Ok so i was out doing my own oil change today for the first time and when i got to the step of removing the old oil filter i found one that looked like it near the front of the car. I start to loosen it up and it leaks a lot so i thought that might be normal so i kept screwing and it kept flowing and it was a redish color so i was thinking.OH NO, this isnt an oil filter! after loosing a small amount of transmission fluid (im sure that is what it was, the filter type thing that i loosened said transmission on it and it was a redish fluid.) i tightened it and began to search for the true oil filter which i located just behind the oil pan. Anyways to my question. How do i go about checking my Transmission fluid levels and what type of transmission fluid do i use if i need to fill it up some.is all kinds universal or are there different kinds. Sorry for such lame question but i truly appreciate any honest answers. Thanks.-Cory(I have a saturn 1997 SL2)
Do you have the operators manual?Some trannies have level plugs.Fill to level.fill with dexron III .It does have a tranny filter for sure.I think the 97 has a fill and dipstick combo on the auto.tranny.Check running in park.
Start the car let the engine warm up to normal temp and check the tranny fluid in park on level ground.
There should be a transmission fluid dipstick/filler behind the engine on the transmission somewhere under the hood. Check it, and if it is below the mark, then go to an auto parts store and ask them what kind of fluid you need for your car, carefully add a little bit at a time until it is above the low mark. I'm not sure what you took off that let it drain - usually transmissions don't have external filters.
