When Should I Change My Transmission Fluid?
Car ownership comes with a list of responsibilities that are crucial to maintaining the health and longevity of your vehicle. Just think, without oil changes your car would barely stand a chance of lasting very long. Which is why automotive experts continually urge drivers to never skip out on this important maintenance task. But aside from motor oil, there is also a checklist of car fluids that warrant your attention. Of all the fluids under the hood, transmission fluid happens to be one of the most important. Its job is to lubricate the vehicle’s transmission parts as well as keep it from overheating. Therefore, if you’ve been wondering “When should I change my transmission fluid?”, now might just be the time.
Keep reading to learn all the signs that your transmission oil is past its prime. Plus, get a better idea of when your car is generally in need of new fluid.
How do you know when it’s time to change transmission fluid?
Since transmission fluid is among the most important fluids your car needs, it’s important to check its quality on a regular basis. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to be as obsessive as let’s say your motor oil, but transmission fluid has the potential to get very filthy. Luckily, it doesn’t take much to see the quality of your transmission fluid. In fact, you can easily do this check at home.
Watch EricTheCarGuy walk drivers through the step by step process of checking automatic transmission fluid levels.
Once you get the gist of a DIY fluid check, it’s also imperative to know the tell-tale signs that show something is wrong. When it comes to transmission fluid, there are clear indicators that keep in mind.
Here are the five signs that your transmission fluid is bad and needs changing:
1. Dirty transmission fluid
The process of checking your transmission fluid is just as easy as inspecting your motor oil. Simply pull the dipstick out of the transmission and wipe off the fluid with a clean rag or old t-shirt. Next you’ll insert the dipstick back in its tube and check the quality of the liquid once again. Typically a dark red or brownish hue indicates the transmission fluid is dirty.
2. Slipping gears
Grime and grit causes a lack of hydraulic power. As a result, your gears may start to slip. The reason this happens is because the transmission is not getting enough pressure to stay in the intended gear. Unfortunately, this could pose a huge safety risk so it’s important to take action if this incident ever occurs.
3. Trouble reversing
If you fail to flush out your transmission fluid as recommended, it could create more problems down the road. Like the slipping of gears, one of the more problematic consequences of low or dirty transmission fluid is the inability to reverse. Because backing up is a basic function of driving, you’ll know right away that the problem is likely linked to your fluid quality.
4. Unusual noises (either whining or grinding)
When transmission fluid plummets, you’ll begin to notice more noises coming from your vehicle. If you happen to hear a whining or grinding sound when driving, its a good idea to check the quality of your transmission fluid. In general, these noises stem from the fluid not properly flowing which causes a lack of lubricate for designated car parts.
5. Engine running hot
In the instance that your transmission fluid is not flowing as it should, this will prevent the liquid from entering the cooling tank. The outcome is excess heat and increased wear on your transmission due to the added heat. Unfortunately, any type of heat under the hood can transfer to other working parts involving your engine. All and all, a hot engine could be a result of dirty transmission fluid.
What happens if I don’t change my transmission fluid?
Whether you drive automatic or manual, transmission fluid will eventually deteriorate over time. Driving with low or dirty transmission fluid will inevitable cause excessive wear and tear on your vehicle, which is never a good thing. Even though it won’t likely damage your transmission, the grimy buildup can cause a series of other issues that add up to more expensive or inconvenience.
How long should transmission fluid last?
Fluid temperature plays a major role in the longevity of this car liquid. High external temps tend to make the vehicle work twice as hard. With that said, most manufacturers recommend changing your transmission fluid every 30,000 to 60,000 miles for manual transmission and 60,000 to 100,000 miles for automatic transmission. However, if you get the chance to ask an automotive expert, they’ll likely say its better to change it more often than not.
Thanks for reading! If you’re looking for more tips on how to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape, check out our other most recent blog posts:
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