SYSTEMS
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID
VARIATIONS
PROPER CARELONGEVITY TIPS
- Drive your car gently until the transmission has warmed up, especially in cold weather. Hot transmission fluid flows better and lubricates moving parts better than cold transmission fluid does.
- Avoid rapid acceleration, extensive idling, and towing loads. These situations contribute to transmission overheating, a leading cause of transmission failure. If towing cannot be avoided, install an external transmission fluid cooler to reduce heat buildup in your fluid.
- Always maintain your transmission fluid at the appropriate level. Do not permit the fluid level to become too low or too high. Improper fluid level is a major cause of transmission failure.
- Use only the appropriate fluid type or brand recommended for your transmission. Automatic transmission fluids are not interchangeable (although some may be suitable for multiple applications). Do not substitute types of transmission fluids, for example, Mercon® for Dexron®, or vice versa.
- Never wipe a transmission dipstick with a rag or cloth that contains lint. If the lint sticks to the dipstick and is inserted into the transmission, it could block fluid passages or clog the transmission control valves. This would impair transmission performance. Only use lint-free rags or cloths.
- Consider replacing your existing transmission fluid pan drain plug (if present) with a magnetized version of the same size. This will prevent normal, metallic wear particles from circulating throughout the transmission, thus allowing for an extended useful life. The magnetic plug, exposed to much lubricant flow, will pull the metallic debris out of the passing fluid and retain it until the next fluid change.
- On a new car, perform the first automatic transmission fluid change at 15,000 miles. This is necessary because the fluid will absorb many metal particles from accelerated wear during the break-in process. These particles, if allowed to circulate, will ruin other parts.
- Do not accidentally add ATF to the transmission in order to bring fluid level up to the FULL mark when the transmission is cold. This will create an overfill condition when the transmission reaches operating temperature. The fluid will foam, leak, become contaminated and then cause the transmission to malfunction. Any overfill must be removed through the filler tube with a siphon.
SYSTEMS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID VARIATIONS PROPER CARE