If you ’re like most people , you worry a lot about your automobile ’s engine oil . This bring in sensory faculty , considering oil bathe and lubricate the power flora of the vehicle . But it ’s the job of the transmission to parcel out the railway locomotive ’s index to the wheels , which meanstransmission fluid– the magenta - colored lifeblood that coats gears and torque converters – warranty just as much tending as engine rock oil .

Most car on the road today have automatic transmissions and henceautomatic transmission fluid , orATF . press changes within the ATF have the transmittal to switch gears . Even on a relatively simple drive , from your business firm to the office , let ’s say , the transmission and the fluid do quite a bit of oeuvre . Fluid temperatures zoom to 175 degrees Fahrenheit ( 79 degrees Celsius ) , which seems hot to us but is absolutely normal for ATF . In fact , if fluid temperature rest at 175 degree Fahrenheit , ATF would mime the Energizer Bunny and keep going and going for 100,000 miles ( 160,934 kilometers ) or so . Unfortunately , smooth temperatures rarely stay in the optimal orbit . legion driving conditions – stop - and - go driving , hauling a heavy warhead , driving long distance or up and down deal – can heat contagion fluid beyond satisfactory limits . At these higher temperatures , ATF begins to break down , and your transmission commence to shift gears roughly , lento or both .

This is why most manufacturers advocate that you change your ATF and percolate every 20,000 to 25,000 air mile ( 32,187 to 40,234 kilometers ) . Repair shops , quick - lube chain and help department can do this for you , if you desire to shell out the buck . But it ’s not impossible to do it yourself as long as you have a lilliputian second of noesis and a few simple dick . And in a down economy , doing some of your own auto repairs and maintenance can save a fair amount of money in a year .

So let ’s get begin . On the next Sir Frederick Handley Page , we ’ll traverse the dick and materials necessary to change the fluid in a motorcar with an automatic transmission . Changing the transmission fluid in a manual transmission work a little differently . You should consult your owner ’s manual or , better yet , take your car to a in force grease monkey .

Tools Needed to Change Transmission Fluid

Before we get to the dick , permit ’s discuss two unlike approaches to modify automatic transmittal fluid ( ATF ) . The first imply pumping out the old transmission system fluid before impart the fresh . This approach has the reward of removing more of the honest-to-goodness fluid , even the ATF that collects in the nooks and crannies of the torque converter , but it ’s a bit more complicated . The second approach , known as the " drop - the - pan " method , does n’t require any pumping . As a result , it ’s much gentle to do , although it allow for behind some of the quondam fluid to blend with the novel ATF you add .

This article will explain the " cut down - the - pan " method , which lead ultimately in a partial fluid change . Do n’t let this discourage you . A fond fluid variety still extends the life of your transmission . And you could always have your mechanic do a more exhaustive ATF rosiness at major service milestone .

Your mechanic most probably employ atransmission flusher , which entirely flushes the cooler , torque convertor , pump and line without dropping the pan . Without accession to such a high-pitched - remnant part of equipment , you ’re conk out to necessitate some putz and cloth . The first affair you want is a transmittance filter service outfit . The overhaul outfit admit a transmission filter and a goat god gasket . You ’re also going to need a catch goat god and 3 to 6 dry quart ( 3 to 6 liters ) of reflexive transmission fluid . All transmission fluid diverge from car to cable car . Read the sidebar to learn more about the different type of ATF .

you could find the eternal sleep of the required tools in your garage . Here ’s what you ’ll involve :

You ’ll apply the Milk River jugs for measure , not collecting . you could get by without them , but it ’s ready to hand to know how much fluid gravity pulls from your transmission . When you go to add new ATF , you ’ll have a ballpark melodic theme of how much fluid to append .

Collecting the right tools is just the beginning . Up next , we ’ll expect at some necessary prep study before you start draining the fluid .

Preparing for a Transmission Fluid Change

Before you repeal your railcar , you should inspect your transmittal to name its health . Your car will call for to be consort to do this , so start the engine and let it run until it incur warm . With the gearshift in park and the emergency Pteridium aquilinum on , arrest the transmission fluid horizontal surface using the dipstick settle at the rear of the locomotive . It will be sticking out of the infection or , if you have front - cycle drive , out of the transaxle .

Now , pull out the dipstick , wipe it on a clean tag end and reinsert it into the tube , making sure it ’s seat wholly . Pull the dipstick out again and look at the movie of fluid on the last . Some dipsticks signal add levels , and some show full levels for cool , warm or hot fluid . If your transmission is in estimable health , the automatic contagion fluid ( ATF ) should not be low . It should also have a pinkish to reddish color and smell like petroleum .

If the mobile floor is scurvy and you ’re in between avail , add transmission fluid and keep checking every two weeks . If your transmittance fluid is consistently low-toned or appears burned and cheating , you could have a more serious transmission problem . Take your car to a mechanic so the transmission can be exhaustively visit .

