Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Tips & Warnings:
- There are three types of ATF: Dexron (also called Mercron), Type F and ATF+, which is used in DaimlerChrysler products; your owner's manual should list the type to use.
- With some cars the engine should not be running while you check the fluid, so be sure to consult your owner's manual.
- ATF doesn't get used up, so if it's low, that indicates a leak. Don't ignore leaks or drive around with low ATF since it can lead to expensive transmission repairs.
- Never overfill the fluid as it can cause automatic transmission failures. To curb overfilling, some newer vehicles do not have a dipstick on the transmission, which makes it hard to tell if the fluid is low.
Step1
Park your car on level ground and start the engine, leaving the gear in neutral or park. Wait for the engine to warm up. Unless your owner's manual directs otherwise, allow the engine to continue running throughout this procedure.
Step2
Find the ATF dipstick, located at the back of the engine. The ATF dipstick is often shorter than the engine oil dipstick but otherwise looks similar. If you're lucky, it will be labeled.
Step3
Pull on the dipstick and completely remove it. It may be very long.
Step4
Wipe the dipstick with a rag, replace it in the engine, push it all the way in and remove it again.
Step5
Look at the dipstick's tip. Observe whether there are two different full markings: one for cold readings and one for warm readings. If so, read the one for 'Warm.' If the ATF does not come up to the line marked 'Full,' add ATF.
Step6
Add ATF (see Tips) into the hole that the dipstick came out of (yes, that little tiny hole). Use a funnel with a long, narrow neck. Add only a little at a time, and check the level with the dipstick after each time. It's easy to add ATF but fairly difficult to take it out if you add too much.
Step7
Put the dipstick all the way back in when you are done.
Comments
PeterClarke said
on 12/26/2007 Citroen C5 2.2 HDI How do I check the level of ATF in the automatic gearbox
alcarter said
on 6/19/2007 Help.
My Citroen C5 handbook has no mention of checking/changing ATF in the auto gearbox.
How do I check the levels.
ToniTee3 said
on 6/5/2007 Please help me!!! My husband is deployed and the check transmission light is on my 2002 Ford Explorer. I was hoping all I need to add is Transmission fluid.
ToniTee3 said
on 6/5/2007 What type of fluid should I use for my 2002 Ford Explorer?
Anonymous said
on 6/30/2006 ATF+3 (7176) is relatively thin and slippery compared to Dexron and Mercon (both of which are relatively similar; the new Mercon V is, to my understanding, something of an extreme-purity spec). Expect major, potentially damaging and expensive problems substituting the wrong thing in a Chrysler; there's never any reason to use the wrong thing when Wal-Mart has generic +3 by the gallon.
"Universal" fluids are only universal between GM Dexron and Ford Mercon; do not use them in ATF+3/7176-requiring transmissions.
Type F is, to my knowledge, the most sticky/'grippy' of them all, used in (AFAIK) classic Fords.