06/12/2026
Summer road trip season is here. Before you load the car for the drive, five minutes under the hood can prevent a much longer day on the side of the road.
Check your transmission fluid level. On vehicles with a dipstick, the fluid should be red to light brown, not dark brown or black, and the level should be between the hot and cold marks with the engine at operating temperature. On sealed transmissions without a dipstick, a service check is needed at a shop.
Look underneath the vehicle for any fresh fluid. Transmission fluid is typically red. Brake fluid is amber. Coolant is green, orange, or pink. Engine oil is dark brown to black. Any fresh spot that was not there before is worth investigating.
If the vehicle is due for any service or showing any symptoms that have been easy to ignore around town, it is better to handle them before you are 400 miles from home on a holiday weekend.