Maintenance

What Maintenance Does an Automatic Transmission Need?

The key to smooth shifting is clean fluid, making a transmission fluid service or flush an absolute must. This removes dirty, contaminated fluid and replaces it with clean fluid.

Why is this so important? Because this fluid has three important jobs:

1. Lubricating the internal moving parts.

2. Building hydraulic pressure, which is needed to shift gears.

3. Cooling the internal parts, keeping them from overheating and self-destructing.

In addition to flushing the fluid, some vehicles also have a transmission filter that needs to be changed. This functions like an oil filter, keeping dirt, debris and metal particles from circulating inside and causing problems or premature wear on the gears and other components.

How often should you have your trans fluid change? Every 60,000 miles is a basic rule of thumb, but the needs for your vehicle will vary by make and model, driving conditions and your driving habits. We recommend consulting your owner’s manual, as well as your auto repair shop.

At Auto Lab, we evaluate the condition of your trans fluid as part of our routine vehicle inspection. If the fluid is no longer clear and red, but instead looks like coffee, we’ll recommend a transmission service.

In some cases, we may see metal particles in the transmission fluid. This can be a sign of a bigger problem. In cases like this, we often recommend removing the transmission pan for further inspection.