One of the most common car repairs is adding transmission fluid. But is there a danger in leaving your car running while you do this? In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of using a car engine to do this job.
What is Transmission Fluid?
When you add transmission fluid to your car, you’re adding a slippery oil that helps the gears shift more smoothly. Transmission fluid contains a variety of additives to help keep your transmission running smoothly and avoiding problems.
It’s important to keep your car’s transmission fluid at the correct level, as over-filling can lead to leaks and damage. Check your owner’s manual to find the right amount of fluid to add, and avoid overfilling your reservoir.
Adding transmission fluid is a common maintenance task that will keep your car running smoothly.
How to Add Transmission Fluid
There are a few things to keep in mind when adding transmission fluid:
1. Make sure the car is cool—the hotter the engine is, the more fluid you’ll need to add.
2. Do not overfill—adding too much will result in a hissing sound and increased wear on the transmission.
3. Don’t use too much pressure when dispensing the fluid—a light touch is best to prevent damage.
4. Check fluid level regularly and top off as needed.
What to Do if the Transmission Fails
If your car’s transmission fails, you may be tempted to leave the car running while you add more fluid. However, this could be dangerous and could lead to a fire. Here are some tips on how to safely add transmission fluid:
1. Make sure the car is turned off and cool before adding any fluid. Hot fluid can ignite easily.
2. Pour a small amount of fluid into the dipstick tube and wait 30 seconds for it to settle. If the level has changed, add more fluid until the reading is between the “Add” and “Top” markers on the dipstick. Do not overfill the tube – if it’s too full, gas will seep out and create a fire.
3. Open the hood and disconnect both ends of the transmission cooler lines (or use a wrench to twist them off). These lines run from under the car to the transmission cooler.
4. Add enough fluid to cover the transmission cooler (and any other parts that will come in contact with it). Be sure not to pour any liquid down into the motor or gears – this could create a fire.
5. Reattach all of the cooler lines and close the hood.
Conclusion
Some people believe that leaving the car running when adding transmission fluid is a good way to avoid contaminating the engine with transmission fluid. Others believe that this practice can actually create more problems than it solves. Ultimately, it’s up to you as the driver to decide whether or not you think it’s worth risking contaminating your engine in order to save a few minutes.