How to Check Your Transmission Fluid

You can always leave your vehicle’s maintenance routine to experts at Bay Ridge Volkswagen. However, it’s a good idea to intermittently check the fluid levels in your vehicle to be sure everything is in working order. But, how often do you check your transmission fluid, and how do you do it? Knowing how to check your oil and transmission fluid is a good idea, and doing it regularly helps you stay on top of any possible issues. Stay safe on the roads of Queens and Staten Island by following these maintenance tips.

How to Check Your Transmission Fluid: A Step-by-Step Guide

Depending on the model year of your vehicle you may have different methods of checking your transmission. Older vehicles generally have a traditional transmission with a dipstick. Explore the steps below:

1. Be sure the engine is warmed up when you check the fluid level, so start by turning your car on, put it in “Park,” then pop the hood.
2. Find the dipstick. On FWD cars the dipstick will be located to the right of the oil dipstick. Check your owner’s manual for guidance on its location.
3. Pull out the dipstick, touch the fluid and examine it. The hue should be slightly pink. If you notice that the fluid has a burnt smell or is discolored, then schedule a service appointment immediately.
4. Clean the dipstick off with a rag and reinsert it in the transmission. Remove it again and check the level. If it’s below the “full” marking, then you should add more fluid.
5. Use a funnel to add more fluid until it gets to the “Full” marking. Be sure not to overfill!

You may have a sealed transmission if you can’t find the dipstick, in this case, you’ll want to bring your vehicle to our technicians to check your transmission fluid.

Transmission Fluid: Frequency of Inspection & Replacement

How often do you check your transmission fluid? It’s a good idea to check your transmission fluid at least once a month to prevent any issues. Replacing your transmission fluid should occur with experts at Bay Ridge Volkswagen. A manual transmission requires changing roughly every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. If you have an automatic transmission, you should schedule a flush from 30,000 to 100,000 miles.

Checking the Fluid in a Sealed Transmission

A sealed transmission does not have a removable dipstick. You shouldn’t try to check the transmission fluid yourself, and instead, trust the experts at Bay Ridge Volkswagen. We have the experience and tools required to check the sealed transmission. If you are worried about the transmission fluid in your sealed transmission, then have us check at your next regular maintenance.

Come to Bay Ridge Volkswagen for All Your Service Needs

The next time you need your fluids changed, come to Bay Ridge Volkswagen outside of Bronx. You can contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are happy to service your vehicle and answer any of your questions. Check out your vehicle’s maintenance schedule online to get the best idea of how to care for your Volkswagen car.