Are you curious to know how often should transmission service be done? Here’s what you need to know.
The good news is that you don’t have to get your vehicle’s transmission serviced quite as often as your engine.
You may be getting your engine oil changed every 5,000-6,000 miles, and that is a vital maintenance service to help keep your engine running smoothly.
Getting your transmission service is equally important, but it doesn’t have to happen nearly as frequently.
Your vehicle’s transmission is crucial for transferring power from the engine to the wheels, ensuring smooth and controlled driving.
Maintaining your transmission through routine service is essential to keep your vehicle running efficiently and to prevent costly repairs.
Regular maintenance extends the life of your transmission and ensures your vehicle remains safe and reliable on the road.
Let’s delve into understanding how often transmission service should be done and some other factors surrounding it.
Understanding The Importance of Transmission Service Repair
Transmission service is essential for keeping your vehicle running smoothly. Regular service ensures the transmission fluid is clean and the system is functioning correctly, which is vital for transferring power from the engine to the wheels.
Neglecting transmission maintenance can lead to costly repairs and even total transmission failure.
Regular service helps identify potential issues early, preventing breakdowns and ensuring your vehicle’s longevity.
Recommended Transmission Service Intervals: Manual Vs. Automatic
Understanding the recommended service intervals for manual and automatic transmissions is key to keeping your vehicle running smoothly.
Manual Transmissions: Service every 30,000 to 60,000 miles to prevent contamination from debris and metal particles.
Automatic Transmissions: Service every 60,000 to 100,000 miles to keep the fluid clean and the system well-lubricated.
In general, most vehicles should have their transmission service every 30,000-60,000 miles. Some modern automatic and CVT transmissions may require servicing every 100,000 miles or so.
A lot of it depends on the age, make, and model of the vehicle. There may be other factors, as well. Towing/carrying heavy loads, driving uphill, and sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic can also put additional strain on your transmission.
A hard-drive vehicle may require a transmission service more often than one that isn’t as abused.
Don’t Wait Too Long
You can refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual for recommended service intervals, but also trust the advice of your mechanic.
They can tell you when you are due for transmission maintenance. It’s usually something you will want to take care of when the time is right or even a little early.
Waiting too long can lead to severe transmission problems. The fluid degrades through time and use.
Eventually, it will cause performance issues and can even lead to significant internal damage that will be costly to repair.
Factors That Influence How Often You Need a Transmission Service
1. What It Says in Your Manual
The owner’s manual will give you a tighter guideline on how often you need to get a service on your transmission. If you no longer have your owner’s manual, then it is recommendable you speak to a technician about the condition of your vehicle.
2. Your Vehicle’s Age
As your vehicle gets older, its parts wear down a little. Older vehicles will need more frequent maintenance, so you may prefer to get service on your transmission more often.
Speak to your technician about the condition of your vehicle. If they think you need more regular maintenance and services, then they’ll let you know.
3. The Type of Vehicle You Have
Manual and automatic transmissions have different needs. Manual transmission vehicles’ transmission fluid is easily contaminated by the gears and metal bearings in your car wearing down.
The metal gets into the fluid and inhibits its lubricating abilities. It leads to your transmission fluid becoming less effective, so you’ll need to visit the dealer more regularly.
Every 30,000 to 60,000 miles is best, and that equates roughly every 2 to 4 years.
If you have an automatic vehicle, then it’s then you’ll most likely be safe to only bring your vehicle for a service on your transmission every 4 to 7 years.
It lets you stick closer to the 60,000 to 100,000-mile guidelines that we mentioned earlier.
However, always talk to your technician and ask how often they recommend that you come by for a service on your transmission.
Why Transmission Servicing Is So Important
Replacing a transmission, whether automatic or manual, can be an expensive repair, making servicing vital. The transmission transfers power from the engine to the wheels to move the vehicle in the desired direction.
Automatic transmissions make driving easier through a more complex design. Automatic transmissions include complex circuitry and complex electronic functions. It leaves more room for failures and points of failure than a simpler manual transmission.
1. Regularly Service Your Transmission:
Either on your own, assuming you’re very experienced in car maintenance, or by hiring a mechanic to change the oil and filter in the transmission.
As with oil changes, refer to the manufacturer’s specifications for exact service intervals. Newer vehicles also require their automatic transmission to be cleaned of deposits and debris every 2 years or so.
2. Regularly Check Your Transmission Fluid:
The transmission fluid usually carries heat away from the internal components of the transmission and away from moving parts.
A low fluid level can cause the transmission to overheat and cause permanent damage. Checked regularly with the engine running.
Before changing, use the transmission fluid type recommended in the owner’s manual.
3. Use Synthetic Transmission Fluid:
Heat eventually breaks down the organic compounds in conventional automatic transmission fluids, making them less efficient.
Over time, a more heat-resistant synthetic oil will benefit your automatic transmission. It is beneficial for those who frequently drive on heavy roads, traffic, or mountains.
4. Invest in a Transmission Cooler:
Heat is the enemy of transmission. Damage accumulates over time due to prolonged exposure to heat on electronic parts.
Whenever the temperature in the transmission exceeds 200 degrees, every 20 degrees cuts the service life in half.
A transmission cooler can significantly reduce operating temperatures and more than double wear time.
5. Practice Conservative Driving:
Good driving practices can extend the life of an automatic transmission. Aggressive driving from a stationary position can increase heat as well as constant acceleration and deceleration.
More relaxed driving can reduce the strain on the gearbox and yourself. The transmission fluid is thicker in cold weather and does not move as efficiently from bottom to top. Let it warm up so that the friction protection works better.
Also, while it may be tempting to pull out of a parking lot or make a quick three-point turn, bring the car to a complete stop before shifting gears to avoid damaging the internal gears.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, adhering to recommended transmission service intervals is crucial for maintaining your vehicle’s performance and preventing costly repairs.
Consult your owner’s manual and pay attention to your vehicle’s performance to determine the optimal service schedule for your specific needs.
The frequency of transmission fluid changes depends on multiple factors, such as the type of transmission and how often you drive.
Transmission Repair Plano offers help with keeping your vehicle’s transmission up for good performance and a long life.
