Do you need a transmission fluid change?

Do you need a transmission fluid change?

A car is a huge responsibility – you have to be on top of your car maintenance routine. Everyone knows the basic car maintenance checklist – oil changes, brake service, tire rotations – but people seem to forget that’s also vital for the basic functioning of your car: transmission fluid. Toyota of Orlando’s auto service experts are Making it Simple ™ by giving you a guide to your transmission fluid changes.

What is transmission fluid?

If you don’t know or remember what transmission fluid does for your car – we’re here with the 4-1-1. It depends if you drive a manual or automatic car.

• If you drive a manual car, transmission fluid lubricates bearings and metal parts inside the gearbox. This helps prevent them from grinding down while they move, and the fluid absorbs excess heat.

• If you drive an automatic car, transmission fluid lubricates the moving parts associated with shifting gears and provides hydraulic pressure and friction to keep those parts working. Transmission fluid also helps absorb excess heat and keep your transmission cool.

Now that you know what transmission fluid does, let’s talk about why it’s important to change it.

Why is a transmission fluid change important?

You may think that transmission fluid is something you can skip when it comes to routine maintenance – but it’s not. If you don’t routinely change your transmission fluid – then heat can become a big issue as it can wear out parts, break things, and shorten your car’s lifespan. Without a transmission fluid change, your transmission will start to experience a multitude of problems as parts overheat and wear out. And these problems can lead to even more problems, which in turn leads to expensive repairs or an all-new transmission (which can cost an arm and a leg…). 

Also, if you do a lot of stop-and-go driving (regular driving in heavy traffic where your car has to repeatedly shift gears) or if you tow and haul heavy loads routinely – you definitely need to be on top of your transmission fluid changes. 

When to schedule a transmission fluid change

Finally considering scheduling this car care appointment at Toyota of Orlando’s service center? We’re going to tell you when you should get it.

• Once you hit the 30,000-mile mark, you should consistently ask one of our Orlando auto service experts when is it time to get a transmission fluid change. 

• There is a “lifetime fluid” when it comes to transmissions in newer cars. However, our Orlando auto service center recommends checking your transmission fluid routinely. Also, if you want maximum performance, we recommend swapping it out at 100,000 miles.

It’s a good idea to know how to check transmission fluid in between service appointments. Here are some pointers:

• If you have an older car with an automatic transmission – you’re gonna have a transmission dipstick. Your Orlando Toyota will have an owner’s manual that can tell you if your car has one and where to find it. Just check the fluid as you do with your motor oil: Turn your car and let the engine warm up, pull out the dipstick, and examine the color.

• The fluid’s color should be vivid red or pink.

• If it’s dark – it means that it’s bad and needs to be changed.

• It should also be free of debris or metal shavings.

• Foamy fluid means there’s too much fluid in the reservoir and some needs to be taken out.

• If the fluid is too low, then schedule an auto service appointment to have some added or the fluid changed out.

• If you have a newer car, it typically doesn’t have a dipstick – so how do you check transmission fluid in these cars? The simple answer: you can’t! Just drop it off at Toyota of Orlando to let our techs take a look under the hood.

Transmission flushes vs. changes

Does your car need a transmission flush or a transmission change? 

• Transmission changes are misleading because they don’t replace all the transmission fluid with new fluid. In reality, it is only a third or half of the fluid that’ll be swapped out. Some fluid remains in the torque converter and other internal parts of your Orlando Toyota.

• A transmission flush is quite simple and not misleading – it flushes out all of the fluid from eh entire system. But, it’s not always a good thing as it could end up dislodging debris in the system and cause clogs. 

Unsure if your transmission fluid needs a change or a flush? Ask one of the expert techs at Toyota of Orlando!

Schedule your transmission fluid change today at Toyota of Orlando

Need help with your car’s transmission fluid? We’ve got your back. Schedule service online at Toyota of Orlando or call us at (407) 298-0001. We’re located just off I-4 near the Mall at Millenia at 3575 Vineland Road!