My 2010 Mazda6 has a leak and I'm out of AT fluid - the yellow AT warning light is on since yesterday and the engine light just came on as I drove it a mile to where i commute to work, and some smoke was coming out of the AT dipstick when I checked under the hood. On the drive the car wouldn't shift gears and I was revving about 4k RPM to go 20, 25 MPH.
My question is: can I add transmission fluid to it to get me home and to my mechanic, about 4 miles total, without harming the vehicle more or should I get it towed?
If I can add the fluid - where do I do it-thru the dipstick tube?

 

Get the correct Mazda approved ATF and add it; sounds like you're down at least a quart for the transmission to be acting as it does. If I'm not mistaken, it is added for your model year via the dipstick tube, that said, you will most likely need a long thin funnel to do the job. Might be simpler/better/faster/cheaper to have the car towed as you're going to need to have work done on it either way.

 

Thanks for your response. I'm weighing be able to get home faster to relieve a babysitter and figured I could run to gas station next door. But yeah, probably should just get it towed.

 

Probably a good call as it is highly unlikely the gas station will have the correct ATF for your transmission.

 

Driving a automatic with low ATF level can easily burn out the clutches resulting in a big rebuild bill.

 

why would you drive ANYWHERE with the atf light on? are you out of your mind?