- 1). Start the car and drive it for at least 20 minutes. This will give the transmission fluid time to warm up and circulate.
- 2). Raise the car on a car lift or several jacks until you can easily access the undercarriage. The car must remain level once lifted.
- 3). Locate the transmission fill plug. This should be a bolt on the side of your transmission housing; if you can't find it, consult your owner's manual.
- 4). Remove the fill plug with a wrench and set it aside. This is done to be sure that you can refill the transmission after you drain it.
- 5). Locate the transmission drain plug, which should be a large bolt near the bottom of your transmission. The car's manual will also give a location for it.
- 6). Lay out newspaper or plastic sheeting to catch any leaks, and set an oil catch basin beneath the plug.
- 7). Remove the drain plug with a wrench. The transmission fluid will start to drain out. Be careful, as it will be very hot. If you wish to remove some rather than all of the fluid, you will need heat-resistant gloves to fit the drain plug back on while fluid is still inside and hot.
- 8). Clean the fill and drain plugs, then place new plastic washers over the threads so that they seal tightly when replaced.
- 9). Replace the drain plug, then pour transmission fluid into the fill port. Add as much as is recommended in your owner's manual. You may need a syringe to squeeze the fluid into the transmission if the fill port is awkwardly placed.
- 10
Replace the fill plug, adding some high-temperature thread sealant around the threads to ensure that it doesn't leak. - 11
Listen carefully to your transmission and check regularly for leaks after draining it. Running it dry could do severe damage to your car.