How to Add Transmission Fluid

Co-authored by Ed Beery

Last Updated: December 4, 2024 Fact Checked

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Transmission fluid is a slick, oily substance that keeps the transmission of your car lubricated. The type of transmission fluid you need depends on the make and model of your vehicle and whether you drive a car with an automatic or manual transmission. Check your owner's manual and follow directions for checking fluid level and fill procedures. Some manufacturers do not have a normal dipstick for checking and filling. The below steps are for the most common transmission check and fill procedures.

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Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

How to Check Your Fluid

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1
Start your car. In order to get an accurate transmission fluid reading, you will need to check the level while your transmission is running and the fluid is warm. Keep your car in park with the handbrake on while you check the transmission fluid. Note that some vehicles are checked in the neutral position. Reference your owner's manual for the proper position of your car's shifter.
- If you've just finished driving your car for 30 minutes or longer, it's a good idea to let your engine idle a few minutes before you check the trans fluid.^{[1]
  X
  Research source} This will allow the temperature of the fluid to normalize.
- Note that some cars may also have a "cold" reading on the transmission dipstick. Even if this is the case in your vehicle, you should still start your engine and get the transmission fluid heated up in order to get an accurate reading.
Without actually driving the car, depress the brake and run the transmission through all the gears, including Reverse and Overdrive. If you check the transmission fluid cold — i.e., not having driven anywhere and not having run through all the transmission gears — inspection of the transmission dipstick will give you an inaccurate reading. It will appear as if you have far too much transmission fluid in your car. To avoid this, cycle through all the gears in your car to help circulate the transmission fluid evenly.

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3
Park your car on a flat, horizontal surface. This will help assure that you get an accurate reading.
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Open the hood and locate your transmission dipstick.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Ed Beery
Automotive Specialist

Expert Interview. 19 November 2021.} Remember to set the parking brake, especially if you're leaving the car in neutral. On some cars, it is easy to mistake the transmission dipstick for the crankcase oil dipstick, so make sure you are clear on the location of your transmission.
- Look towards the back of the engine, near the firewall. This is where the transmission is located on most cars with rear-wheel drive.
- On cars with front-wheel drive, the transmission dipstick is usually located near the front of the engine, connected to the transaxle. This isn't universally true, however, so you should look at your owner's manual or for labels around and on the dipstick to positively identify that it is the right dipstick.
This will help give you an accurate reading.^{[3]
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Research source}
^{[4]
X
Expert Source

Ed Beery
Automotive Specialist

Expert Interview. 19 November 2021.} You should now be able to see what level your transmission fluid reaches. Remember to compare your fluid level to the "hot" marking on the transmission fluid dipstick.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

How to Add the Fluid

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Your car's engine should be running when you add fluid to the transmission, but you should have the transmission in park and the handbrake activated for safety.
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Check the owner's manual for instructions on selecting the correct transmission fluid for your vehicle. Your owner's manual will tell you what type of transmission fluid to us and whether there are special instructions for adding fluid.
- The transmission dipstick itself might also tell you what kind of transmission fluid the transmission takes. Note that there are several different kinds, each with specifications that make it favorable for that engine's transmission.
- Also look for instructions on how frequently to change your transmission fluid. While you can add fluid when it gets low, many car manufacturers recommend a transmission fluid change every 30,000 to 100,000 miles (48,000 to 161,000 km) depending on the make and model of your car.
Most cars need a longer "transmission fluid" funnel.^{[5]
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Pour the correct fluid slowly into the funnel. Add a little at a time so you do not overfill. How much transmission fluid do you add to your vehicle? It depends on what you're doing:
- Are you topping off fluid level? If you notice the transmission fluid is a little low on the dipstick, start with a half a quart to a quart of transmission fluid. Recheck the level and add ¼ quart (or less) at a time until the level is up to the full or max mark.
- Are you doing a transmission service where you drop the pan and replace the filter? This kind of service usually needs 4 to 5 quarts of transmission fluid in order to replace what was lost in the pan.
- Are you replacing all the transmission fluid? It could take anywhere from 9 to 13 quarts of transmission fluid to replace the old transmission fluid.
This will help circulate the transmission fluid and make sure you're getting the correct reading.
You may not need to add more transmission fluid but, if you do, you'll want to add the fluid a little at a time. At this point, most vehicles will not need more than 1 pint (0.5 liter) of additional fluid.^{[6]
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You may need to turn it until it locks or press down a latch on the top of the dipstick to lock it into place.

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Tips

Some transmissions do not have a dipstick to check and fill the transmission.^{[7]
X
Expert Source

Ed Beery
Automotive Specialist

Expert Interview. 19 November 2021.} These are what the manufacturers call tamper-proof. The manufacturer only wants the fluid checked and filled during major service intervals. Some manufacturers do not want fluid changed at all. Follow your manufacturer's recommendations for checking and servicing of your transmission.

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Follow the transmission change intervals recommended in your owner manual.

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Ask your mechanic to check your transmission fluid whenever you have your car serviced. If you are not comfortable adding transmission fluid on your own, ask your mechanic to do it.

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Warnings

If you do not flush your transmission at the recommended intervals. you risk your transmission wearing out prematurely. If you are hard on your transmission or regularly pull heavy loads, consider changing the transmission fluid more frequently.

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Make sure you do not pour the wrong type of fluid into your transmission. Doing so can damage your vehicle and the repairs will likely not be covered by your warranty.

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Consider having your mechanic look at your transmission if you notice yourself adding fluid regularly. If you regularly lose transmission fluid, you may have a leak.^{[8]
X
Expert Source

Ed Beery
Automotive Specialist

Expert Interview. 19 November 2021.}

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