DIY: How to Check Transmission Fluid

How often do you check your transmission fluid? Checking the fluid is a very important part of routine maintenance, as the transmission is an expensive car component. To learn more about how to check transmission fluid, see the handy guides and FAQs below for some great general procedure tips. If you’d rather leave it to the pros at Porterville Ford in Porterville, click here to learn more about the service center.

A General User Guide for Checking Transmission Fluid: 

Checking transmission fluid is often as straightforward as checking your oil level. How often you check your transmission fluid can add to the life of your car, so follow these steps on how to check transmission fluid: 

1. Before proceeding, you will need to turn on your engine for a few minutes in order for the engine to be warmed up enough for a proper level check. Before you exit the car and open the hood, you need to check that the car is in park.
2. You will need to locate the transmission fluid dipstick. If you have a front-wheel-drive car, you will normally find it to the right of the oil dipstick. If you are having trouble finding it, consult your owner’s manual.
3. Pull out the dipstick and put a small amount between your thumb and forefinger. Move it around and check the fluid’s color. What you see should be nearly clear, although there may be a pink hue. If the fluid appears to be dirty, or if it has a burnt smell, you will need to take it in to be replaced at a service center.
4. Wipe off the dipstick with a rag and insert it back into the proper place in the vehicle. You will now need to pull it out again in order to check what the level is. Look for the “Full” marking on the dipstick. If the fluid does not reach that level, it will be necessary to add some fluid.
5. Using a funnel, add some fluid until the level shows at the right spot. You will need to be sure that you do not overfill it with fluid.

Some FAQs On Your Transmission Fluid

Checking Transmission Fluid in a Sealed Transmission

Some vehicles have a sealed transmission that was designed as a way to prevent wasting transmission fluid. But sealed transmissions will still eventually need to have transmission fluid replaced. With no dipstick, you can’t measure levels on your own, so you will need a car service team.

If you are in the Visalia area, the team at Porterville Ford can help. 

But even without a dipstick for checking transmission fluid, there are some indications to watch for that will show when is it time to replace the fluid in your sealed transmission:

• When the car changes gears, you will hear strange noises.
• You will notice the gears hesitating before a gear change. 
• There will be a noticeable delay when the gears shift during acceleration.

When Is a Good Time for Checking Transmission Fluid?

How often do you check your transmission fluid? Experts say that you should be checking it about once a month. This is also a good time to take care of some other routine maintenance tasks such as checking levels in the engine oil. 

It is important to remember to check the owner’s manual for a maintenance schedule and to see what types of fluids are needed. If you need more info, you can talk to the Porterville Ford service department team in the Tulare area to ask about a general maintenance checkup.

Checking Transmission Fluid Basics

When you are checking your transmission fluid, keep this info in mind to help keep your transmission in good health: 

• Transmission fluids are not all the same. More recent model cars may have different types of fluid, and manual and automatic transmissions may also have different types. You will need to check your owner’s manual to find the correct type to use. 
• Checking transmission fluid on a manual transmission is a bit more complicated as it involves accessing a plug underneath the car, and you will probably need a jack to do that. Most drivers may prefer a service center to do this, like the Porterville Ford service center near Delano.
• A symptom such as a car engine hesitating right before it shifts gears could be due to low transmission fluid, but it could also mean there are other serious factors involved. In these cases, it is prudent to check the level first but follow up with a service call to the team at Porterville Ford.
• Vehicles need transmission fluid replaced between 50,000 and 100,000 miles, depending on factors like driving habits, the type of transmission, etc. For more specifics, consult your owner’s manual. 

Schedule a Transmission Service Call Today at Porterville Ford 

If you can’t remember the last time you checked your transmission fluid, or if you are at the owner’s manual recommended mileage mark to check, it’s probably a good idea to schedule a service call today at Porterville Ford to keep your car running in peak form on Porterville roads.