Of all the fluids inside your vehicle, transmission fluid is one of the most important. Driving with low or dirty transmission fluid can cause excessive wear and tear that ultimately leads to unexpected transmission issues. Like any other vital automotive fluid, transmission fluid deteriorates over time. Consult your owner’s manual or talk with your transmission repair shop in Washington DC to determine the best fluid maintenance schedule for your vehicle. Here are some important things to know about transmission fluid.
What Transmission Fluid Does
Transmission fluid helps keep your car’s automatic or manual transmission cool and lubricated. In automatic transmissions, this fluid also serves as a viscous fluid that transmits power from the engine to the transmission. Manual transmission fluids contain a variety of oils, including regular motor oil and heavyweight hypoid gear oil.
Types of Transmission Fluid
If you’ve been to an auto parts store recently, you know that there are lots of different types of transmission fluids to choose from. Different fluid specifications use different additives and ingredients to achieve specific fluid properties and performance. Drivers also have a choice between conventional and synthetic transmission fluids. Synthetic fluids can be twice as expensive as conventional fluids but offer better performance and improved resistance to heat, cold, oxidation, friction, and shearing.
Transmission Fluid Maintenance
Regardless of whether you have a manual or automatic transmission, you need to inspect the level and condition of the transmission fluid on a regular basis. If your transmission is low on fluid, look for signs of a leak. When checking the fluid’s condition, be on the lookout for fluid that is dark or smells burnt. If your transmission fluid is dirty or burnt smelling, bring your vehicle to a Washington DC transmission repair shop for a fluid flush and fill.