oil level

[8thgennc]

Originally Posted by roger85

I guess it was the transmission oil. It's the stick on the right side of the engine bay that goes straight down to the bottom of the car. The stick on the left looks like it goes into the engine, so that would be the motor oil.

Correct.

Originally Posted by roger85

I went through my owner's manual but it doesn't say if I can add transmission oil.

You can, but it isn't normally necessary for the first 100000 miles with the current generation of Hondas.

Originally Posted by roger85

So can I just refill it with a quartz of transmission oil? If it gets really low, will there be an indicator on my dashboard telling me i'm low on oil?

Your transmission fluid dipstick has two indicators, one for when your engine is cold, and one for when it is hot. If you did the measurement when your engine is cold, you are probably fine, because that would be at the tip of the dipstick.

Do the measurement again when the engine is hot. You are probably fine.

If you are in fact a little low, it means you have a transmission fluid leak, and you need to find out where it is. Put white paper under the front of your car under cover in a dry place and see if you get red spotting on it.

If you needed to add a little ATF, you can do so by buying a transmission funnel and adding it directly through the dipstick. The transmission fluid dipstick tube is thicker than the motor oil dipstick tube and it is a convenient way to add a little if needed. However, you should ONLY add it if needed. Make sure you are actually low.

[redhat]

Originally Posted by Pete240z

All the 6 Chevrolets I have owned require you to check with the engine running. And the Pontiac Grand Am and Olds Cutlass too. Lincoln Town Car too.

Yes, GM's and many Ford's are checked when the engine/transmission are at operating temperature in park, engine on.

However, Honda automatics are checked when the engine/transmission is at operating temperature with the engine off. The owners manuals recommends waiting approx. sixty seconds for an accurate reading.