How to Add Transmission Fluid

Regular car maintenance is essential to your car's well being. Your car will operate properly and last longer. Part of the maintenance program is checking your automatic transmission. Add a quart of transmission fluid as needed.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Funnel
• Quart of transmission fluid

1. Place your car on a level hard surface such as a concrete driveway. Open the hood of the car.
2. Locate the dipstick for your automatic transmission. Refer to your owner's manual if you are not sure where it is located.
3. Turn your car engine on. Now pull the dipstick out of the hole it is in and wipe it with a clean rag.
4. Insert the dipstick back in and pull it out again. Look at the dipstick. You will see hash marks and some words, "Add" and "Full."
5. Notice the fluid on the dipstick. If it is above the "add" mark, do not add any fluid. If it is at the add mark or below, add a quart of transmission fluid.
6. Put the funnel into the same hole where the dipstick was. Now take your quart of transmission fluid and turn it upside down into the funnel. Empty the quart into the funnel.
7. Check the transmission fluid again. It should be at or near the "full" mark. Check the transmission fluid regularly.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not overfill your transmission fluid, as this can be harmful. If you are not at the add mark then wait a day. Check fluid again.