Transmission Fluid

Your transmission fluid is one of those items that you're aware of, but might not ever really give a second thought to, other than it gets flushed when you come into Parks Mazda for a fluid flush.

Transmission fluid itself is usually red in color and has a very sweet smell, perhaps sweeter than that of coolant, which is a green or yellow color.  It's important to know what transmission fluid looks like going into your transmission so that you can know what it should like like when you check it.

So, how do you check it?  There is a transmission fluid dipstick located in your engine bay.  For rear wheel drive vehicles, it's located in the back of the bay, usually pressed against a valve cover.  On front wheel drive cars, the transaxle fluid dipstick is located in the front of the engine bay, very close to the radiator. 

Once you've located the dipstick, pull it out (be sure to have your engine running in Park or Neutral), and dab a finger on the stick and fluid to inspect it.  The transmission fluid should be red (or pinkish) and clear; if it looks dirty, has particles in it, or smells somewhat burnt, it's time to flush the fluid and change it.

Want to know more?  Comment with any questions!

New Service Specials

We have a bevvy of new service specials posted on the Parks Mazda site!  Feel free as well to browse them below and print whichever special best fits your needs.  In addition to these specials, whenever you buy tires from us, we'll rotate your tires free for life.  


 

Spring Car Care Tips

With springtime now in full bloom, we thought we’d share a few care care tips to help keep your Mazda in top shape this spring.

The most important and most obvious starting place is performance of routine maintenance as indicated by your Mazda owner’s manual.  This includes changing the oil and flushing of other fluids among other things.

Next, replace your wiper blades and filters.  This could include your air filter, oil filter, or fuel filter among a few others that have become clogged or dirty beyond cleaning.

Also check that your tires are ready for springtime's heat and rain.  Winter and snow aren't friendly to cars, especially the tires, and can cause low tire pressure which might result in unbalanced tread wear.

Finally, make sure your engine is good to go.  This means your serpentine belt is tight and your car is starting easily and running smoothly at idle.  A few causes for these problems relate to electrical malfunctions, be it in the ignition or sensors.  Also be sure to make your A/C is functioning properly as it can effect your Mazda’s cooling abilities.