How Can I Check Transmission Fluid In 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis?

Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) serves several purposes in your car's automatic transmission. It is a lubricant for the gears, it carries heat away from the transmission and it is a hydraulic fluid that gives pressure to the gears, allowing them to shift when necessary.

REMEMBER - you should never use engine oil in your automatic transmission. Engine oil is NOT a hydraulic fluid.

Experts suggest you change your transmission fluid every 30,000 miles, though you should check your 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis owner's manual to find the recommendations for your specific vehicle.

The following is only a guide - if you are still unsure about checking your ATF, consult your owner's manual or seek the assistance of a qualified mechanic.

• Most vehicles should be running with the engine warm when checking the fluid level in the transmission.

• Park the car on a flat, level surface, and make sure the parking brake is set.

• Open the bonnet/hood and locate the transmission dipstick. This is often red and usually a bit lower from the engine than the oil dipstick.

• The dipsticks themselves are normally labeled. Make sure you don't get them mixed up, as your transmission or engine could be severely damaged by putting the wrong fluid in.

• Remove the dipstick and wipe clean with a cloth. The dipstick has markings on it indicating a range for acceptable ATF levels (usually notched, dimpled, or scribed).

• Push the dipstick back into the engine and then pull it out and read the level. A level somewhere between the two marks on the dipstick indicates a sufficient amount of ATF.

• Never overfill your transmission with ATF. If it reaches the gears when they are moving, the fluid will get whipped into a foam and no longer be able to lubricate the gears.