# Checking transmission fluid without burning arm **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [July 30, 2017, 6:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-transmission-fluid-without-burning-arm/106402 "2017-07-30T18:21:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 1:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-transmission-fluid-without-burning-arm/106402/21 "2017-07-31T01:09:20Z")
Yes and no . . . your fingers won’t get burnt, but your forearm itself might, unless those gloves are somehow so long, that they go all the way up to the elbow ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 2:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-transmission-fluid-without-burning-arm/106402/22 "2017-07-31T02:53:01Z")
> [@db4690](#): > > Yes and no . . . > > your fingers won’t get burnt, but your forearm itself might, unless those gloves are somehow so long, that they go all the way up to the elbow How could you possibly know that without ever having seen the OP’s car or the welding gloves I referenced? Are you clairvoyant? ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 2:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-transmission-fluid-without-burning-arm/106402/23 "2017-07-31T02:58:04Z")
Your transmission should be checked with the engine running and the car driven8 miles or more. Just running the engine doesn’t really get the transmission hot enough. I have never suffered your problem, I guess my skin isn’t sensitive enough. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 4:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-transmission-fluid-without-burning-arm/106402/24 "2017-07-31T04:18:47Z")
I’m speaking from personal experiences . . . There have been instances where those welding-type gloves were not long enough to prevent my arms from getting burnt ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 5:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-transmission-fluid-without-burning-arm/106402/25 "2017-07-31T05:30:10Z")
Check it cold and guesstimate a small amount for fluid expansion. ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 11:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-transmission-fluid-without-burning-arm/106402/26 "2017-07-31T11:31:16Z")
I always check my transmission fluid after the engine gets hot…the first time. I then check it cold the next day. I have found that very little fluid expansion occurs as it relates to the dipstick. I check it cold from there on out. My dad used to check his transmission fluid by simply looking at the dipstick reading with the engine off. My uncle does the same. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 1:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-transmission-fluid-without-burning-arm/106402/27 "2017-07-31T13:00:12Z")
with a cold car, the fluid level will be at the lowest mark on dipstick. if you can see it, than you are at least in the range of safe? if nothing is on the dipstick, than you have issues. you are not going to change your life for 1/2 pint low are you? ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 3:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-transmission-fluid-without-burning-arm/106402/28 "2017-07-31T15:24:19Z")
> [@oldtimer-11](#): > > Your transmission should be checked with the engine running… I don’t know…here’s the procedure for a '06-'07 Civic. I’d expect Accords to be the same (OP?): ![HondaFluid](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/4/4e560e0fb429de23d459e8d6316350405783a4a2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://community.cartalk.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 3:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-transmission-fluid-without-burning-arm/106402/29 "2017-07-31T15:57:20Z")
How am I supposed to know if they radiator fan comes on once or twice like it says in that manual page you posted? ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 5:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-transmission-fluid-without-burning-arm/106402/30 "2017-07-31T17:00:47Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > How am I supposed to know if they radiator fan comes on once or twice like it says in that manual page you posted? This assumes you start with a cold engine (or at least one which has been cooling for, say, 15 minutes or more) and observe it. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-transmission-fluid-without-burning-arm/106402/31 "2017-07-31T18:59:55Z")
When I had a car with a dipstick, putting an old sock over my hand and forearm worked. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://community.cartalk.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-transmission-fluid-without-burning-arm/106402/32 "2017-07-31T21:25:20Z")
How long does that usually take? ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 10:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-transmission-fluid-without-burning-arm/106402/33 "2017-07-31T22:15:22Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > How long does that usually take? Don’t know…I’ve never done it. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-transmission-fluid-without-burning-arm/106402.md?page=1)