Basic Steps Of Transmission Oil Change

Transmission fluid is a vital component in your car’s engine. It keeps the gears from wearing down and grinding against one another, which could cause costly repairs or even total vehicle failure. You should change this when recommended by the manufacturer.

In a manual transmission, the transmission fluid is there to make sure that there’s no excess wear of the components of the transmission, like the gears and bearings. In an automatic transmission, however, the fluid has a more important job. It has to protect the transmission parts more than ever. 

Changing Transmission Fluid

Now that you know the importance of transmission fluid for your car, let’s see how to change the transmission fluid.

Prerequisites for Transmission Fluid Change

Before you get your hands dirty and start undoing screws to change the transmission fluid, here are some things that need to be remembered.

• If you have questions about whether your car needs a transmission fluid change, consult the owner’s manual. If there are specific indicators in an on-screen menu for this type of service and they show it is time, then most likely you will need to change the transmission fluids.
• You should let the car’s engine and transmission cool down for a couple of hours before starting any procedure that involves working with equipment that could be dangerously hot.
• It is very important to have someone around you when working under the car. Make sure that your partner or one of them knows what he/she should do in case any emergency arises.
• Consult the owner’s manual or search online to look where to drain the transmission fluid from, and where to refill it. Failing to do so may result in you replacing some other fluid with the transmission fluid and that’s the last thing you need to do to a car.

Things Required for Changing Transmission Fluid

You want to make sure that you have all the tools necessary for a successful repair.  We can use these instruments for various purposes so buying them will make a good investment. 

• A hydraulic car jack or a pair of ramps to elevate the car high enough to work on it
• A wrench to open the transmission fluid pan to drain the old fluid
• A catch pan to collect the old transmission fluid
• Transmission pan gasket to seal it
• Transmission fluid filter
• Transmission fluid, as specified by the car’s owner’s manual.
• A funnel to pour the oil

Steps To Changing The Transmission Oil

Elevate Your Car

The first step of the process is straightforward, but it can be hazardous to your health. Elevating a car without care could lead you into potential danger. Here are some things that you need to take care of while doing this.

• Make sure that the car is on level ground and not on a slope when you lift it with a jack.
• Use a jack that has a capacity more than the weight of the vehicle you are working on.
• Put the car transmission in Park, engage the e-brake, and block the rear wheels with a brick or a log

Locate the Transmission Fluid Pan and Drain it

It’s time to get your hands dirty. Locate the transmission fluid pan and make sure it is not hot, then use a wrench or spanner on all of its bolts, holding it in place while keeping an empty catch can below. Once opened up – let everything drain before proceeding with these instructions farther down.

Replace the Gasket 

To replace the gasket that seals your transmission fluid pan, be sure to remove all bits of the old one before putting on the new one for optimum sealing. If you cannot find the gasket for your car, you can use silicone to make a gasket by applying it to the pan before reinstalling it.

Install the Transmission Fluid Pan

After the gasket situation has been taken care of, place the transmission fluid pan back and tighten all the screws all the way to secure the pan in place.

Add the New Transmission Fluid 

After you are sure that the pan is in its place and there’s no leakage (and the gasket installed correctly), use a funnel to add new transmission fluid. It’s of paramount importance to use only the amount recommended by manufacturers.

Now you’re all set and have a transmission plan ready to go no matter what kind of car you have. If you have questions, feel free to reach out. We have many experts ready to help.

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