How to Change Transmission Fluid : How to Refill Transmission Fluid

In this step we're going to talk about the proper way to refill your transmission with trans fluid after the transmission service. The fill point for your transmission is located on the dipstick tube. It is infact the tube itself, your going to want a transmission funnel in order to fill it properly. Most of the time the dipstick tube is located down, if a regular filter doesn't have the depth to reach it this one here will do just fine. What you do is remove your dipstick tube or your dipstick actually. Im going to wipe it off so I don't make a mess and slip it into the tube and begin adding fluid to it. Before you fire the engine your going to want to add between 3 to 4 quarts to give it something just incase so you don't run it low. Pour the fluid in. What we'll do once we have our 3 or 4 quarts added, is fire the engine and run the transmission through its gears.

When we run it through the gears what that will do is ensure that all of the internally lubricated components of the transmission that are supposed to be filled, are filled with fluid. We'll then shut the engine off and check the level that's specified or leave it running and check the level that's specified. You can find that indicated in the owners manual or on your dipstick. Alright and that's 3 quarts just becuase it's a very small transmission pan on this particular vehicle. You should add between 3 to 4 before you fire the engine, what im going to do is step back and fire the engine up and with the wheels off the ground run it through all of the gears individually.

Take it from park put it all of the way down into first, second, third drive it overdrive if so equiped and then reverse - let the engine run for a few minutes and put it in park. From there you'll be continue filling it up until the transmission fluid has reached the appropriate level and then you'll be all set. I'm going to step back and fire the engine now and run it through the gears. Now that i've run the vehicle through all the gears and checked the fluid idling in park, your going to take and adjust it to the appropriate level depending upon the specific make and model it may take upwards of between 4 to 12 quarts, like I said depending on the specific model. Refer to your owners manual or local parts professional for assistance. I want you to take note of my transmission dipstick here.

As you can see we have several marks, one here and one here on this side. And one here and one here on this side. What this is, is temperature calibrated for your fill level. This is the add mark at 20 degrees celcius. This is the full mark at 20 degrees celcius. We're a little bit below 20 degrees celcius so we're going to be just a little bit below the full mark as you can see we're right there. If your engine was hot, your going to want to be between the low and the fill mark below the add mark on this side, this is the low and this is the full. Depending upon the temperature of your transmission fluid that will be where you want to line up. That is the proper way to fill and check your transmission fluid.

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