Car Transmission Fluid: How to Change Transmission Fluid for Cars

Car Transmission Fluid is the villainous oil that allows the transmission to function without failure. Most manufacturers suggest periodic automatic transmission fluid changes. However, lubricating the transmission’s internals, the fluid prevents heat build-up and wear of metal-on-metal.

Transmission fluid is colored red or greed to help vehicle owners differentiate it from the motor oil.

Car Transmission Fluid Change: What Happens if You Don’t Change it

Most transmission fluid is made to last for up to 100,000 miles, but it is still advisable you change your car fluid at 100,00 miles or close to it. Unchanged transmission fluid could evaporate, seize, leak and this can cause fatal transmission failure for the car.

It is best you always check your car transmission fluid from time to time so avoid spending bills on the car to fix.

Car Transmission Fluid: Required Tool Needed

All transmission fluid differs from car to car. Getting the right tools is just a step up. Below is a list of the required tool you will use to change your  transmission fluid:

First safety equipment, such as rubber gloves for the hand and safety goggles for the eyes

• A spanner for the oil drain plug
• A jack and jack stands
• An O-ring if it is necessary
• A funnel and a plastic pipe
• A container for collecting the used oil
• Paper towel, rags or old Newspaper

How to Change Your Car Transmission Fluid

Get your car ready

To make the engine of your car oil-less dreadful so that it sucks out more easily changing it, it is advisable to carry out the operation after using your vehicle for more than 15 minutes. Make sure your car is on a flat and horizontal surface. They turn the engine of your car off and apply the handbrake.

Check the filling cap

Make sure the filling cap is not jammed before you change your oil and also you will be able to fill your airlock once you have changed the oil.

Change the oil in the gearbox housing

Once you have found the oil reservoir and also the drain plug under your car, spread old newspapers or rag to protect the ground’s surface. Position your container under the plug and make sure it is big enough to contain all of the oil that needs to be drained out.

Unscrew the drain slug using the socket spanner. Make sure you do not drop the plug with your gloves. Allow the used oil to drain out for at least 25 minutes or several minutes. You will notice that used oil from a gearbox appears very clean but should still be replaced.

Drain the converter

You need to access the converter once the reservoir is empty. Locate the hatch that links the gearbox to the engine using your vehicle’s service. Use your fingers to turn the converter until the drain plug appears. If the gearbox and engine are separated by a grill, this will need to be disassembled.

After you have unscrewed it, pour the oil out into the container. Use this chance to carefully clean the converter’s and casing’s plugs. Once the oil has been poured in, screw the plugs back in. Make sure you remember to reassemble the hatch or grill

Fill your gearbox with new fluid(Oil)

Refer to the service manual to find out how much is needed and what type of transmission fluid you should use before filling your gearbox with oil. Once you have selected, use the plastic pipe and the funnel; to fill the gearbox housing, placing the funnel as high up as possible so that the oil flows through the pipe and into the housing.
Screw the plug back in, once you have filled it to the maximum level. Make sure that you have not left any components on the ground.

Dispose of the car Transmission fluid properly

Transmission Fluid is very harmful and dangerous for the environment and it is important that you avoid draining or dumping transmission fluid into the environment. Always wash your skin of any residue after completing the change of Transmission fluids for your car

How to Check Transmission Fluid

• Open the bonnet of your vehicle and locate the transmission fluid dipstick. Check your manual to know if the vehicle needs to be running or off to correctly measure the transmission fluid.
• Pull the dipstick out using the handle and wipe any oil residue off the stick. Re-dip the stick until it’s fully seated, and pull out to see the oil level. Wiping it clean allows you to measure the exact oil level.

• Check the oil level to make sure it is in the right operating range, it will indicate on the stick. But if it is low, top off with the manufacturer’s approved oil. When checking, check the state of the car fluid.  transmission fluid tends to get darker and also in some cases, you can smell a burnt odor.