is located on most cars with rear-wheel drive.
- On cars with front-wheel drive, the transmission dipstick is usually located near the front of the engine, connected to the transaxle. This isn't universally true, however, so you should look at your owner's manual or for labels around and on the dipstick to positively identify that it is the right dipstick.
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Pull the dipstick out and wipe it with a rag. This will help give you an accurate reading. [3] X Research source
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Stick the dipstick back into the transmission fluid and lift it out again for your reading. [4] X Expert Source Ed Beery
Automotive Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2021. You should now be able to see what level your transmission fluid reaches. Remember to compare your fluid level to the "hot" marking on the transmission fluid dipstick.
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Keep your engine idling with the transmission in park and the parking brake set. Your car's engine should be running when you add fluid to the transmission, but you should have the transmission in park and the handbrake activated for safety.
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Check the owner's manual for instructions on selecting the correct transmission fluid for your vehicle. Your owner's manual will tell you what type of transmission fluid to us and whether there are special instructions for adding fluid.
- The transmission dipstick itself might also tell you what kind of transmission fluid the transmission takes. Note that there are several different kinds, each with specifications that make it favorable for that engine's transmission.
- Also look for instructions on how frequently to change your transmission fluid. While you can add fluid when it gets low, many car manufacturers recommend a transmission fluid change every 30,000 to 100,000 miles (48,000 to 161,000 km) depending on the make and model of your car.
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Place a funnel in the dipstick hole of the transmission. Most cars need a longer "transmission fluid" funnel. [5] X Research source
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Pour the correct fluid slowly into the funnel. Add a little at a time so you do not overfill. How much transmission fluid do you add to your vehicle? It depends on what you're doing:
- Are you topping off fluid level? If you notice the transmission fluid is a little low on the dipstick, start with a half a quart to a quart of transmission fluid. Recheck the level and add ¼ quart (or less) at a time until the level is up to the full or max mark.
- Are you doing a transmission service where you drop the pan and replace the filter? This kind of service usually needs 4 to 5 quarts of transmission fluid in order to replace what was lost in the pan.
- Are you replacing all the transmission fluid? It could take anywhere from 9 to 13 quarts of transmission fluid to replace the old transmission fluid.
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Depress the brake and run the transmission through its gears with the car idling. This will help circulate the transmission fluid and make sure you're getting the correct reading.
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Check the fluid level once more. You may not need to add more transmission fluid but, if you do, you'll want to add the fluid a little at a time. At this point, most vehicles will not need more than 1 pint (0.5 liter) of additional fluid. [6] X Research source
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Return the dipstick to the transmission dipstick sleeve and make sure it is seated well. You may need to turn it until it locks or press down a latch on the top of the dipstick to lock it into place.
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Tips
- Some transmissions do not have a dipstick to check and fill the transmission. [7] X Expert Source Ed Beery
Automotive Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2021. These are what the manufacturers call tamper-proof. The manufacturer only wants the fluid checked and filled during major service intervals. Some manufacturers do not want fluid changed at all. Follow your manufacturer's recommendations for checking and servicing of your transmission.Thanks - Follow the transmission change intervals recommended in your owner manual.Thanks
- Ask your mechanic to check your transmission fluid whenever you have your car serviced. If you are not comfortable adding transmission fluid on your own, ask your mechanic to do it.Thanks
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Warnings
- If you do not flush your transmission at the recommended intervals. you risk your transmission wearing out prematurely. If you are hard on your transmission or regularly pull heavy loads, consider changing the transmission fluid more frequently.Thanks
- Make sure you do not pour the wrong type of fluid into your transmission. Doing so can damage your vehicle and the repairs will likely not be covered by your warranty.Thanks
- Consider having your mechanic look at your transmission if you notice yourself adding fluid regularly. If you regularly lose transmission fluid, you may have a leak. [8] X Expert Source Ed Beery
Automotive Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2021.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Rag
- Transmission fluid
- Owner's manual
- Transmission funnel
References
- ↑ https://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/OM/IS9393/IS9393O00111A.pdf
- ↑ Ed Beery. Automotive Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2021.
- ↑ https://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/OM/IS9393/IS9393O00111A.pdf
- ↑ Ed Beery. Automotive Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2021.
- ↑ https://www.autoblog.com/2022/06/12/how-to-check-transmission-fluid/
- ↑ https://www.autoblog.com/2022/06/12/how-to-check-transmission-fluid/
- ↑ Ed Beery. Automotive Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2021.
- ↑ Ed Beery. Automotive Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2021.
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To add transmission fluid to your vehicle, first check your owner’s manual to be sure you know what kind of transmission fluid to use. When you’re ready to add the fluid, keep your engine idling and put the transmission in park. Make sure to set the hand brake for safety. Remove the dipstick from the transmission fluid reservoir and insert a funnel into the hole. Pour the fluid into the funnel slowly, taking care not to overfill the reservoir. The amount of fluid you need will depend on whether you’re topping off the fluid or completely replacing it after draining the old fluid. Then, push down on the brake pedal to help distribute the fluid through the car’s gears while the engine is still idling. Check the transmission fluid level one more time using a dipstick and add a little more to top off the reservoir if necessary. Put the dipstick or cap back in place when you’re done.
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Reader Success Stories
- "This article and explanations really cleared up the question I had regarding whether the engine should be running or not when putting in trans fluid. Also, the point of running through the gears with foot on the brake was something I didn't know or thought of." ..." more
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"This article and explanations really cleared up the question I had regarding whether the engine should be running or not when putting in trans fluid. Also, the point of running through the gears with foot on the brake was something I didn't know or thought of."
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"I thank God for this article because I was very lost without it it helped me to get parts that were needed for my truck. It also referred me to places where I could get it fixed. They just answered questions that I needed answers to, thank you so much."
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"This article was very helpful, happy that I found it. A real lifesaver for anyone who hasn't filled their transmission before, showed me where to put the transmission fluid. I visited many websites, none were as helpful as wikiHow."
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"I need to perform a drain and fill on the transmission of my 2012 Acura. This article recommends filling through the dipstick hole, seems like a clever solution if I can find or make the right size funnel. Thanks!"
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"I've only checked transmission fluid when the car was cold! Didn't know if car had to be running to add and I see that you do. Couldn't find that second answer except here. TY!"
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