Purchasing a vehicle is the start of your adventure with your new ride. Over the miles, you'll need to fill up the gas tank, change the oil, replace the brake pads, and top off various fluids. You may also need to undergo more significant services and repairs, such as a transmission service. If you need service on your transmission, from routine maintenance to a complete overhaul, you can trust your vehicle with the experts at Montgomery CDJR.
What Is a Transmission Service?
Your vehicle requires routine maintenance to keep it running as it should. Part of the regular maintenance for any car is transmission service. The old transmission fluid is drained out of your vehicle and replaced with new, fresh transmission fluid. Check your owner's manual to determine how often you should have this service performed on your vehicle. When you take your car in for a transmission flush, you should also receive a complete inspection of the sump pump or pan, clean or replace the filter, clean the pan, and install a new pan gasket.
What Is Transmission Fluid?
Your transmission needs to be properly lubricated to run smoothly. Transmission fluid lubricates the moving parts of your engine to keep everything moving. The transmission fluid can also act as a coolant in the engine compartment for automatic transmissions, keeping temperatures under control.
Types of Transmission Fluid
Transmissions vary among different makes and models. You may have a continuously variable automatic transmission, a 10-speed automatic transmission, or a six-speed manual transmission. Each transmission requires a different type of transmission fluid to work properly.
Automatic transmissions must use automatic transmission fluid (ATF), but manual transmissions can use a variety of fluids. Manual transmissions can use hypoid gear oil, motor oil, and sometimes even ATF. Check your owner's manual to determine your vehicle's correct transmission fluid type.
When Should You Schedule a Transmission Service?
You should consult your owner's manual to determine the interval required for transmission service on your specific vehicle. The interval will vary based on transmission type. Other factors may include how many miles you drive. If you don't drive many miles, you may want to consider a transmission service based on average mileage to keep your transmission fluid fresher.
Manual Transmissions
With a manual transmission, the transmission fluid is contaminated more easily over time. The metal gears and bearings inside the transmission start to wear down, and the shavings contaminate your transmission fluid, causing the fluid to lubricate less effectively. If you don't drain out the contaminants regularly on a manual transmission, you risk shortening the life of your vehicle's transmission. Most manufacturers recommend a manual transmission receive a transmission service every 30,000 to 60,000 miles.
Automatic Transmissions
If you drive an automatic transmission, you still risk contaminants in the transmission fluid from wearing the engine parts. The level of contamination due to metal shavings is lower on an automatic transmission than on a manual transmission. Automatic transmissions also cause the ATF to run hotter in general, causing the ATF to degrade and break down over time. Most manufacturers recommend a transmission service for an automatic transmission every 60,000 to 100,000 miles.
Routine Maintenance Between Transmission Services
Whether you drive a manual or automatic transmission, you don't want to ignore your transmission fluid up to or after the recommended mileage for a transmission service. In between transmission services, you need to check the transmission fluid levels of your vehicle to ensure that you have the proper amount for lubrication. If you run your vehicle with low transmission fluid, you risk irreparable damage to your transmission. You may notice a warning sign, such as strange noises from your transmission; however, an indication of low transmission fluid is not guaranteed.
Check your transmission fluid regularly to keep your transmission running at its best. A good time to check your transmission fluid is at each oil change. Most vehicles require an oil change every 3,000 to 10,000 miles, which helps you keep an eye on your transmission fluid before a problem arises. Our highly trained experts at Montgomery CDJR will perform a quick multi-point inspection at your oil change appointment, including checking your transmission fluid.
Signs You Need To Check Your Transmission
Your transmission fluid may become too contaminated to function correctly before a recommended flushing. You may need to have your transmission checked before the manufacturer's recommended service date if you're experiencing any of the following signs:
- Noises: You may hear a grinding, buzzing, whining, rattling, clunking, or humming noise from under the vehicle when the engine is running.
- Trouble shifting gears: You may experience trouble moving between gears, a hesitation when starting from park to drive, or the vehicle hesitating to catch up.
- Surges and stalls: If your vehicle stalls, surges forward or backward, or doesn't move right when you put it in gear, you may have a transmission problem.
- Check engine light: The check engine light can indicate many issues with your vehicle, so you'll want to take it to a service center to have the error codes scanned.
- Leaking fluid: You may have an undetected leak if you notice a puddle of red fluid under your vehicle or an indication of low levels on the dipstick.
These are all signs that your transmission isn't working properly, and you should schedule a transmission service as soon as possible. The technicians at Montgomery CDJR would be happy to inspect your transmission to determine if you need to have it serviced.
When it's time for your transmission service or repair, see the experts at Montgomery CDJR. You can find us at 1010 Elizabeth St. in Nicholasville, Kentucky, from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Call us at 859-724-5765 or complete our secure online form to get started. Our highly-trained technicians are available to take on your transmission service or any other service you may need.
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