If you still can't get a good look at the fluid, twist the cap off and peek inside. Wipe any dirt, dust, or debris off the outside of the tank, if necessary. With most reservoirs, you’ll be able to read the fluid level right through the plastic. Scan the engine compartment for a plastic reservoir labeled “brake fluid,” or flip through your owner’s manual to pinpoint its location. X Expert Source Ed BeeryĪutomotive Specialist Expert Interview. This fluid is responsible for lubricating the transmission, or your car's gear system.Consult your owner’s manual to find more concrete guidelines for the model you drive. In newer cars, the recommended service interval may be as high as 100,000 miles (160,000 km). Your transmission fluid doesn’t need to be changed anywhere near as often as your engine oil.If yours looks brown or black or has a distinct burnt odor, it’s probably time to replace it. Healthy transmission fluid will have glossy a reddish hue.Once again, look for the fluid to fall between the two notches, grooves, or marks on the dipstick. As you did with the oil dipstick, pull it out, wipe it off, push it all the way back in, then slide it out again and check the level. It will be the second of two dipsticks on the engine, usually colored red. For best results, do this while the engine is running and fully warmed up (either in neutral or park, depending on the make and model). This could point to a blown head gasket or another serious issue. If your oil appears milky or foamy, it could be contaminated with coolant.If you notice any, get your car into a shop to have it looked at. Keep a close eye on the ground under the spot where you normally park to look for telling oil stains. Repeated, dramatic loss of engine oil could be a symptom of a leak.It’s possible for your car’s oil to break down and become less effective even if it’s just sitting in the driveway. Even if you don't drive the specified number of miles, it’s a good idea to replace your oil about once every six months, or more frequently if you do a lot of driving. Schedule your oil changes based on time rather than mileage alone.X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source ![]() A car can run on slightly darkened oil just fine, so it’s better to go by the schedule than the color alone. If your oil looks dirty, review your car's records to see when the oil was last changed. Dirty engine oil will typically be black or dark brown. Clean engine oil is a translucent golden color. If the oil level is too low, you’ll need to add an appropriate motor oil right away. Double check the markings you see against the diagrams in your owner's manual.
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