If the unstable stratum and quality looks good and it ’s been 20,000 miles ( 32,187 kilometers ) since your last infection avail , you should proceed with the fluent change . To do this , you ’ll need to raise your car . you may utilise jack stand , but ramps make the job easier . Ramps offer good stableness and airlift your automobile 7 to 9 inches ( 18 to 23 centimeters ) off the land . If you choose for jack stands and do the work on a gravel driveway , consider placing a piece of plyboard under the standpoint to prevent them from dig into the solid ground . Either way – jack stands or wild leek – have steering wheel chocks quick to keep the rear tyre from rolling .

runny change should only be done when the engine and transmission are at normal operating temperature . With your vehicle raised , let the engine idle for a few minute of arc , then turn it off . When the contagion fluid is still fond , but the vehicle has cooled down , you ’re quick to remove the one-time transmission fluid . Keep read to find out how .

Removing Old Transmission Fluid

There ’s a cosmopolitan trueness about newer cars : They often make do - it - yourself stamping ground and service business more ambitious than you ’d bear . The same can be unfeigned when it fall to changing transmission fluid . First , you have to find thetransmission pan , which serves as the artificial lake for the machinelike transmission system fluid ( ATF ) . Because you have it off the fix of the transmission fluid dipstick , you have a unspoiled clew . The genus Pan will be sitting directly beneath the dipstick . Unfortunately , some auto require that you remove the oil goat god before you could get to the contagion pan . In other machine , you must first remove theatrical role of the exhaust organization .

Once you ’ve exposed the genus Pan , it ’s metre to drain the fluid . Some transmission pans come with a drain quid . If you ’re lucky enough to have such a genus Pan , you could simply remove the plug to drain the ATF . Most transmission pans , however , do n’t have wad . The only agency to enfeeble the old ATF is to take away the intact goat god . Before you do , place a large gimmick pan under the contagion pan . Then , start loosening the bolt that bind the pan to the transmission . Be cook : As shortly as you loosen the cooking pan dash , fluid will leak out around the edges .

Do n’t remove all of the bolt of lightning , as you ’ll have an overflowing genus Pan of oil colour and , very potential , a mess . Instead , hit dash from all but one side , tip the genus Pan with the beetle to fall apart the stamp and tilt the goat god away from you , letting it pivot on the side with the bolt . The fluid should talk over the lowered side of the pan and into the catch cooking pan . Once the mass of the fluid has drained , remove the other bolts and the pan . Pour any remain fluid into the haul pan . Then , to find out how much fluid amount out of your transmission , transmit the drain fluid into empty one - gallon Milk River jug . You ’re not depend for an precise measure – just a universal idea of how much to replace .

Finally , murder the old contagion filter , which is attached to the transmission with bolts , clips or the filter ’s O - gang seal . you could pull off a seal - attached filter by twisting and pull on the part . Do n’t worry about houseclean the filter . It has done its job , and is ready for the trash .

The transmission goat god , however , will need some cleaning before you summate new ATF . That ’s the topic of the next division .

Adding New Transmission Fluid

Before you add new transmission fluid , you should clean the pan . Use a rag to wipe away the residual from the inside of the pan . Do n’t be alarmed if you find alloy dust – even healthy transmissions will leave belittled amount of metal in the pan . inordinate alloy debris , however , could point a more serious issue . If your pan has a particle magnet , which keeps metal away from the act parts of the transmission , you should clean that , as well .

Next , remove any traces of the gasket from the edge of the pan . You should be able-bodied to peel away most of the gasket by hand , but some gummy rest will remain . Use a tongue or flat - heading screwdriver to scrape off this residue , being careful not to scratch the surface of the genus Pan . Brake cleaner will get rid of any stubborn remnants of gasket material . you’re able to also apply Pteridium aquilinum cleaner to the pan bolt .

While the cooking pan and pan deadbolt dry , set up the Modern filter . check that it ’s ride in the same position and that the O - hoop is properly set . Reattach any bolts or clips that insure the filter to the transmittal . Then you could reinstall the pan , using the gasket – either rubber or cork – recommended by the manufacturer . Many prophylactic gasket are self - sealing , but some caoutchouc gaskets and most cork gaskets are not . If your gasket is of the latter sort , apply secure cement before you add the gasket . Start every pan bolt by manus for two twist before tightening . You do n’t need to overtighten the bolts , as this will flatten the gasket and get leak out . If no recommended torque is hand , make the pan thunderbolt " screwdriver tight . "

Now you ’re finally ready to add together new transmission fluid . Most vehicle allow you to do this through the dipstick tube , using a longneck funnel shape . Pour a small less than the amount of automatic transmission fluid ( ATF ) you collect in the milk jugful . Next , start the engine and let it run jobless for at least one minute . With the parking and table service brakes apply , move the power train selector through each perspective , ending in parkland . Recheck the fluid level and add fluid to wreak the level to an eighth - inch below the add mark . launch the engine until it extend to normal operating temperature , and then recheck the fluid level – it should be in the hot region .

A word of caution about add ATF : Overfilling can be just as bad as having too picayune fluid . So go slowly , check the dipstick often , and in no time you ’ll be back on the road with a happy and healthy transmission .

Keep reading for more cable car sustenance chore you might want to try .

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