The more miles you put on your car, the more the mechanical parts will wear. That is just the way mechanical items work. The transmission is your car or truck is one of the larger components that is affected by wear over time. If you do not service it regularly, the gears, bearings, and other internal parts will eventually fail, potentially leaving you stranded.

Knowing the Service Intervals

If you do not know how often to service your car's automatic transmission, there is a resource that is available to you. Every car sold has an owners manual included with it and within the pages are many facts about your car. One of those is the transmission service interval. The manual will tell you how many miles you can drive before servicing the transmission and it will outline what service should be done. If your car is older and the manual is missing, check with your local salvage yard as they may have one very inexpensively or call the dealership for the information.

Oil and Filter Change

Like your engine, the transmission will require an oil and filter change at some point along the way. The transmission uses a hydraulic oil not motor oil and the filter is harder to get to but the principle is the same . The old fluid is drained from the case and the oil pan removed. The filter is under the pan in most automatic transmission cars. The job is a little more involved than changing the engine oil so if you are not comfortable working under the car or on complicated components, it would be best to take the car in for this service. Any good mechanic will have the tools and ability to do this for you.

Flushing the Transmission

Along with oil and filter changes, the transmission will require a flush at some point. The flush is a lot more in depth and will require a transmission shop, like Budget Automotive Center, or the dealership to complete. The oil and filter will be removed from the system. The transmission, cooler, and all oil lines will be flushed with cleaner to remove any old oil, metal shavings, or debris in them, then a new oil filter and oil will be put in.

Inspection of the Transmission

During the oil changes and the flush, a qualified mechanic can inspect the transmission, the filter, and the old oil or fluid to determine if your transmission is wearing faster than it should or if there is damage internally that you have not seen yet. These service intervals are a great early warning indicator and should be taken very seriously to help you keep your car running for years to come.

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