How To Check Trans Fluid?

[georgerosen06]

I looked under my truck and saw a little bit of fluid...it was black and when i put it from my fingers into a cup it ran a little. So im thinking transmission fluid seeing as a week ago the guy a jiffy lube told me i was low on it and it was right below my transmission. it was still on the truck and there wasent much of it there but enough to worry me. So i pulled out the transmission dipstick dryed it and put it back in up to that little rubber thing. it was low...so i dryed it off and put it all the way in up to the red cap and it came out that i was right where it needed to be. so my question is, which one is right. should i put the dipstick in all the way to the red cap or at the rubber thing. If yall dont know what im talking about tell me and ill go take a picture of it because reading it now i kind of dont under stand it anyway, any light yall could shed on how to check the tranny fluid would be greatly appreciated.

[Jasonsupafly]

Check it after it has been drivin and hot.. leave the truck running when checking.. insert stick all the way for an accurate reading

[Draenor]

Black transmission fluid is a really bad sign. Are you sure its not motor oil? Take what the "iffy lube" guy says with a grain of salt.

 

I do what jason said in the above post. You can check the fluid cold ,but hot gives you a better reading.

[georgerosen06]

Black transmission fluid is a really bad sign. Are you sure its not motor oil? Take what the "iffy lube" guy says with a grain of salt.

 

I do what jason said in the above post. You can check the fluid cold ,but hot gives you a better reading.

 

I'm pretty sure its tranny fluid...i think its too far back to be motor oil. When i checked the dipstick it was pinkish red. I think its tranny fluid and it just got dirty from me driving around on dirt roads. If it was black i would s**t myself lol its not that bad yet. im taking it to the dealer after xmas to get the pan dropped and the filter changed and ill have them check for a leak then.

[Rocco715]

Check it after you've drove about 10-15 miles when its good and hot at operating temperature. Then park on a level surface, apply emergency brake and cycle through all of your gears then end in nuetral. Leave the truck running and your fluid should read at the HOT mark on the dipstick.

[LAGA]

Wipe some up with a white napkin. If it is tranny fluid you will see red around the stain as it soaks into the napkin. If not, it is motor oil. Motor Oil can be blown back to the trans and run down. Never trust a quick lube guy.

[NathanL]

Check it after you've drove about 10-15 miles when its good and hot at operating temperature. Then park on a level surface, apply emergency brake and cycle through all of your gears then end in nuetral. Leave the truck running and your fluid should read at the HOT mark on the dipstick.

 

If you go by the trans temp readout on the DIC of the new trucks it takes more than 10-15 miles to get up to the maximum temperature it will settle at. Not sure how much difference it makes but town is 40 miles away here and it took me almost the whole way on a normal temp day before my temp gauge settled in at around 145. At 20 miles it was still below 120.

[Midwestcruiser]

Never trust a quick lube guy

 

So true.

 

George, even dirty trans fluid from road dirt will report a pinkish color. I think you've got oil spilled somewhere that's blowing back and running down your trans. You said the trans fluid on the dipstick was pink, that's a good thing. Trust us, if your trans fluid was black, your trans is toast.