Mary Frederick answered
Automatic transmission fluid is a greasy appearing liquid, which functions like a lubricant, for all the moving parts within the transmission itself. This fluid works as a coolant and viscous fluid and transmits power from your car's engine to the transmission. Your transmission fluid is a very important fluid for your car and needs to be kept at the proper level. However, you do not change your transmission fluid as you change the oil in your car.
You should have a car manual; in the manual is a diagram of the engine and the transmission fluid box and the measuring stick, etc. The diagram should show you exactly where your transmission fluid box is located. In most cars there is measuring stick protruding from your transmission box which, looks a lot like your oil stick. Usually the word transmission or T-fluid will be stamped on the end of the stick. Your oil stick has oil stamped on it.
Once you find the transmission fluid measuring stick, remove it slowly from the tube, just as you remove an oil stick. Take a clean clothe and wipe all the fluid off the stick. Now, lower the stick back in slowly and carefully. Push it all the way down and turn the handle a little to make certain, it is in place; carefully remove it again. This time hold the very tip of the stick with your finger and read the level of fluid, just as you do when you are checking the oil level.
There are two measurements on the transmission fluid stick, one is the reading for a cold motor and one is the reading, if your motor is warm. Your manual should tell you, which reading to use. Some cars require the motor to be running, while you add transmission fluid, check your manual for this.
If, the fluid is low you pour a small amount, through a funnel, into the same hole, from which you pulled the measuring stick. This is a slow process because you pour in a little fluid, and recheck with the measuring stick each time you add fluid. When the measurement shows your fluid is on the correct measurement on the stick, you are finished.
You never change the transmission fluid, as you do oil, you simply add fluid as needed. This should not be very often for a 2005 car, since transmission usually lasts a long time. If, you find your transmission fluid is low often, then you need to take the car to be serviced, because you probably have a leak.
You can have a service station flush your transmission and change the fluid based on information in your car manual. My car manual advises this be done about every 65,000 miles. It makes the car last longer, I have 150,000+ on my car.
You should have a car manual; in the manual is a diagram of the engine and the transmission fluid box and the measuring stick, etc. The diagram should show you exactly where your transmission fluid box is located. In most cars there is measuring stick protruding from your transmission box which, looks a lot like your oil stick. Usually the word transmission or T-fluid will be stamped on the end of the stick. Your oil stick has oil stamped on it.
Once you find the transmission fluid measuring stick, remove it slowly from the tube, just as you remove an oil stick. Take a clean clothe and wipe all the fluid off the stick. Now, lower the stick back in slowly and carefully. Push it all the way down and turn the handle a little to make certain, it is in place; carefully remove it again. This time hold the very tip of the stick with your finger and read the level of fluid, just as you do when you are checking the oil level.
There are two measurements on the transmission fluid stick, one is the reading for a cold motor and one is the reading, if your motor is warm. Your manual should tell you, which reading to use. Some cars require the motor to be running, while you add transmission fluid, check your manual for this.
If, the fluid is low you pour a small amount, through a funnel, into the same hole, from which you pulled the measuring stick. This is a slow process because you pour in a little fluid, and recheck with the measuring stick each time you add fluid. When the measurement shows your fluid is on the correct measurement on the stick, you are finished.
You never change the transmission fluid, as you do oil, you simply add fluid as needed. This should not be very often for a 2005 car, since transmission usually lasts a long time. If, you find your transmission fluid is low often, then you need to take the car to be serviced, because you probably have a leak.
You can have a service station flush your transmission and change the fluid based on information in your car manual. My car manual advises this be done about every 65,000 miles. It makes the car last longer, I have 150,000+ on my car.
