Infographic: Transmission Care for Your Car
Your car’s transmission is an important and pricey component. When it works well, drivers can easily shift between gears, speed up, and slow down. When it’s not working so well, gears might slip, you might hear clunks and other noises while driving, and could even find small pools of transmission fluid have leaked out while the vehicle is parked.
When the transmission stops working entirely, the vehicle won’t drive at all – and repairs can cost upwards of two thousand dollars.
Fortunately, with the help of a trained automotive service technician, you can keep your car’s transmission running smoothly for a long time.
Whether you’re completing a mechanic program or just want tips on maintaining your car, here’s a look at how you can look after your car’s transmission.
How often should you change your car’s transmission fluid?
Start by checking your car owner’s manual to see what your manufacturer recommends
Most experts agree you should change your transmission fluid every 50, 000 Km
Or
Every two years
If you use your car to
- Tow a trailer
- Commute in heavy traffic
- Or shift to park or reverse before your car comes to a complete stop
Your transmission fluid might need to be changed sooner.
How to check your transmission fluid
Most cars let you check transmission fluid by dipstick
- Put a few drops on a clean paper towel
(something like this):
New Okay Schedule a change Danger Zone!
Other warning signs:
- Burnt smell
- metal shavings
Changing transmission fluid
There are two ways automotive service technicians change transmission fluid:
Flush:
Uses pump inlet flush machine or cooler line flush machine
Removes 90-100% of old transmission fluid
Not recommended by some manufacturers
Drain and Refill:
Uses gravity to drain fluid
Removes 40-50% of old transmission fluid
With clean transmission fluid, your car’s transmission will last longer!
Sources:
http://www.mistertransmission.com/transmission-fluid-diagnosis
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/vehicle-maintenance/change-transmission-fluid.htm
http://www.mistertransmission.com/transmission-maintenance
http://www.samarins.com/maintenance/transmain.html
http://www.samarins.com/check/transmission2.html
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/car-part-longevity/how-long-transmissions-last.htm
https://www.cars.com/articles/2013/07/do-you-really-need-to-change-the-transmission-fluid/
http://mdhmotors.com/transmission-flush-when-and-when-not-to-flush-transmission/
http://www.carsdirect.com/car-repair/5-most-common-signs-that-your-car-needs-a-transmission-flush
http://www.corvetteforum.com/how-tos/a/corvette-how-to-check-transmission-fluid-368421
