Transmission oil is a slippery, oily fluid that lubricates the gears of your car. The type of transmission oil you need will depend on the make and model of your vehicle, as well as the type of transmission of your vehicle, automatic or manual. Check your car's manual and follow the instructions given to check the fluid level and filling procedure. Some manufacturing companies do not provide oil rods (dipstick) to check and fill the oil in cars. The following steps establish the most common procedure for checking and filling transmission oil.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Checking Your Car Oil
Step 1. Start your car
To get an accurate transmission oil reading, you need to check it when the transmission is running and the oil fluid is warm. Put your car in the parking position with the handbrake on while you check the transmission oil. Be aware that some vehicles need to be checked in neutral. You should refer to your car's manual for the proper position of the gear lever.
- If you've only been driving for half an hour or so, it's a good idea to let your engine rest for a few minutes before you check your transmission oil. This allows the transmission oil temperature to return to normal operating conditions.
- Note that some cars can also have a "cold" reading on the transmission oil shaft. Even if that's the case, it's a good idea to keep the engine running and heating the transmission oil to get an accurate reading.
Step 2. Without actually driving the car, lower the brakes and put the transmission in all gears, including reverse (R) or Overdrive (O/D)
If you check the transmission oil cold, i.e. without driving it and without using all the gears, checking the transmission oil handle will give an inaccurate reading, giving the impression that you have far more transmission oil than you really do. To avoid this, insert the transmission into all gears to circulate the transmission oil evenly.
Step 3. With the car parked on a flat surface, open the hood and find your transmission oil shaft
In some cars, the transmission oil rod is easily confused with the crankcase oil rod, so make sure you know exactly where your transmission is.
- Check the back of the machine, near the wall with the cab. Usually, this is the location of the transmission on most rear-wheel drive cars.
- In front-wheel drive cars, the transmission oil shaft is usually located in front of the engine and is connected to the transmission shaft.
Step 4. Pull the oil handle up and wipe it on a rag
This will help you get an accurate reading.
Step 5. Dip the oil shaft back into the transmission oil, then lift it up again to get your reading
By now, you should be able to see the level your transmission oil has reached. Remember that you will need to read the "hot" level on the transmission oil shaft.
Method 2 of 2: Adding Oil
Step 1. Leave your car engine running in parking gear (P) and apply the parking brake
Your car's engine should start when you add oil to the transmission, but you should also put the transmission in the parked state and apply the handbrake for safety reasons.
Step 2. Check the manual for instructions on properly adding transmission oil to your vehicle
The manual should tell you what type of transmission oil to use and, if applicable, specific instructions for adding the oil.
- The transmission oil shaft itself can tell you the type of transmission oil used by the car's transmission. Remember that there are several types of oil with their respective specifications that make them suitable for the transmission of a particular type of engine.
- Also, look for instructions on how often to change the transmission oil. While you can add oil when you have a small amount left, many car manufacturers recommend changing the transmission oil every 50,000 to 150,000 kilometers traveled, depending on the type of car.
Step 3. Install the funnel over the transmission oil shaft hole
To make sure that you don't overfill, you'll need a funnel that's long enough.
Step 4. Slowly pour the appropriate oil into the car's transmission
Add a little at a time so you don't overfill. How much transmission oil do you need to add to your vehicle? This number depends on what you are currently doing:
- Did you increase the oil level? If you notice that your transmission oil is starting to run low on the oil shaft, add 500ml to 1 liter of transmission oil to start, then repeat until you reach the full or maximum level.
- Are you servicing the transmission, ie removing the sump and changing the oil filter? This type of service generally requires 4 to 5 liters of transmission oil to replace the oil from the wasted sump.
- Did you change the entire existing transmission oil? You can need from 9 to 13 liters to change the entire transmission oil of the car.
Step 5. With the vehicle still running, lower the brakes and then put the transmission into all gears
This will help circulate the entire transmission oil and ensure you are getting the correct reading.
Step 6. Check the fluid level again
You don't necessarily need to add more transmission oil, but if you have to, you should add it slowly rather than pouring it all at once. Reminding again, most vehicles will not require more than 0.5 liters.
Step 7. Return the oil shaft to the transmission hole
Make sure that the oil shaft is securely attached. You'll need to turn it until the handle locks in place, or push the latch at the end of the handle to lock it into position.
Tips
- Whenever you take your car to a repair shop for service, don't forget to ask a mechanic to check your transmission oil. If you don't feel comfortable enough to add transmission oil yourself, have a mechanic do it.
- Some car transmissions do not provide an oil shaft to check and fill the transmission. This kind of transmission is called tamper-proof, or protected from tampering, by the manufacturer. In this case, the car manufacturer only allows the transmission oil to be checked and refilled during major service intervals. In fact, some manufacturers do not allow oil changes at all. Follow your car manufacturer's recommendations for checking and servicing your transmission.
Warnings
- You should consider having a mechanic check your transmission if you notice that you need to add oil frequently. If you keep losing transmission oil, there may be a leak in your car.
- Make sure that you are not pouring the wrong type of oil into your car's transmission. This could damage your vehicle and any repairs you will need will likely not be covered by your warranty.
