How To Check Your Transmission Fluid

Your transmission fluid should be checked as part of your vehicle’s maintenance cycle, however, we recommend that you check your fluids at least once a month to ensure they’re topped off. You can check your brake, steering, and engine fluid at the same time to save time.

How do you check your transmission fluid? Knowing how to check your transmission fluid can prevent serious issues when driving around East Moline. Let’s go over some of the most important steps to checking your transmission fluid.

1. Turn your vehicle on and let it run for a few minutes. To properly determine the status of your transmission fluid, the engine needs to be warm.
2. Under the hood, you should find your transmission fluid dipstick. This is usually located near the oil dipstick in FWD vehicles. We recommend consulting your owner’s manual to be certain.
3. Next, remove the dipstick and rub your finger on it to check the viscosity of the fluid. When checking your transmission fluid, it should either be clear or light pink. If it is dark or has a burned smell, we recommend taking it to an expert.
4. After checking the condition of your transmission fluid, it’s now time to check the level. Pull the dipstick out and wipe it with a rag, then place it back into the vehicle. Pull the dipstick out again and ensure the level is above the “full” line on the dipstick. If it is below the line, you should add more transmission fluid immediately.
5. It is important not to waste your transmission fluid or spill it in the engine compartment. Therefore, we recommend using a funnel to fill your transmission fluid. Ensure you are not overfilling the transmission fluid, as this could lead to more problems down the road.

If you take your vehicle to the highly trained service department at Green Family Chevrolet, we can help you with any issue if you come from the Moline, Rock Island, or Bettendorf, IA area. If you need to schedule a service appointment, our technicians will get you back on the road fast!

When Should You Check Your Transmission Fluid?

When your transmission fluid is low, there are some signs to look for, such as issues while shifting such as gears slipping. If you experience this while driving around Moline, you may need to refill your transmission fluid. 

Helpful Tips for Checking Transmission Fluid

Checking your transmission fluid could be a daunting task. Your transmission is in fact a complicated system, and it’s important to maintain it properly. Let’s check out these helpful tips:

• We recommend consulting your owner’s manual prior to checking your transmission fluid. This will ensure you have the correct transmission fluid for your vehicle.
• If you drive a manual transmission, there may be a spot under the vehicle that drains the fluid. This could be tedious and it may be a better option to bring it to our technicians.
• If one of the symptoms you’re experiencing is difficulty shifting gears, transmission fluid could be to blame, however, to ensure it’s not anything more serious, you should schedule a service appointment with us to be certain.
• It is common practice to check your transmission fluid every 50,000-100,000 miles. However, it is best to consult your owner’s manual, as this number varies with each make and model.

Come Visit Green Family Chevrolet to Get Your Vehicle Serviced!

Now that you know, “how often do you check your transmission fluid, bring your vehicle to Green Family Chevrolet, and let the experts service your vehicle. We are the number one service center in East Moline, and will make sure all your fluids are topped off during your regular service interval. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us today!