How Often Should I Change My Transmission Fluid?

Transmission fluid is very similar to engine oil. It provides vital lubricating, cleaning and cooling properties within the transmission system. It keeps internal parts protected and working as designed, which is important for the overall performance and long-term health of your transmission. Over time, transmission fluid can degrade. It can also get dirty or just get to a point where the level is lower than recommended.

The Importance of Transmission Fluid Changes

This is why transmission fluid changes (as part of a standard transmission maintenance service) are periodically necessary. The transmission fluid must be drained and the transmission pan should be filled with new, clean transmission fluid. During this procedure, the transmission filter is usually replaced, as well. It is another component that will help keep the transmission fluid cleaner as it runs through the system. Most transmission services will also include changing out the transmission pan gasket, which seals the transmission pan to the housing and is the most common source of transmission fluid leaks. It also degrades over time and should be swapped out as needed.

How Often to Change Transmission Fluid

How often you should change your transmission fluid may depend on a number of factors. These can include the age, make and model of the vehicle, as well as how hard it is driven. Heavy duty trucks that regularly carry large loads may require a transmission service more often than a regular passenger car. Hilly driving, stop-and-go traffic and weather can also impact your transmission fluid. In most cases, the transmission fluid change intervals for the average vehicle will be somewhere between every 30,000 and 60,000 miles. Some automatic transmission vehicles may be able to go up to 100,000 miles in between transmission services.

Better Early than Late

It never hurts to change your transmission fluid earlier than necessary. You simply don’t want to put it off for too long if you are overdue for a transmission service. This is when the degraded fluid can really start to cause problems inside the transmission. Parts can get damaged and the transmission could ultimately fail. Repairing, rebuilding or replacing your transmission will be a much more expensive service than a basic transmission fluid maintenance service. Talk with your mechanic or set up your maintenance schedule with a local transmission specialist to know when you should get your next transmission service.

A full transmission fluid flush and cleaning of the fluid lines is a more complex procedure than a standard transmission fluid change. The new fluid added in a standard transmission service will generally help clean out any built-up contaminants or clogs in the fluid lines. It is rarely necessary and may not be recommended unless there are major problems within the fluid lines. Consult with a transmission specialist before getting a full transmission fluid flush.

To learn more about our standard transmission services at Ralph’s Transmission or to schedule your next transmission maintenance appointment, call us today at 209.526.1909 or book online.

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