When you drive a larger vehicle like a truck or SUV, it is very important that you take care of the transmission. Remember that it is heavier by nature and there are reasons why we own these bigger vehicles. You might have a full-size SUV to transport your family all around town. You might have a truck to tow a recreational trailer. Or, you probably depend on your heavy duty truck for your work (construction, farming, utility services, etc.). You might even have a whole fleet of trucks for your business that need care.
Transmission Wear and Tear
The point is that you are likely putting your truck or SUV through a lot on a daily basis. Over time, this takes its toll on all the vehicle components, especially the transmission. The transmission is responsible for transferring power from the engine out to the wheels, so all the driving and carrying heavier loads will make it work harder. The good news is that the transmissions on these workhorse vehicles are designed to take more abuse. However, they still need to be maintained properly to avoid major transmission problems that can develop.
How Often Should I Get My Transmission Serviced?
The main thing you will want to do is to get your transmission serviced regularly. First, look at the owner’s manual for recommendations on how often you should get a standard transmission service, which will involve changing out the transmission fluid, transmission filter and transmission pan gasket (along with a thorough cleaning of the pan itself). Usually, the recommendation is somewhere between every 30,000-60,000 miles. If you push your truck or SUV even harder than the average driver (pulling heavy loads, driving on rough roads, driving up and down a lot of hills, etc.), then you may want to get your transmission serviced a little more often than the manufacturer’s recommendation.
Some signs that your truck or SUV may be overdue for a transmission service:
• Feels sluggish and not accelerating as usual
• Leaking transmission fluid
• Dark, discolored, dirty or burnt-smelling transmission fluid
• Transmission is slipping between gears
• Grinding noises or excess vibrations
• Check engine light or other transmission-specific dashboard notifications
Central Valley Transmission Services
Next, you will want to find a transmission shop that you can trust to handle all your transmission service and repair needs. In the Central Valley, that shop is Ralph’s Transmission in downtown Modesto. We specialize in trucks, SUVs and other heavy duty vehicles and we specialize in only transmission care. Our shop is equipped with heavy duty lifts and our staff is experienced in all aspects of truck transmission repairs and maintenance. We can get your vehicle in an out quickly, so you can get your vehicle back on the road and working for you.
If you are due for a standard transmission service for your heavy duty truck or SUV, call Ralph’s Transmission today at 209.526.1909 or schedule a service appointment online. Or, if you think you might have more serious transmission problems, bring your vehicle in for a free transmission inspection and diagnostic testing. We can even tow it for free if you are located nearby. You can always count on Ralph’s to keep your transmission running right!