Do you ever stop to think about the internal mechanics of your vehicle? What exactly are the cogs involved in the works of your car? How is it able to function as smoothly as it does? Along with many other components in your automobile, automatic transmission fluid plays an incredibly imperative role. Automatic transmission fluid is what enables fuel efficiency, easy drivability, and longevity for the components within your transmission system. Of course, there’s a lot more to it than that. Read on to discover more about the nature of automatic transmission fluid, including what it does, why it’s important, and how you ensure you’re using the correct one to ensure your vehicle’s optimum performance.
What is it?
Automatic transmission fluid is a fluid responsible for lubricating the components within your automatic transmission system; the system responsible for transferring power from your engine to your steering system. It allows for the smooth operation of your vehicle’s steering by lubricating and protecting the moving components of the system, all the while dispelling heat, protecting seals and allowing for the optimal amount of friction.
Why is it important?
Automatic transmission fluid maintains the right level of friction, which in turn protects the components of the transmission system and allows you to steer with ease. An incorrect level of friction could result in slippage whilst driving, which ultimately results in a higher amount of heat energy being produced. The fluid is unable to dissipate such an abundance of the heat effectively, and so this leads to reduced life of the fluid as well as damage to the components within your transmission system.
How do you know if you’re using the right one?
To improve the fuel efficiency of modern vehicles, automatic transmission systems have undergone a whole lot of development, and transmission manufacturers are using a range of different frictional materials which call for the need of a variety of transmission fluids capable of complying. You should note that there is no way one type of automatic transmission fluid can be suitable for all automatic transmission systems, due to the varying types of additives found in these fluids. Henceforth, it’s important that you ensure to use the correct automatic transmission fluid for your vehicle, so that you can ensure it runs in the correct manner and for the longest period of time possible.
If you are using the incorrect automatic transmission fluid, it will probably be quite easy to tell right away. Symptoms of an incompatible transmission fluid include rougher or longer transmission shifts, slipping gears, or strange sounds coming from your engine.
What do I do if I have the wrong automatic transmission fluid?
It’s important to remove the wrong fluid immediately so that you are able to mitigate as much of the damage as possible to your transmission system. If you want to find out what is the correct fluid type to use, you can always refer to your manufacturer’s manual or alternatively, your local mechanic.
A transmission flush is a procedure that can be performed by a mechanic, where all the old fluid from your vehicle is removed via a flush machine and can then be filled up again with the correct transmission fluid. Keep in mind that a transmission change is different to a transmission flush- a transmission change will only drain the pan of transmission fluid and replace the filter, possibly still leaving remnants of your old transmission fluid within the vehicle. Consequently, such a service is only used for the removal of contaminants that build up in the fluid over time, and is not a suitable procedure for the replacement of all your current transmission fluid.
Turn to European Prestige Auto Service for Transmission Fluid Flush
Experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms characteristic of using the wrong automatic transmission fluid? Then bring your vehicle to European Prestige Auto Service and have the problem diagnosed for sure. At our fully equipped workshop, we consist of a team of highly skilled and experienced mechanics, who are well versed in the service and maintenance of a number of luxurious European vehicles including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Skoda, to name a few. Rest assured that we can identify the problem and perform a transmission flush if necessary, to ensure that your premium automobile can get back to running in its optimum condition and providing you with the matchless driving experience you have loved and enjoyed from the start.
To book a service with our friendly auto technicians today, call 0402 866 180 or 08 9418 2765!
