How to Check Transmission Fluid

Your vehicle’s transmission is what accelerates your vehicle forward on the Burleson roads. That’s why it’s important to check your transmission fluid and have it replaced when necessary. If you’re not sure how to check transmission fluid, then no problem. The service center at Shottenkirk Toyota of Granbury has put together a guide that’s super simple and will show you how to keep an eye on your transmission fluid.

Checking the Transmission Fluid

You don’t have to be an ace mechanic to check your vehicle’s transmission fluid. To check your transmission properly, simply follow these steps:

1. Turn on the engine and let the engine warm up for a few minutes.
2. Put the car in park, pop open the hood, and locate the transmission fluid dipstick. Check your owner’s manual for the specific location on your vehicle.
3. Once you’ve found the dipstick, take it out and touch the fluid. It should be pretty clear and slightly pink. If the fluid is dirty or smells burnt, then you’ll need to have it replaced.
4. Wipe off the dipstick with a rag and put it back inside the car. Pull it back out and examine the level. If the fluid falls under the “full” marker, then you’ll need more.
5. Using a funnel, fill up the fluid level to the right spot and try not to overfill.

What About a Sealed Transmission?

If you don’t see a dipstick underneath the hood, then you might have a sealed transmission. A sealed transmission is designed to limit the amount of transmission fluid waste and just means that the transmission fluid can’t be measured with a dipstick. If this is the case, then you’ll need to schedule service with our service center near Stephenville to have your transmission fluid checked. Here are some signs that you might need your transmission fluid changed if you have a sealed transmission:

• Strange noises occur when changing gears
• There’s a delay in the gear shift when you accelerate
• The gears hesitate slightly before changing

How often do you check your transmission fluid? You should check your transmission fluid at least once a month to keep an eye on its condition.

Other Transmission Fluid Tips

Now that you know how to change transmission fluid, here are some other important things you should know:

• Different transmission types, like automatic and manual transmission vehicles, will have different types of transmission fluids. Check your owner’s manual for your vehicle’s necessary transmission fluid.
• If you have a manual transmission and need to check the transmission fluid, you’ll need a jack to access the plug under your car.
• It’s recommended that you have your transmission fluid changed every 50,000-100,000 miles, but you should check your owner’s manual to get a more specific number.

For more service tips like how often to change your oil, visit Shottenkirk Toyota of Granbury.

Change Your Transmission Fluid at Shottenkirk Toyota of Granbury

How often do you check your transmission fluid? If you can’t remember when you checked your transmission fluid and don’t want to check it yourself, then visit Shottenkirk Toyota of Granbury in Granbury, and we’ll gladly get it taken care of. Contact us to set up an appointment.