What Is the Proper Dipstick Reading for a Full Transmission Dipstick

Near vehicle owners know that in order to keep their ride roadworthy, they need to stay upwards-to-date on routine maintenance, such as oil changes and tire replacement. But yous should also keep tabs on your automatic transmission—you know, that thing with the gears that you shift into bulldoze, reverse, and park multiple times a solar day. Keeping your transmission humming smoothly can pay dividends, every bit it's one of the most expensive components on your auto to repair or supersede.

Thankfully, checking on your transmission'due south health is neither as hard, as fourth dimension consuming, nor as costly equally you may think. Here's how.

Checking the Fluid

Merely as your engine uses oil to lubricate and absurd its internals, automatic transmissions use specially designed transmission fluid for the same purpose. Conventional automatic transmissions, dual-clutch automatics, and continuously variable automatic transmissions each use a specific type of transmission fluid. If you're unsure which fluid is used in your transmission, consult your owner'south transmission; typically, transmission-fluid requirements can exist found in the specifications section.

Y'all don't need to exist a mechanic to gain insight into the condition of your vehicle's manual—a simple visual bank check volition exercise. You'll demand to look at the level and condition of your transmission fluid.

Locate the Dipstick

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First, locate the manual dipstick, which can be found under the hood, in the engine compartment. Make sure you are locating the transmission dipstick and not the engine-oil dipstick; the transmission dipstick is usually further dorsum in the engine bay, toward the firewall (the bulkhead at the front of the motel). The transmission dipstick is typically marked with a specific color or a manual symbol.

Note: if you can't find the dipstick, don't be alarmed. Many modernistic vehicles employ a sealed-for-life manual that never requires checking or fluid replacement—and so they don't have a dipstick. (Refer to your owner's manual for your model's specific service schedule and to double-check whether it has a transmission dipstick.)

If your vehicle has a sealed transmission, you tin slam the hood close and bulldoze. But if your vehicle does take a transmission dipstick, here's what to do next:

Bank check the Level

With the engine warmed up, leave the car idling in park on a level surface. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it make clean, supercede it slowly, and then pull it back out. Check the fluid level—how high the fluid comes upwardly on the dipstick—against the "full" and "low" or "fill" marks on the dipstick.

The color of transmission fluid tin tell you a lot about the health of your machine's manual.

Fluid Condition

Now lay the dipstick on a white surface, such equally a paper towel, to clarify the color of the fluid. The condition of your manual fluid—and to some extent, the manual itself—is indicated past the color of the fluid. If your fluid is good for you, it should have a red-pink color; if it'southward getting to the point of needing replacement, it will be brownish cerise. If the fluid is nighttime brown or black, and so it'south quite possible that you lot will be replacing more simply your fluid. Dark fluid with a burnt smell is bad news; in the worst case, yous might find fine metal shavings in the fluid likewise. Both of those symptoms point to possible damage of your manual's internal components. This is normally a result of failing to follow the recommended service interval for replacing the transmission fluid, but it'south not impossible that a manual could have a premature mechanical issue, merely like any other component on the vehicle.

Low Fluid?

If your fluid is low, it doesn't necessarily mean y'all're headed for disaster, merely it does virtually likely mean there is a leak somewhere in the arrangement. Filling up the transmission so checking it daily to see how quickly the level goes down can be a good way to assess the severity of a potential leak. Also try to visually inspect your manual past looking under the car for any fluid oozing out of it. Does the car leave spots of red fluid on the basis after it's parked? If the fluid is black, it'southward engine oil. If it's water, information technology'south probable condensation from the air conditioning system.

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If you practise notice some transmission-fluid loss or observe that your transmission is using an aberrant amount of fluid, contact a mechanic every bit soon as you lot tin. We'd recommend seeing a reputable machine dealer who sells and services your vehicle as a first stop. Its service department will have the most experience with your make and model and might have seen this event before. If you have the luxury of letting the auto sit until it can exist inspected, do so.

Contrary to what some internet mechanics may tell y'all, a transmission-fluid replacement will non destroy an older vehicle'southward crumbling transmission. Typically, when a transmission of a sudden has issues after fluid replacement, it'south because in that location was already an internal problem, such every bit a worn clutch pack. If your manual is healthy, so a fresh alter of fluid volition only assist its longevity.

FYI, if your transmission fluid is depression and needs topping off, this is usually done through the same tube that the dipstick fits in. Calculation fluid (which is available at auto-parts stores) will require a funnel with a narrow—and most likely long—spout.

Only like any machine, a transmission needs proper maintenance in social club to operate every bit the manufacturer intended. Equally they say, have intendance of your transmission, and it will take intendance of you.