What Type of Transmission Fluid for My Car?

Introduction

Transmission fluid is a vital part of your car’s transmission system. It lubricates the moving parts, helps to cool the transmission, and protects it from wear and tear. Using the wrong type of transmission fluid can damage your transmission, so it’s important to know what type of fluid your car needs.

Types of Transmission Fluid

There are two main types of transmission fluid: automatic transmission fluid (ATF) and manual transmission fluid (MTF). ATF is used in automatic transmissions, while MTF is used in manual transmissions.

ATF is typically red in color, while MTF is typically yellow or amber in color. ATF is also thinner than MTF.

How to Check Your Transmission Fluid

You should check your transmission fluid regularly, especially if you’re experiencing any transmission problems. To check your transmission fluid, follow these steps:

1. Park your car on a level surface.
2. Turn off the engine and wait a few minutes for the transmission fluid to cool down.
3. Open the hood and locate the transmission fluid dipstick. The dipstick is usually located near the back of the engine.
4. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it clean with a rag.
5. Reinsert the dipstick into the transmission and push it all the way in.
6. Pull the dipstick out again and check the fluid level. The fluid level should be between the two marks on the dipstick.

Adding Transmission Fluid

If your transmission fluid is low, you’ll need to add some. To add transmission fluid, follow these steps:

1. Purchase the correct type of transmission fluid for your car.
2. Locate the transmission fluid filler tube. The filler tube is usually located on the side of the transmission.
3. Insert a funnel into the filler tube and add transmission fluid until the fluid level reaches the full mark on the dipstick.
4. Replace the filler tube cap and dipstick.

Changing Transmission Fluid

You should change your transmission fluid every 30,000 to 60,000 miles, or as recommended by your car’s manufacturer. To change your transmission fluid, follow these steps:

1. Purchase the correct type of transmission fluid for your car.
2. Drain the old transmission fluid from the transmission. To do this, locate the drain plug on the bottom of the transmission and remove it.
3. Replace the drain plug and gasket.
4. Add new transmission fluid to the transmission until the fluid level reaches the full mark on the dipstick.
5. Replace the filler tube cap and dipstick.

Conclusion

Using the wrong type of transmission fluid can damage your transmission, so it’s important to know what type of fluid your car needs. You can check your transmission fluid level yourself, and you can add or change transmission fluid if necessary. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, you can take your car to a mechanic to have the transmission fluid serviced.