When was the last time you thought about changing your automatic transmission fluid? Unlike oil changes, transmission fluid changes don't come often and most drivers aren't sure when to have theirs changed. Nevertheless, your transmission relies on clean, fresh fluid to deliver reliable performance for thousands of miles on end. The following offers some helpful pointers on the best times to have your transmission fluid changed.
Your Mileage May Vary
Conventional wisdom holds that automatic transmission fluid should be changed at least every 30,000 miles. However, this figure can vary depending on the make and model of your vehicle and even the type of automatic transmission it uses. Some manufacturers recommend service intervals of 60,000 miles, while others go as far as 100,000 miles between fluid changes. It's always a good idea to see what your vehicle owner's manual says about recommended service intervals for your automatic transmission.
Severe Duty Requires More Frequent Changes
An automatic transmission that lives a hard life requires more frequent changes than normally called for. These severe-duty situations include frequent towing, livery service and off-road use, just to name a few. Most manufacturers recommend fluid changes every 15,000 miles under these circumstances.
It's also a good idea to invest in an auxiliary transmission cooler if you use your vehicle for severe duty situations on a regular basis. Not only does it help with overall performance, but it can also extend the life of your transmission by extending the life of the fluid itself.
Don't Wait Too Long
When the time comes to change your transmission fluid, it's a good idea to have it done as soon as possible. Putting it off for a few thousand miles could have devastating consequences on your transmission. Using transmission fluid well past its useful life can cause slippage, flaring and a host of other fluid-related issues. It could even lead to the failure of the transmission itself.
Transmissions That Use "Lifetime Fluid"
In previous years, there have been a number of vehicles featuring transmissions that were "sealed for life," meaning that the transmission fluid within was intended to last for the life of the vehicle. In reality, manufacturers simply did away with the traditional transmission dipstick and filler neck, making it much harder for owners to perform their own fluid changes.
While it was a good idea in theory, it proved disastrous in actual practice. Transmission fluid inevitably wears out and leaving worn-out fluid in place inevitably leads to transmission failure. Nowadays, most manufacturers that have used these transmissions recommend regularly scheduled fluid changes.
For more information, contact a professional auto service, like Unlimited Service.
Share5 August 2015
Have you ever had the transmission fluid in your car checked or changed? How many miles are on your car? Have you noticed sounds that occur only when the car is shifting from one gear to another? The transmission in a car is complicated and very expensive to replace. If you don't learn what needs to be done to protect that key element in your car's mechanical system, you could end up paying for a new transmission or costly repairs. Visit our site to find out what you need to do to protect the transmission in your car from damage and wear.
