How often to change your transmission fluid

Last Updated on October 17, 2022

Table of Contents Show

Changing Transmission Fluid
Manual Transmission Fluid Change Interval
Is a transmission fluid change really necessary?
What happens if you don't change your transmission fluid?
How long can a car go without changing transmission fluid?
What are the signs that you need a transmission flush?

In order for the gears inside your vehicle to move smoothly, they rely on transmission fluid to do the job. Checking the amount of transmission fluid that you have left is similar to the way in which you check your level of engine oil.

The only difference is that you check your transmission fluid while the engine is running because it is associated with a closed system. This means that you should never be low on transmission fluid. If you are, then either top off your fluid right away or take your vehicle to an auto repair shop.

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Good quality transmission fluid is what you should care more about than volume, though. If the transmission fluid smells burnt or looks brownish, then you need to get new transmission fluid. If it is red with no burning smells, then the fluid is fine.

Related: Transmission Fluid Color Chart (What the 5 Colors Mean)

Changing Transmission Fluid
Automatic Transmission Fluid Change Interval
Manual Transmission Fluid Change Interval
Conclusion

Changing Transmission Fluid

The majority of car owners don’t think about their transmission fluid. The only thing you tend to hear is some owners of automatic transmission cars saying it is important to make sure you’re not low on transmission fluid, you haven’t overfilled it, and that it’s imperative to change or flush your transmission fluid at recommended intervals.

However, those with manual transmission vehicles must pay close attention to their gearbox. If the oil inside is too old, there will be a buildup of sludge and metal shavings.

The information described below discusses how often it is recommended to change your transmission fluid in an automatic transmission vehicle and a manual transmission vehicle.

The transmission fluid in your automatic transmission vehicle will eventually deteriorate and go bad or get burnt. The fluid will deteriorate faster if you’re regularly stopping and going in city traffic, towing trailers, or carrying heavy loads on the vehicle.

The reason this makes the fluid deteriorate is because the transmission heats up more as it is operating. The hotter the fluid, the more stress that’s put on the fluid and the transmission itself.

And since the fluid is responsible for allowing the gears to move smoothly, deteriorated fluid which is thicker than it should be, will make the gears work harder than usual.

The manufacturers of most automatic cars will tell you that you should change the transmission fluid every 60,000 to 100,000 miles. But if you were to ask a mechanic, they would likely tell you that this is too long to wait.

Automatic transmission fluid should be changed every 30,0000 to 50,000 miles instead. But again, check your owner’s manual for the proper change and flush interval and use that as a guideline. In the grand scheme of things, the cost to change transmission fluid is small compared to possible damage to your transmission.

Manual Transmission Fluid Change Interval

The manufacturers of most vehicles recommend that you change your manual transmission fluid or gear oil at least every 30,000 miles or at the most 60,000 miles, depending on the make and model of the manual vehicle.

You’ll want to check your car manual for the actual recommended interval. But if you are constantly putting your manual transmission under stressful conditions, then the fluid should be changed sooner, maybe even at 20,000 miles.

Stressful conditions for a manual car would be regularly driving short distances such as stop and go city traffic while very rarely going on the freeway or out of town. These short drives force the gears of a manual car to have to change constantly, which puts the transmission under stress.

Other ways stress can occur is when new drivers are first learning the proper way to change gears. Often times, they will make mistakes such as grinding gears which end up causing additional stress on the internal gears.

Related: Reasons Your Manual Transmission is Hard to Shift

Conclusion

Whether you have an automatic or manual transmission, the process of changing transmission fluid will take some time. First, the mechanic must support the vehicle and then drain the old fluid from the transmission.

Before the new fluid is added, any gaskets or seals for the fluid need to be checked to make sure no transmission fluid leaks are present. Don’t try doing this job yourself because it requires professionals who know what they are doing.

Is a transmission fluid change really necessary?

Do You Need to Have the Transmission Fluid Changed? The simple answer is yes. But service intervals for new vehicles can exceed 100,000 miles before this needs to be done.

What happens if you don't change your transmission fluid?

Particles and debris are flushed out when you change the fluid on a vehicle. If you don't ever drain your transmission fluid, these will remain circulating in the transmission. Although they may not damage the transmission itself, they actually allow the transmission to shift properly as the miles accumulate.

How long can a car go without changing transmission fluid?

For optimum protection, change the Transmission Fluid and filter every 30,000 miles (unless you have a new vehicle that is filled with Dexron III ATF, which is supposed to be good for 100,000 miles).

What are the signs that you need a transmission flush?

The 5 signs include: 1) strange noises or even grinding coming from the transmission, 2) you experience problems shifting gears, 3) you experience some slippage when shifting gears, 4) unexplained surging of you vehicle, and 5) delay in movement after placing the vehicle in gear.