Simple as it may sound, many people don’t have any idea how to check their own ATF (automatic transmission fluid). Don’t take this minor procedure lightly. It may cost a bunch of money if you run your transmission low on fluid. For instance, if you develop a tiny erratic fluid leak as in a drip here and there, which generally goes unnoticed over perhaps a period of time that may be a year or more…what happens is that the slow loss of fluid can start a process of failure that is slow and unnoticeable until your tranny craps.
The odds are 99% that you have an automatic transmission dipstick to check the level. Several mostly foreign cars have been using a non-dipstick setup, where you literally need to go to a transmission specialty shop or the dealer to have it checked and or changed. Perhaps I can put a list of cars with that particular setup together at some pint, but check the owners manual or call a dealer if you are not sure. It is not a good excuse to say “it is too much trouble to take the time and have your fluid checked”, it may cost a good three thousand dollars or more if you think that way, and you will not have car for maybe a week or more..
With that in mind, in order to check your ATF (automatic transmission fluid) the car or truck must be up to operating temperature. Why you ask? Automatic transmission fluid expands like crazy as it heats up. To put it in simple terms, if you check the fluid when the vehicle is cold, and it registers full, then it will register overfull when it gets hot and the fluid expands. In that case you would have to much ATF in your transmission.
O.K., now that that is clear, the transmission dipstick is usually on the right side of the engine as you stand facing the car. It is sometimes buried a bit under the array of ‘junk’ under the hood. It will almost always say “Transmission Fluid” on the end of the stick. While the vehicle is running...(you should ideally use a white paper towel) pull the dipstick out and wipe it clean with your paper towel. Now push the dipstick all the way back down in the tube and wait about 5 seconds, then pull it out and look at the reading. Ideally it should be in the middle to top of the crosshatch pattern on the dipstick. That is between the full and add marks.
If it is close to the add mark or below the add mark go ahead and add the correct amount of ATF until full. The next thing I’m going to say is that you have a leak if the tranny is low on ATF. Don’t play games, go to your reliable transmission shop or dealer and see why it is leaking and get it fixed.
Use your white paper towel to your advantage and look at the fluid on the towel that is left when you check it. If it is burnt smelling or really dark, the best thing is to find out why by going by your favorite trust-able shop and asking for a diagnosis. It may only need a good maintenance. Use or GotTransmissions.com Blog as a source of information on all things transmission.
