A transmission is responsible for switching between gears and aids in acceleration. When your transmission fails or isn't working properly, you will notice your car lurching or grinding when switching gears, even if you drive an automatic automobile.
Keeping your transmission in working order is essential to making your car operate safely. Flushing your transmission is just one way you can help protect this important component of your vehicle. Here are four reasons you should have your mechanic flush your car's transmission, and you will also learn when this service is needed.
1. Flushing Ensures Healthy Fluid
Transmission fluid can become dingy with dirt and other debris, making it thick and less capable of lubricating your transmission. Flushing your transmission allows all the old fluid to be drained out and replaced with new transmission fluid, which can help ensure healthier operation.
2. Flushing Is Cost-Effective
Transmission fluid is really important, and you can burn up your transmission if you have low levels of transmission fluid, or if you continue to operate your vehicle with old and debris-laden fluid.
A new transmission can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000 depending on whether you purchase a rebuilt transmission or a new one for your vehicle. The type of car you drive can also affect the price. A transmission flush, by comparison, costs around $240 and can help prevent the damage to your transmission that would require a replacement.
3. Flushing Helps Identify Problems
When you have your transmission flushed by your mechanic, they check your transmission for signs of wear and other issues while they replace the fluid. When small problems are discovered early, they can be repaired and help you avoid having to replace the component entirely.
Talk to your mechanic about your vehicle's service history to see if your car needs to have its transmission looked at and flushed.
4. Flushing Can Extend Vehicle Life
Any time you perform mechanical maintenance on your car, you potentially help extend the life of the vehicle. In the process of flushing your transmission, you effectively service the rest of your vehicle as well. Here's how: transmission fluid can often get water, radiator fluid or even coolant in it, which can indicate radiator or other issues in your car.
You may not notice these problems until you get your transmission flushed, but your mechanic will see red flags immediately and take measures to tune up your vehicle for longer driving life.
Signs You Should Have Your Transmission Flushed
Ideally, your car's transmission should be flushed every 60,000 miles. However, an automatic transmission may need to be flushed less often than a manual one since the two components operate differently.
Your mechanic will tell you how often you should have your transmission flushed based on how often you drive your car, the type of transmission you have and the age and current health of your vehicle.
Flushing your transmission is one of the things you can do to help extend the life of your car as part of your regular vehicle service plan. It's best to visit your mechanic so they can perform this service for you even if you believe you can do the work yourself.
A quality mechanic will be able to flush and refill your transmission fluid for greater vehicle driving. If you notice any grinding or stalling when driving your car, visit your mechanic right away to see if your transmission needs repair or fluid replacement.
Our mechanical experts at Transmission King are able to service your car and keep it in fine working condition. Contact us to make an appointment today so you can keep your transmission in its best condition.
There are some parts of your vehicle that you probably never think about until the day they fail. Your car's transmission is likely one of those components. When your transmission starts to slip or shift roughly, you suddenly care very much about that transmission.
Before you get to that point, make sure your transmission undergoes routine inspections and maintenance. A transmission-fluid flush is one way to clean debris and overheated transmission lubricant from your vehicle, yet there are two more things you should know about your transmission fluid.
Mechanics and Manufacturers Disagree on Fluid Change Intervals
Some manufacturers recommend having your transmission fluid changed at 100,000 miles unless there's a gear-shifting problem. Some mechanics disagree and insist that the fluid should be changed as often as every 30,000 miles if the car is driven hard.
All auto experts agree that you should check your transmission fluid routinely. Transmission fluids should be red and see-through, so change fluid out if yours looks or smells burnt, no matter how many miles you’ve driven since the fluid was changed last. If you see any debris or solids in the transmission fluid, this is an indication of trouble.
Only you and your mechanic really know the state of your transmission, so you must often make the call as to when to flush your system. Extreme temperatures can break down transmission fluid faster, so check your levels often when doing extended summertime driving.
You Need to Be Sure Your Car Is Filled With the Right Stuff
There are several kinds of transmission fluids available, and they're often not interchangeable. You can't just go out and buy generic transmission fluid and hope it works. That's a good way to permanently damage your transmission.
