Most car owners understand that to keep their vehicle roadworthy, up-to-date maintenance is key, such as tyre replacement and oil changes. However, checking transmission fluid is equally important. Fortunately, this is not a time-consuming or tricky task and doesn’t have to cost the earth, so read on for all you need to know about assessing this important lubricant.
Checking your transmission fluid
In the same way that engines use oil to cool and lubricate their internal parts, automatic transmissions employ specially engineered transmission fluid to perform this job. Standard automatic transmissions, continuously variable-style automatic transmissions and dual-clutch automatics all use their own particular kind of transmission fluid. Vehicle owners unsure of the specific fluid required by their transmission should always consult their owner’s manual before purchasing a product. As a rule, transmission-fluids required will be located in the vehicle specifications section.
Those looking for an economical option will be pleased to hear that a professional mechanic isn’t necessary to assess a vehicle’s transmission condition. A quick visual check is all that’s needed, where the car owner looks at the level and the condition of the current transmission fluid in use.
Step one – Finding the dipstick
First, you’ll need to find the transmission dipstick. It should be located beneath the bonnet within the engine compartment. Ensure you find the transmission dipstick and not the one used for engine oil. The transmission dipstick is usually marked with either a transmission symbol or uses a specific colour.
Some modern cars have a transmission that is sealed for life which means their fluid never requires checking or replacing, so check this doesn’t apply to you before attempting checks.
Step two – Checking the level
With your engine warmed up, use a level surface and leave the vehicle idling in park. Pull out your dipstick and wipe it clean before replacing it slowly. Now pull it out again. Check your fluid level, this means how high the fluid mark registers on the dipstick, measuring it against the marks labelled “full”, “low” and “fill”.
Step three – assess fluid condition
Next, lay your dipstick on a clean surface, like a paper towel, and analyse the fluid’s colour. The condition of the transmission fluid, along with the transmission itself, is shown by the colour. Healthy fluid will be reddish pink in colour. If it is close to requiring replacement, it will look brownish red. If, however, the fluid is black or dark brown in colour, this can mean bad news. These colours combined with a burning smell or small metal shavings can mean your transmission’s internal components are damaged and may need replacing.
However, keeping on top of your routine maintenance and adding transmission tests to your list of health checks can ensure your vehicle stays healthy. Remember, like every machine, a transmission requires attention if it is to work as intended. By adding this simple job to your regular schedule, you can avoid the cost of expensive repair work and replacement parts, and ensure your vehicle is always operating at optimum performance.
