This is ill-advised, as ignored fluid changes can contribute to bigger problems later on. Often, the schedule also coincides with a major service, so some owners will opt to stretch the fluid change mileage. Depending on the vehicle model, transmission fluid changes can cost upwards of ~ $200. The other big factor for some is the cost to replace automatic transmission fluid. Thus, the owners that did not replace their transmission fluid experienced premature transmission failures early on in the ownership. Transmission fluids go through dozens of heat cycles that eventually break down the constituency which contributes to fluid degradation.Īnd once the transmission fluid degrades, it stops being efficient at pressurizing and sustaining optimum capability at high temperatures. Needless to say, to anyone who understands how transmission fluids to function, it’s impossible for a transmission to be maintenance-free. These automatic transmissions were supposedly included with ‘ lifetime transmission fluid‘. A decade or so ago, some manufacturers decided to market their transmission as ‘ maintenance-free‘. The other major factor is a bit of a blunder in the automotive industry. This helps to prevent overheating, which is especially prevalent in offroad vehicles with automatic transmissions. Most automatic transmissions also implement a fluid cooler to prevent overheating under heavy load. This means that no topping off is necessary. Therefore, under normal operation, the fluid level shouldn’t change. This means that no foreign dirt particles should be introduced into the fluid. Furthermore, an automatic transmission is an enclosed, recirculating system. When properly done, this filter should be replaced every time you change out the transmission fluid. How Often To Change Transmission Fluidįirst of all, there’s an automatic transmission filter within the system. This is because modern automatic transmission fluid can actually last quite a long time, with design features incorporated within an automatic transmission to prolong the fluid change time. You might think to yourself that no one has really reminded you that the transmission fluid in your car needs changing anytime soon. However, with the design of an automatic transmission, the fluid itself doesn’t need to be changed too often in normal circumstances. Therefore, from the operation of a gearbox, it can be observed that the condition of a transmission fluid must be optimal for shifts to be carried out smoothly. With this, different gear sets can be engaged to shift into different gears. A mechanically driven transmission oil pump keeps the oil constantly pressurized.īy changing how the solenoids are activated, the flow of the fluid within the valve body alters to pressurize different sets of clutch packs. The transmission control unit controls the flow of the transmission fluid using the valve body and the transmission solenoids. The purpose of the transmission fluid is simple, it’s used as a medium to transfer hydraulic pressure from one end to another. Without transmission fluid, or if there’s too much of it, your transmission won’t be able to function normally. Imagine it as the blood flowing through our bodies. However, before that, there is something that many workshops will recommend you to carry out first – replacing your transmission fluid.Īrguably, within an automatic transmission, the single most important thing is the transmission fluid. Therefore, it is important that you recognize the signs of a transmission-related issue and consult a workshop when possible. Nowadays though, automatic transmissions are built up of countless intricate electrical parts, something going wrong can end up with you left stranded. Everything was purely mechanical so there wasn’t much that can go wrong. Maybe your automatic transmission would develop slight jerks upon shifting, but nothing especially concerning. These transmissions would last thousands of miles mostly trouble-free. Even automatic transmissions back then were mostly brake-band units that were durable, to say the least. That said, transmission-related problems weren’t always such a major point of consideration for car buyers.īack a few decades when manual transmissions were prevalent, they were the go-to choice for many as the choice for work vehicles. Before that happens, it’s worth looking into how much does a transmission fluid change cost.Īlong with the increasingly complex architecture of modern transmissions, transmission reliability is now a top concern for many new car owners. It takes a long time for an engine demonstrating signs of problems to fail catastrophically, but it doesn’t take long for a seemingly minor shift issue to completely cripple a car and leave you stranded. Transmission issues are one of the many things that a car owner dreads.
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