Transmission service is part of your car’s recommended regular maintenance and involves a transmission flush and transmission fluid change. Staying on schedule with your transmission maintenance will help your car to perform at its best, and keep it running reliably over time.
Transmission service typically includes the following steps:
- Removal and inspection of the pan
- Replacement or cleaning of the screen or filter
- Cleaning and reinstalling the pan with a new pan gasket
- Removal of the old transmission fluid and replacing it with fresh fluid
Why is transmission service necessary?
As with many essential automotive fluids, transmission fluid degrades over time. The high operating temperature of the transmission puts strain on the transmission and the fluid, which serves to facilitate gear shifts, cool the transmission, and keep the moving components lubricated. Some types of driving, such as frequent stop-and-go traffic or heavy hauling can accelerate transmission fluid deterioration.
Transmission flush service flushes out the old fluid and washes away tiny particles of clutch material and metal shavings that can accumulate as the fluid ages. Left unchecked, those particles will clog passages and wedge between moving parts, causing wear within the transmission. Changing the fluid gets rid of those particles and eliminates the wear they cause.
Regular transmission service allows your transmission to function better for years longer, which means you’re less likely to breakdown and be faced with a major transmission repair.
How often is transmission service needed?
The usual time frame for having transmission service is every 50,000 miles. See your owner’s manual for your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations.
Next in our Taking Charge of Car Maintenance series, we will look at Tune-up & Spark Plug Replacement.