Automatic Transmission Fluid Service

Automatic Transmission Fluid

This post is about checking and changing automatic transmission fluid. At the bottom ( Click the read more Link ) is my personal story about the 4L60E transmission in my Chevy Blazer.

First I wanted to make it clear that I am still undecided on whether changing the fluid in your automatic transmission is the right thing to do.

I have seen studies that support both sides of the question. I work for a large fleet company that tested several hundred vehicles and monitored the performance and failures of the automatic transmissions.

The private study conducted by the fleet showed that there were just as many failures in the vehicles that had regular transmission services as the ones that received no transmission services.

With that being said I generally recommend them. For myself I follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for transmission fluid and filter changes.

Just from experience in talking with customers it would seem that most drivers put this service on the back burner. Checking the transmission fluid before service begins is always a good idea.

Checking automatic transmission fluid

Make sure your vehicle is on a level surface. Not all transmissions will have a dipstick but most still do. If your transmission does have a dipstick make sure you wipe the dirt off around the cover of the dipstick handle before you pull it out of the tube. This is to prevent dirt from falling down the tube and into the transmission oil. Read more