Maintain a Car Transmission

Transmission is what changes the gear in the car, and provides toque and power. Having a good transmission is important and necessary to preserve your car's reliability for the long-term. Maintaining your car's transmission is one of the best ways to save yourself from unnecessary vehicle problems. Having a good transmission makes a vehicle safe to operate, reliable, and comfortable to drive around.


Steps

  1. Change the transmission fluid every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Automatic transmission fluid should be changed between every 30,000 miles. If the car is driven too much, then change the fluid every 15,000 miles.[1]
  2. Choose the right type of transmission fluid. It's important to use the right type of transmission fluid for a particular vehicle. Using the wrong type of transmission fluid can mess up or shorten the life of your transmission.
    • Using the car manual book can help you to identify what kind of transmission fluid each vehicle needs, or you can ask a dealership on what kind of fluid you need. There is a specific fluid for every car.[2]
  3. Check the transmission fluid regularly. Open the hood in the car and locate the transmission fluid dipstick. Every car has a different position, make sure to find the right one.
    • Read your car's manual to find the transmission dipstick if you are having trouble finding it.
    • Pull out the dipstick, wipe it off, insert it again, wait, then pull it out to get an accurate reading.
    • If the fluid level is low, then it may be leaking or consuming too much oil. In the case that this happens, have your car serviced.
  4. Make sure to get the transmission flushed. Always make sure to get your transmission flushed once a year. Transmission flush can extend the life of the transmission. If the vehicle has a dark red transmission oil, then change it and flush it again.[3]
  5. Do not change the gear while driving. Come to a complete stop while shifting to any gear. Accidentally putting your gear in park can cause the engine to stall, and mess up the transmission.[4]
  6. Warm up the car. Before driving, warm up your car for at least 30 seconds in regular weather. When it is cold, it's recommended to warm up the car for at least 5 minutes or more.
  7. Use the parking brake when parking on a hill. This will reduce pressure on the transmission. Make sure not to drive while your vehicle is on the parking brake.
  8. Drive a short period of time while having a spare tire on your vehicle. This will minimize the stress on the transmission and alignment of the car. The tire will have minimal tread, so it's not safe to drive around regularly.[5]
  9. Change the transmission filter. Make sure to change the transmission filter every {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} or every two years. There are a few signs of being aware of, and of knowing when you need to change your transmission filter. This includes leaking, rattling noise, burning smell, and smoke.
  10. Refrain from towing another vehicle with your car. If you need to tow a vehicle, check the owner manual book for the recommended weight for towing. Each car has a different capacity. Frequent towing can affect the transmission.[6]
  11. Have your engine cooling system serviced. Your cooling system should be serviced every {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} or in every 5 years.
  12. Check your engine regularly. Pay attention to the signs in the dashboard and stay on top of all the car services and keep the record as data.

Warnings

  • Never ignore the dashboard engine sign.

References