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As we head into the remaining bit of summer, you’re no doubt packing your weekends with outdoor activities. Maybe you’re taking some of your friends out on the boat or heading into the woods for one final camping trip. While this is great fun for us, bumper-to-bumper traffic, hilly terrain, dirt roads and high temperatures all wear and tear on your transmission. If you’re towing a boat, the strain is even more severe.
An automatic transmission contains a maze of passages through which the fluid has to pass to keep it shifting smoothly. Hydraulic pressure from the fluid itself shifts the gears.
The fluid breaks down over time and turns from a bright red color to gray, brown or black as it becomes contaminated with dirt and metal particles from the wearing gears. If it’s not flushed regularly or thoroughly, the fluid can’t build up the pressure it needs to shift or the passages become clogged with dirt from the fluid. You’d be surprised at how one tiny piece of metal in the wrong passage can prevent a vehicle from shifting from one gear into the next.
Compare this clean, red transmission fluid (left) with the dirty fluid (right).
If you’re not sure how often your fluid should be flushed, consult your maintenance schedule or your Star Auto Authority advisor. Spending $150-$300 to flush the transmission now can save you $1,500 – $3,500, which is what a rebuilt or new transmission will cost. For all the sophistication in vehicles today, automatic transmissions are fairly sensitive components and often fail prematurely when neglected.
While towing is an added strain on the transmission, our everyday driving conditions are not exactly ideal. Things like short trips, rush hour traffic, and driving in very hot or very cold weather all force the transmission to work harder and hotter. And we know maintaining highway speeds in moderate temperatures in Chicago is like waiting for the Cubs to win the World Series.
Do yourself a favor: Flush the fluid!