A vehicle with automatic transmission is one that changes gears automatically as the vehicle moves meaning that the driver doesn’t have to do it. Automatic is the most popular type of transmission in the USA. To operate the automatic transmission, a car will need Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF). It is a slippery liquid that acts as a lubricant for all of the moving parts inside your transmission. this fluid also serves as a coolant and a viscous fluid that transmits power from the engine to the transmission.

This stops corrosive damage, provides essential lubrication and is mostly made up of refined petroleum that has gone through a process that results in properties that assist a smoother transmission and increase the life of the system. That?s why the ATF system needs to be kept in tip-top condition with regular services as the car gets older.

Despite of this fact, few drivers regularly change the transmission fluid — in fact many drivers wouldn’t even know how to do this because it’s usually quite well hidden away. But when the motorists find out that the gear change happens not as smoothly as they expect, they begin to pay attention to the automatic transmission fluid. Ideally, you should check the ATF once a month to find any potential issues before they turn into a real and expensive problem to fix. Most manufacturers recommend that manual transmission fluid be changed every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Under heavy-duty use, some manufacturers suggest changing transmission fluid every 15,000 miles.

Remember, that if you don’t change the transmission fluid on schedule, you’ll be lubricating your transmission with metal shavings and other contaminants. This will shorten the transmission’s life. The result could be a large payment to your mechanic. In other words, changing your transmission fluid at the correct interval is a good investment.

Of course changing automatic transmission fluid is best left to a mechanic equipped with a transmission flusher which replaces the fluid more thoroughly than you could achieve with gravity alone. However, every car owner should know how to do this by himself as it is included into the list of basic driving skills.

Take the following steps to check your ATF:

1. A variety of fluids are used for different transmissions. Automatic transmissions use something called - shockingly - automatic transmission fluid. Manual transmissions use a variety of oils: regular motor oil, heavyweight hypoid gear oil or even automatic transmission fluid in some cases. Your owner’s manual will tell you what your transmission calls for. So, get to know what type of transmission fluid should be used for your vehicle. This information is contained in your owner’s manual - if not contact the manufacturer who should be able to tell you.

2. Park your car so that it is level on the ground and leave the gear in Park or Neutral position. Usually the ATF is checked at the idling engine but everything depends on your vehicle. Firstly read your owner?s manual carefully and if it requires the engine to be running, start the car up and wait for it to warm.

3. Locate the ATF dipstick. Usually it is a bit shorter than the engine oil dipstick. In some cases it will have a label on it, so your job will be made much easier!

4. Take the dipstick out.

5. Do the same once again in order to make sure the dipstick indication is true.

6. The color and smell of transmission fluid can also indicate potential problems. Wipe the fluid onto a white sheet of paper or kitchen towel. It is usually red, and should be transparent and clean in appearance and free of black bits or flakes. It may be more reddish-brown because of age but never should be dark or black or smell of burning. You may not be able to fix the car if the fluid shows some of these characteristics, so just seek professional advice.

7. Check the top of the dipstick and see if the fluid marking comes up to the ‘full’ line. Also check that you are looking at the warm reading - there should be one for ‘warm’ and one for ‘cold’.

8. You need to add some more fluid if it does not come to up to the ‘full’ line. Unlike engine oil, transmission oil doesn’t burn up. So if you’re low on transmission fluid, you almost certainly have a leak. Carefully look for leak and if you find it remove as soon as you can. In case it is left it can cause the expensive repair of transmission system.

9. To add the fluid, simply use a funnel to pour it into the system. Add the fluid slowly and keep checking the dipstick until it reaches the ‘full’ point. Remember, you’ll waste your time taking the ATF out again if you add it too much.

10. Wipe the dipstick when finish the work and make sure it is back in securely.

Warnings:

* There are two types of ATF: Dexron (also called Mercron) and Type F; your owner’s manual should list the type to use.
* Pay attention whether your ATF should be changed at running or idling engine.
* Never ignore leaks as they can completely damage your transmission system.

And keep in mind that it is very important to regularly check the transmission fluid level between service intervals. Letting your car run low on transmission fluid can cause the transmission to shift improperly - or not at all. It also can harm the internal parts of your transmission, which will not be properly lubricated. Unfortunately, you may not hear any noises or have other clues that your transmission is low on fluid, until it’s too late. So it’s important to get it checked.

Paul Howard
Cheap car tires

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