Maintaining Your Vehicle: Taking Care of Transmission Fluid

Everyone remembers to refill their windshield washer fluid when it runs low. Oil, lube, and filters all stay top of mind when we think about vehicle maintenance and keeping our cars and trucks running smoothly. But one fluid always seems to be forgotten, regardless of the important role it plays in helping your vehicle work its best: transmission fluid!

Transmission fluid can be trickier to monitor and stay on top of, especially if you aren’t sure how it works or what signs to look out for when it needs to be changed. Minit-Tune & Brake Auto Centres’ team of professional mechanics can help you understand when you need a transmission fluid change or complete the task for you with our vehicle tune-ups and auto maintenance services at any of our locations in British Columbia.

3 Considerations for Changing Your Transmission Fluid

There have been a lot of advancements in vehicle technology, and automatic transmission has made some drivers confident that changing their transmission fluid is no longer necessary. While many manufacturers market “fill-for-life” fluids, your transmission is crucial for your vehicle’s performance and changing the fluid will ensure you extend its life as much as possible. Here are three things to consider that will impact when and how often you should get your transmission fluid changed:

1. Type of Driving – If you drive in stop and go traffic in the city on a regular basis, versus driving more frequently on highways, changing your vehicle’s transmission fluid is more important. Putting city mileage on your vehicle tends to heat up the transmission more frequently, leading to faster deterioration of fluids.
2. Miles or Time – An easy way to remember to change your transmission fuel is to keep an eye on your mileage, or simply measure in terms of time that has elapsed. Changing your transmission fluid every 50,000 km or two years will keep your vehicle working its best and help you avoid costly transmission repairs or replacement.
3. Slipping Transmission – Ideally, you will not reach the stage where your vehicle stops shifting like it used to and you experience a slipping sensation. If this happens, it may indicate that your transmission fluid has lost its viscosity, becoming extremely hot and leading to performance issues. Typically, if you experience slipping, your transmission will require repairs.

Minit-Tune & Brake Auto Centres offer comprehensive service checks and auto maintenance across BC. Whether you have car troubles, need to schedule a routine maintenance checkup, or have questions about your vehicle’s transmission, our technicians can help. Schedule your auto repair or service in Vancouver—book an appointment online today or visit us at one of our convenient locations.