Instead, consult your owner's manual to be certain your mechanic uses the right stuff. Your vehicle's manufacturer created your vehicle's transmission using a specific type of lubricant. Some transmission fluids include additives that keep the transmission from slipping. Other transmission fluids are designed to work best with certain types of materials or clutch designs.
The following list is an overview of vehicles and their corresponding transmission fluids.
- CVT fluid
—used in continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) found in many modern cars; never use standard automatic transmission fluid (ATF) in a CVT
- Dexron ATF
—also available in modern formulas; used in General Motors vehicles manufactured after 1968, including Chevy, Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saturn, and Cadillac transmissions
- Type F ATF
—only for use in Fords made prior to 1977; do not use in later-model cars
- Mercon ATF
—also available in modern formulas; used for Ford, Mercury, Lincoln and some Madza transmissions made after 1977
- ATF+3 or ATF+4
—a Chrysler-product transmission fluid; the ATF+4 is a synthetic lubricant that must be used in cars that call for it at peril of risk of damage to the vehicle; many owners of GM and Ford vehicles switch to synthetic ATF+4 as well.
- Z-1
—older ATF designed for Acura and Honda transmissions; you can use DW-1 in place of Z-1 in most cases.
- DW-1
—the synthetic modern version of Z-1 for Hondas and Acuras; do not use Z-1 in place of DW-1 in a late-model transmission
- Import ATFs
—many import vehicles must use vehicle-specific ATF; owners who use the wrong fluid risk voiding their transmission warranties; ATF guidelines recommended by Toyota, Subaru, Lexus, Mitsubishi and other vehicle manufacturers keep you on the safe side
This list is purely an overview and should not be used or construed as expert advice on your vehicle's transmission-fluid needs. Consult your vehicle manufacturer or qualified transmission shop to find out the exact type of fluid you should use in your ride.
Transmission King
is your go-to shop when it comes to transmission issues in the Mobile area. We offer financing and towing with service to qualified customers. Contact us today to learn more about transmission-fluid services and our free performance check for your transmission.
As your car ages, the transmission begins to reveal more of the wear-and-tear it has endured over the years. Signs that your transmission needs attention include hesitancy in shifting between gears, hard shifting, and fluid leaks. If your automobile has reached the stage where any of these indicators are occurring, your transmission is crying out for help!
However, there are simple things you can do to help extend the life of your transmission, particularly toward the end of the service life of your transmission. Since your vehicle has been so good to you over the years, be sure to make the last years easy for your transmission and yourself.
Servicing and extending the life of your transmission is as simple as checking:
- Fluid-Are there fluid leaks? Transmission fluid is red.
- Level-Is the fluid at the proper level?
- Filter-Change the transmission fluid and filter every 20-25,000 miles for older vehicles.
- Seals- Assess the condition of your transmission’s seals and O-rings for leaks or wear.
Call Transmission King for these transmission services along with a free performance check on your vehicle!
Regardless of whether you drive a manual or automatic vehicle, your transmission plays a key role in performance. When your transmission fails, your car will stop working properly and the cost of getting it repaired can be high. Fortunately, if you catch the problem quickly, the repairs are often cheaper and more simple. Some signs that you might be having transmission problems include:
Rough Shifting
If your car stops changing gears smoothly, it is time to have it examined. This rough shifting can be a warning sign that your transmission is having problems. In some cases, clunking sounds can be heard when trying to shift gears. The other sign that there may be a problem is if your car is struggling to get up proper speed.
Transmission Slipping
Transmission slipping is when you are driving and the car changes gears for no apparent reason. This can be accompanied by whining sounds and your car can seem like it isn’t putting out as much acceleration as it should.
Slow Engagement
Slow engagement is where you can take longer than it should to switch into drive and move forward. This often occurs when moving from park to drive.
Fluid Leaking
Your transmission system is a sealed unit. This means that it should never be leaking fluid. If you are noticing a leak spot underneath your car, you should bring it in for service. If you need transmission repair, contact the car repair experts at Transmission King today.
