Just like your engine, the transmission has an oil that is responsible for keeping it cool and lubricated, plus several other things. It’s very important that you maintain your transmission by changing your transmission fluid. Otherwise you will be in for a very big repair bill. So let’s take a look at how often you should change your transmission fluid.
What Transmission Do I Have?
What is transmission fluid and what does it do?
Transmission fluid is basically hydraulic fluid with a number of additives that are designed to do everything from protect the transmission seals, to improving viscosity and preventing corrosion on the metal parts. In order to change gears and move you down the road, the transmission pump pressurizes the ATF so that it can be used to move the various clutch packs, transmission bands and gears. And when it’s not doing all of this, it absorbs the heat from all of those moving parts and lubricates them as well. This heat however, can cause the transmission fluid to break down prematurely. Which is one reason you want to keep a constant check on the level and condition of your transmission fluid.
How often should you change your transmission fluid?
Every auto manufacturer has a mileage recommendation on how often to service the transmission. But in reality, the actual service interval depends largely on how you drive and the driving conditions. The rule of thumb is to service your transmission every 30,000 – 60,000 miles. However, if you do a lot of severe driving, i.e. stop-and-go traffic, towing, driving in mountainous terrain, then you’ll ideally want to change your transmission fluid and transmission filter every 15,000 – 20,000 miles, or once a year. Driving in the extreme heat or cold also affects the chemical makeup of the transmission fluid, so the 15,000 – 20,000 mile/once a year rule should really be followed.
Transmission service basics
Keep in mind, having your transmission serviced can mean different things depending on where you go. So for example, a transmission service could mean simply draining the transmission fluid and replacing it. However the proper way to service a transmission is to drain the fluid, then replace the transmission filter and the transmission pan gasket.
A transmission flush takes that one step further by connecting the transmission to a machine that pumps out on the old transmission fluid, including the fluid still in the torque converter (which does not get removed during a normal transmission service). This is considerably more expensive than a typical transmission service, however it can improve the performance and lifespan of your transmission.
Sealed transmissions
Many modern automatic transmissions are sealed from the factory, and they say you never have to check or replace the transmission fluid. There are many schools of thought on this, so we recommend doing some research to determine the best course of action for you.
What Transmission Do I Have?
To find a reputable shop near you to have your transmission serviced at, click here.
