# Automatic transmission fluid level **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [January 11, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-fluid-level/24734 "2009-01-11T15:50:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rocketman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@rocketman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rocketman)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-fluid-level/24734/1 "2009-01-11T15:50:15Z")
Hey! Good morning folks . . . I have an automatic transmission related question. I know that you should check the fluid warm, on a level surface and that you should smell it and check the color and all that. But what would an automatic transmission fluid level be COLD? Above the warm? Below? Am I correct to check it warm? (Owners manual says to do so). Reason: We changed the motor on my wife’s 95’ Civic (bad wrist pin)two months ago and the salvage yard motor had about half of the mileage that ours had on it, for $600, runs fine, changed the oil twice already at 1000 mile intervals. But I never serviced a tranny before, always took it to the local transmission guy for fluid changes (at 30, 60, 90, etc). Over the holidays he had a heart attack (doing OK, BTW), and I started checking the fluids after the engine change every day, and I don’t see any difference in warm or cold fluid level of the automatic. Should there be? Rocketman ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-fluid-level/24734/2 "2009-01-11T16:42:40Z")
Yes. The fluid expands a bit when it’s warm, so the level should be a bit higher on the dipstick when warm than when cold. Some transmission dipsticks have a “cold” and a “hot” range marked on them. It’s best, however, to check the transmission fluid level when the transmission is at normal operating temperature, as indicated in the owner’s manual. ---
**Author:** ![rocketman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@rocketman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rocketman)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 12:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-fluid-level/24734/3 "2009-01-12T12:56:48Z")
Thanks McP . . . this dipstick only has two lines, apparently a low and a full, but I’ll keep an eye on it. Rocketman ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-fluid-level/24734/4 "2009-01-12T16:00:28Z")
I think the normal recommendation is that it is best to check it when hot - after a good drive of decent duration (20mi or so). I always do mine hot. I thought all trans dipsticks had marks for cold and hot - but if yours doesn’t I would guess that checking hot is the best option. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-fluid-level/24734/5 "2009-01-12T16:14:12Z")
If there is just a high and a low, check it when hot. If you add fluid when it is cold, you might add too much. A GM turbo 350 would sometimes not upshift if there was too much fluid IN COLD WEATHER. The fluid would be higher than the modulator valve and that condition would cause a shifting delay. Without a modulator valve, the level may not be critical.