United Tire and Service News

Did you know that gas and oil aren’t the only important fluid your car needs? Your vehicle also needs transmission fluid in order to perform properly. Transmission fluid lubricates the surfaces and various parts of the transmission system. It is designed to remain in your vehicle for the entire lifespan of your vehicle without having to be changed, however, most technicians will recommend having it changed every 50,000 miles, just to ensure the health and mobility of your transmission as it gets older. 

 

Checking your own transmission fluid is a lot like checking your car’s oil. You are probably familiar with the oil dipstick already, which measures the engine oil. Well, the transmission dipstick works in the same way but instead, it measures the transmission fluid. In most vehicles, you can locate the transmission dipstick near the oil dipstick, and it should be labeled for easy access. 

 

You’ll need:

 

1. Warm The Car Up: The first step in checking your transmission fluid is to make sure your car is warmed up. This is because the fluid expands when heated, so it should be up to normal operating temperatures in order to get the most accurate measurement. If you try to read your fluid levels when it’s cold, it might read as being low, which could cause you to add more— and potentially overfill. Overfilling transmission fluid can cause it to push out the case vent and filler tubes, resulting in a blown seal. In a worst-case scenario, overfilling your transmission fluid could cause your transmission to slip and act unstable. 

 

2. Wipe Dipstick Clean: Once your car is warmed up, carefully remove the dipstick from the cylinder and wipe clean with your rag. You’re going to want to inspect the remnants on the rag for a few things:

 

• New transmission fluid is a bright, transparent red and depending on how long it has been since your last service the fluid should reflect it in color. 

• A darker red to a light brown is normal and indicates age, which is normal for running vehicles.

• A color closer to a dark brown is a warning sign and means you should get the fluid changed 

 

• Now, transmission fluid isn't going to smell “good” but it shouldn’t smell burnt. Usually new fluid is more or less odorless. If you detect any traces of a burnt toast smell, it’s an indication something is wrong. 

 

• Over time, your transmission fluid will thicken with age. This is totally normal. Your fluid should, however, be clear of dirt particles or metal shavings. If your fluid is bubbly or foamy, you have overfilled or the wrong fluid was used. 

 

 

Checking your transmission is the easy part. The hard part is changing out the old fluid for new stuff. This is a messy job that is best left to our technicians who are trained on how to do it efficiently and without making a total mess. If you’ve checked your fluid and feel it's time to change it out, or you really aren't sure, swing by any one of our 13 conveniently located United Tire and Service shops and talk to one of our friendly techs about a transmission fluid change.