How to Replace Your Transmission Fluid

For most people, routine maintenance on your car, truck, or SUV usually involves taking your car into the dealership for service. However, most types of routine maintenance can be easily performed yourself in the comfort of your own garage. By performing routine maintenance yourself, you will save a significant amount of money.

Routine maintenance is required of all vehicles. The specifics regarding what types of routine maintenance required for your vehicle will be listed in your owner's manual. For this informative, how to article, I will focus on replacing your transmission fluid. Replacing your transmission fluid can extend the life of your transmission and improve shift quality and feel. On most vehicles, this job is as simple as changing your engine oil. Read on to learn about the process of changing your transmission fluid.

To change your transmission fluid, you will need to gather a few things. First, you will need several quarts of transmission fluid that is compatible with your vehicle. Refer to your owner's manual in regards to what type of fluid to use, and the amount of fluid needed.

You will also need a drain pan, some basic tools like a ratchet and socket set, a jack and jack stand and a funnel with a long, slim spout.

Most transmissions are equipped with a drain plug on the bottom of the transmission pan. They are also equipped with a dipstick and a tube in the engine bay that leads into the topside of the transmission. Check to make sure that your vehicle has both of these features. If so, you can continue on. If your vehicle does not have both a drain plug and a fill tube in the engine bay, then changing your transmission fluid is a more complex project and will not be covered by this article.

To begin, make sure that your vehicle is up to operating temperature. Turn your vehicle off and raise the vehicle with the jack and jack stand to gain access to the transmission drain plug. Once you have found the drain plug, find a suitable socket and ratchet to remove it. Remove the drain plug and allows the old transmission fluid to drain for at least ten minutes. After the fluid has finished draining, replace the drain plug and tighten securely. Remove the drain pan from underneath the vehicle and lower the vehicle off of the jack stand and back onto level ground.

Now you can insert the funnel into the location where the transmission dipstick is inserted. Begin filling the transmission with the indicated fluid and the indicated amount. An easy way to determine approximately how much fluid is needed is by draining the old fluid into a container with a volume that can be easily viewed and measured. For example, pour the old fluid into an empty gallon milk jug or maybe two milk jugs. You should be able to calculate the approximate amount of fluid that drained from the vehicle. Refill with a similar amount of new fluid.

Once you have filled the transmission, you will need to refer to your owner's manual for specifics regarding how to check the fluid level. Check the level according to the directions in your manual and adjust the level accordingly. Your transmission fluid replacement is now complete.

Routine maintenance is required on all vehicles and by doing it yourself; you will save a significant amount of money. Please read my other articles describing different type of routine maintenance from oil changes to coolant flushes and so on. There is no need to neglect your vehicle with routine maintenance is simple and easy to do yourself.