An ongoing maintenance routine is an important part of keeping your vehicle running smoothly and mitigating costly mechanical problems. Part of this maintenance plan includes keeping your transmission fluid at the appropriate level and periodically replacement of the fluid, when necessary. Without this vital fluid, your transmission is not able to operate. In this month’s blog post, we highlight the purpose and importance of transmission fluid, and considerations for choosing the right fluid for replacement when conducting ongoing maintenance.
Transmission Fluid Purpose and Importance
There are many critical fluids that support your vehicle systems., including the transmission. Transmission fluid is a specifically formulated product that lubricates transmission parts, helps to keep temperatures controlled, and acts as a hydraulic fluid to power some transmission components.
While transmission fluid does not need frequent replacement like motor oil, it will degrade over time and be exposed to various contaminants. It is advisable to keep an eye on your fluid levels, especially if you do a lot of heavy driving or if you drive a manual transmission. Replacement times vary based on many factors including your vehicle make, transmission type, and your driving habits. Consult with your owner’s manual for the recommended timeframe to replace transmission fluid.
If you are consistently adding transmission fluid, this may be a sign of a leak within your transmission. You may also notice evidence of leaked transmission fluid beneath the vehicle. Have your transmission inspected as soon as possible to avoid damage or costly repairs to your vehicle transmission.
Choose the Right Fluid
If you do notice the fluid is low, or needs replacement, then make sure to choose the right fluid for your vehicle.
The easiest way to pick the right fluid is to use the manufacturer recommended transmission fluid from your owner’s manual for your specific make and model vehicle.
Here are some starters on different transmission fluid considerations for your vehicle:
- Conventional or Synthetic – in most newer vehicles, you have the option to use conventional fluid, which is petroleum based, or synthetic. Conventional fluids work fine but synthetics have been engineered to handle higher temperatures and outperform the conventional fluids. The downside of the synthetics is the cost.
- Dexron and Mercon – Dexron and Mercon are two popular brands that are made by General Motors and Ford. These automatic transmission fluids (ATFs) are compatible with a range of vehicle makes and models and, in some cases, on some foreign vehicles as well.
- HFM Style Fluid – this fluid comes in a variety of brand names and shares many similarities to Dexron and Mercon. However, the HFM (high friction modified) fluids have a different viscosity level designed for some vehicle transmissions.
If you have not checked your transmission fluid in a while or would like to add this to a comprehensive maintenance plan, give us a call today at Shade Tree Garage. We can work with you to identify the best maintenance routine that addresses your vehicle and budgetary needs.