How to Check Your Transmission Fluid

Maserati vehicles employ a sealed transmission, a type of transmission designed to limit fluid loss and preserve your vehicle’s performance capabilities over time. If you’ve been doing research on how to check your transmission fluid, what you’ve heard about other vehicles probably won’t apply to yours. Don’t worry, Scottsdale. Scottsdale Maserati has all the information you’ll need to keep driving with confidence.

Can You Check the Transmission Fluid in a Maserati by Hand?

Sealed transmissions lack a dipstick, and trying to check fluid levels at home in Phoenix or Paradise Valley can cause significant damage to your core components. Sealed transmissions can be accessed, but this is one job best left to the professionals.

Instead of spending hours online, trying to figure out how to open your transmission and take a look, trust the service experts at Scottsdale Maserati to get the job done right, and quickly, without damaging this important component. Schedule service online today.

How Often Do You Check Your Transmission Fluid?

Models with open/accessible transmissions require drivers to check their transmission fluid levels on a monthly basis, but how often do you check your transmission fluid if you drive a Maserati? Since regular losses of fluid are much less likely to occur, you just need to listen and look for the following issues:

• Your gear changes produce strange noises
• It takes a long time for your model to shift gears
• During normal acceleration, you have trouble getting up to speed

Checking Your Transmission Fluid: Step-by-Step Guide

Perhaps you drive an older model, or a model from a different manufacturer. In the event that your transmission does have a dipstick, learning how to check your transmission fluid only takes a moment:

1. Warm up the engine, and make sure your car is parked on level ground.
2. Locate the transmission fluid dipstick. It’s usually found next to the oil dipstick, but you can always check your owner’s manual for details.
3. Remove the dipstick and rub the fluid between your thumb and forefinger. If it’s mostly clear, with a pink hue, you’re likely safe to proceed without flushing. If it smells burnt, takes on a dark red hue, or looks dirty, a change of fluid is likely appropriate.
4. Now it’s time to check the level. Wipe the dipstick clean with a rag, reinsert the former into its sheath, and then draw it out once more.
5. If the level falls below the “Full” line on your dipstick, use a funnel to slowly add more fluid. Re-check the levels as you go to avoid overfilling.

Transmission Fluid Basics

Your transmission is just as essential as it is complex. It’s responsible for shifting the gears that move your vehicle forward, ensuring even acceleration and reliable performance. Here’s what you should know about transmission fluid if you want to keep yours in great condition:

• There are a wide range of different transmissions, and an even wider range of transmission fluids. Check your owner’s manual to find out what’s needed in your vehicle, and pick up an appropriate product at our parts department.
• If your vehicle has a manual transmission or a sealed transmission, you may need a jack to access the plug or the drain.
• Low transmission fluid might be the cause of slow or unsatisfying gear shifts, but a problem with the transmission itself may also be to blame. It pays to act quickly to identify the real issue.
• Most vehicles need to have their transmission fluid replaced every 50,000 to 100,000 miles. That’s an enormous margin, so check your owner’s manual for a more precise recommendation.

Rely on Scottsdale Maserati For All Your Service Needs

Whether you need to have your transmission fluid checked or you’re worried about a potential issue with the transmission in your vehicle, our service center can help. We’re easy to reach from Paradise Valley or Chandler, and we offer a wide range of service specials to help you save.