Checking your transmission fluid
You may not often think to check your automatic transmission fluid, but you really should. A regular look at the transmission fluid quality and level will help ensure your vehicle is shifting properly, and benefit the overall health of your transmission.
Some newer vehicles require specialized service for checking the automatic transmission fluid, but for most vehicles it’s actually pretty easy to check the fluid yourself. We’ve included a handy step-by-step guide below, to help walk you through the process.
If you’re having difficulty, or you’ve discovered an issue with your transmission, we’d be happy to help you regularly maintain your automatic transmission, right here at your Go Dodge Red Deer service department.
1) Start your engine
In order to get an accurate measure of your automatic transmission fluid, the engine must be running, warmed up, and in neutral or park. This is because the transmission fluid pump needs to be active, and to fill up the torque converter. Once the engine is warm, locate your transmission fluid dipstick, and yank that sucker out!
2) Check the Fluid
The first thing to check is the quality of the fluid itself. You want to make sure the transmission fluid is pinkish and almost clear. If you see any discolouration, metallic flakes, or other impurities, you’ll want to take it in so a service technician can do a full change of your transmission fluid.
3) Check the Level
After you’ve made sure your fluid is clean, wipe the dipstick off, completely reinsert it, then pull it back out. This time, you want to make sure the level reaches the markings toward the end of the dipstick. Does it reach “Full?” Great! If not, you’ll want to top it off.
4) Topping off your Transmission Fluid
If the level of your fluid isn’t full, check your owner’s manual to find the right kind of transmission fluid for your vehicle, as different makes and models may require different specifications for the fluid they use. The manual should also tell you where to pour it. In most vehicles, you can use a funnel to pour it into the hole with the dipstick. Be careful not to overfill!