How to check the oil level in the automatic gearbox? Check in automatic transmission
Cars equipped with automatic transmission require a minimum of participation from the driver. Thanks to this, the comfort of movement is noticeably higher than in a vehicle with a manual gearbox. However, the automatic transmission is more capricious in operation and needs periodic maintenance.
The main point of maintenance of automation is to check the level and condition of the transmission oil. Timely fluid control is very important, as it will protect the driver from costly breakdowns of the automatic transmission in the future.
How to check the oil level?
Refer to your vehicle owner's manual for information on checking the transmission fluid level. In addition to how to correctly determine the level, in the instructions you can also find out what kind of liquid is used and in what volume.
The Vodi.su portal draws your attention to the fact that in the automatic transmission you need to fill in oil only of the brand and access codes recommended by the car manufacturer. Otherwise, individual elements of the unit may become unusable, and the box will need expensive repairs.
Checking procedure:
- The first step is to find the transmission control probe under the hood of the car. In most cases, on machines with automatics, it is yellow, and a red dipstick is used for engine oil level.
- In order to prevent various dirt from entering the system of the unit, it is advisable to wipe the area around it before pulling out the probe.
- In almost all car models, the level should be checked only after the engine and gearbox have warmed up. To do this, it is worth driving about 10 - 15 km in the “Drive” mode, and then park the car on a perfectly flat surface and put the selector in the neutral “N” mode. In this case, you need to let the power unit idle for a couple of minutes.
- Now you can start the test itself. First, remove the dipstick and wipe it dry with a clean, lint-free cloth. It has several notch marks for cold “Cold” and warm “Hot” control methods. For each of them, you can see the minimum and maximum levels, depending on the verification method.
It is important to know! The “Cold” limits are not at all the nominal oil level on an unheated box, they are used only when replacing the transmission fluid, but this is completely different.
Next, it is inserted back for five seconds and pulled out again. If the lower dry part of the dipstick is within the limits between the minimum and maximum levels on the “Hot” scale, then the oil level in the automatic transmission is normal. It is advisable to repeat this procedure after a few minutes while the transmission has not cooled down, since one check may be erroneous.
During the check, you should pay attention to the condition of the oil trace. If traces of dirt are visible on it, this indicates that the parts of the unit are wearing out and the gearbox needs repair. It is also important to take a closer look at the color of the liquid - a noticeably darkened oil indicates its overheating and needs to be replaced.
Checking the level in an automatic transmission without a dipstick
In some cars, such as BMW, Volkswagen, and Audi, the control probe may not be at all. For this purpose, a control plug is provided in the crankcase of the "machine".
Determining the level in this case is somewhat more difficult. This is more likely not even a test, but setting the optimal level. The device is quite simple: the main role is played by a tube, the height of which determines the norm of the oil level. On the one hand, this is quite convenient, since oil overflow is simply impossible, but on the other hand, it is rather difficult to assess its condition.
To check, it is necessary to drive the car onto a lift or over a viewing hole and unscrew the plug. In this case, a small amount of oil will flow out, which must be collected in a clean container and carefully assess the condition of the liquid. It's possible it's time to change it. Before closing the control cover, pour a little gear oil into the neck, identical to the one in the box. At this point, excess liquid will flow out of the control hole.
This procedure is not feasible for everyone, and therefore many owners of cars with this type of automatic transmission prefer to trust the control procedure to a car service.
At the end of the topic, it is worth saying that a systematic check of the oil level in the automatic box will allow the owner to pay attention to the condition of the liquid in time and timely troubleshoot, as well as replace the liquid.
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