What Happens If U Don’t Change Transmission Fluid?
Most owner’s manuals suggest changing transmission fluid every 30,000-40,000 miles; however, drivers engaging in towing or other heavy driving should adjust this interval more frequently to increase longevity of the transmission.
Transmission fluid changes are relatively straightforward processes that involve draining out old fluid and replacing it with fresh. They also allow technicians to take an in-depth look at your transmission, fluid pan, and surrounding components.
Heat Buildup
A car’s transmission system contains many moving parts that create friction as they work, creating heat that damages its components over time. Transmission fluid has one function – to cool and lubricate those parts so they don’t overheat – but if not regularly changed out it could lead to even more frictional heat being generated which wears them down further and eventually destroys its transmission system.
Transmission fluid plays an essential role in filtering out metal shavings produced during normal operation of an automatic transmission, which could otherwise wreak havoc within it and compromise transmission performance. If not regularly changed, they’ll build up and eventually destroy it completely.
Your transmission fluid pan is located underneath your car, and any leak in it could result in pools of red fluid leaking onto the ground beneath you. To check its levels easily and quickly, use your dipstick. Your owner’s manual will provide instructions on where and how to read it.
When changing transmission fluid, old fluid will drain out through the dipstick hole and be replaced by new. Allowing your transmission to run dry can make driving very difficult if it has an automatic transmission; extensive repairs or even a complete replacement could become necessary if left to its own devices.
Change your transmission fluid on schedule gives your mechanic the chance to conduct an extensive examination of its components and fluid pan. Skipping fluid changes could result in missed issues which cost money down the road.
When changing transmission fluid yourself, make sure you adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule. While changing transmission fluid may seem straightforward, if done improperly it can become dangerous if done without sufficient knowledge and tools available to lift and unbolt the transmission pan safely.
Gear Slippage
Transmissions – whether automatic or manual – use sets of gears to transfer power from engine to wheels. If these gears become insufficiently lubricated, they may start slipping or breaking altogether, leading to any number of symptoms from simple to complex; such as your car being slow in responding when gas pedal is applied or shifting gears without you command. A slipping transmission might feel like your car jerks in and out of gear unexpectedly.
Transmission fluid’s primary purpose is to lubricate internal gears to reduce friction and heat. As time progresses, however, contaminated fluid will lose this lubricating ability, leading to higher temperatures and sludge buildup that damages internal components – potentially leading to internal transmission failure requiring either replacement or rebuilding of your entire transmission unit.
One of the primary factors contributing to transmission slippage is worn or damaged clutches and bands. These electro-magnetic components engage or brake internal gears during shifting. If they become worn down or worn out, they can wear away at metal gears causing them to break down or wear out; eventually leading them not be able to grip them as effectively and causing less pressure in transmission fluid, leading to less power for driving and less responsiveness overall.
Faulty solenoids may also be to blame. These electro-magnetic components of the transmission control the flow of transmission fluid for shifting, but when they wear out they no longer deliver adequate pressure to the valve body causing shifting and slippage issues.
Slipping transmissions can be dangerous to drive, particularly on hills and curves. To stay safe when driving your vehicle safely, it is vitally important that your transmission fluid be regularly changed according to its owner’s manual. A simple transmission flush may solve most issues; however, leaving them for too long could turn what was initially a minor problem into one that requires more extensive repair or replacement costs.
Damage to the Clutch
Transmission fluid serves multiple functions beyond simply acting as a lubricant: it also removes metal shavings and debris created during normal operation, helping keep clutches operating optimally while mitigating risk for clutch wear-and-tear damage, which could eventually require replacing your transmission, which is an expensive repair solution. If not changed regularly, however, contaminated fluid could pose problems when coupled with clutch wear-and-tear, leading to clutch wear damage that necessitates replacing transmission altogether – an expensive repair option!
Leaving your transmission fluid unchanged could also cause leakage, as its cleanliness degrades over time and the transmission fluid loses its lubricating qualities, potentially leading to friction between clutches and other parts of your car.
To avoid transmission fluid changes prematurely, it’s essential to have them done at their scheduled interval. Not only will this ensure your transmission stays lubricated properly but it will give a technician an opportunity to inspect its internal workings for potential issues as well.
As much of a hassle it may seem to change transmission fluid can be, every car owner should make this a part of their routine maintenance schedule. While changing transmission fluid doesn’t involve too many steps or tools required for changing, some models might make the task more challenging than others; make sure you have everything needed and understand what you are doing before beginning this task!
Additionally, it’s essential that you use the appropriate type of transmission fluid. Your vehicle owner’s manual should specify this. If in doubt about which transmission fluid to purchase, always consult an expert mechanic first.
If your transmission fluid completely runs dry, there is a good chance that your vehicle won’t drive at all. Transmission fluid acts as a seal between engine and transmission components; without it, your car won’t move at all.
Damage to the Transmission
Over time, transmission fluid will break down in a similar fashion to engine oil and become less lubricious, leading to heat and friction buildup within your transmission, potentially damaging internal clutches and components, leading to gear slippage or complete transmission failure. If you’re lucky, adding new fluid might restore normal functioning; otherwise the damage is often permanent and rebuilding or replacing will likely be required.
Your owner’s manual outlines an ideal timeframe for changing transmission fluid. However, this recommendation depends on normal driving conditions; in situations with frequent stop and go traffic or transporting heavier loads than usual, your transmission could generate more heat that requires to be lubricated and cooled more regularly.
Should you neglect changing and checking the levels of your automatic transmission fluid regularly, your transmission could overheat and require costly repairs. By regularly replacing it and monitoring its levels, however, you can extend its life.
Step one involves finding your transmission fluid pan. This piece should be attached to the bottom of your transmission and secured using six to eight bolts. Since draining may become messy, cover any areas surrounding the transmission with newspaper or plastic sheeting before beginning draining operations.
When opening up the transmission pan, take careful note of its contents. Many pans feature magnets to collect metal shavings produced while operating. While this wear-and-tear is normal, larger or odd-shaped chunks could pose issues; to ensure smooth transmission operation. It is advisable to remove all metal shavings from the pan as soon as possible.
Once the fluid has been drained off, you can replace it by opening up the dipstick hole under the hood and inserting a new dipstick to monitor its level. Or you could flush your transmission fluid by connecting a hose from the transmission fluid pan to its pump outlet; pump in new fluid while letting any old fluid drain out via gravity drainpipes; make sure a large pan is used to catch any liquid that leaks out!
