Transmission fluid change in Franklin Park
Transmission fluid changed at the interval your transmission's maker sets, with the fluid type the maker specifies. Low or burnt fluid is one of the usual causes of slipping, so fresh fluid at the right time is part of keeping a transmission healthy.
How often should transmission fluid be changed?
As often as the maker's schedule for your transmission says; it is in the owner's manual or the maintenance schedule. Some makers list a shorter interval for hard use, such as towing, lots of short trips or stop-and-go city driving, and some fill the transmission with fluid they call lifetime fluid. If you are not sure which applies to your car, call with the year, make and model.
What are the signs the fluid needs attention?
Fluid that has turned dark brown, a burnt smell, a red or brown puddle under the car, slipping or harsh shifts. Most automatic transmission fluid is dyed red and turns darker as it ages. A puddle means a leak, and a leak is fixed first: see transmission leak repair.
Is a fluid change the same as a flush?
Not quite. A drain-and-fill lets the old fluid out of the pan; on many automatics a filter or screen sits behind the pan, so it can be replaced at the same time. Part of the old fluid stays in the torque converter and the lines, so a drain-and-fill changes part of the fluid, not all of it. A flush, or fluid exchange, uses a machine to swap out most of the old fluid. The maker's procedure for your transmission says which way it should be done.
My car has no transmission dipstick. How is the fluid checked?
Many newer automatics have no dipstick. The level is checked at a fill or check plug, often with the car level and the fluid at a set temperature, which is a job for a lift and a scan tool rather than a driveway. If your car has no dipstick and you think the fluid is low or leaking, call.
Can fresh fluid fix a slipping transmission?
Sometimes, when low or old fluid is the cause. Fresh fluid does not repair worn clutches or damaged parts, though. If the transmission already slips, the fluid is checked as part of a diagnosis first, so you know whether it needs a fluid change, a transmission repair or a rebuild.
How does a fluid change go here?
Call with the year, make and model. The fluid goes in at the type and level your transmission calls for, and anything else the visit turns up is written down: what needs doing now and what can wait. Nothing beyond the agreed work gets done without your say-so. It can be done in the same visit as an oil change and maintenance.
More questions
Can any transmission fluid go in my car?
No. Transmissions are built for specific fluids, and the wrong type can cause shift problems. The fluid your transmission's maker specifies is the one that goes in.
Is it too late to change the fluid on a high-mileage car?
It depends more on the fluid's condition than on the mileage. If the fluid is burnt or the transmission already slips, you hear that before any service is done, so you can decide with the facts.