Possibly one of the top neglected services we see here in the shop is transmission fluid service. Transmissions start to fail at 60,000, 70,000, or 80,000 miles due to heat, or due to contaminated fluid.
Some manufacturers state that they offer lifetime transmission fluid. There is no such thing.
They say this to lower the initial cost of the ownership when you purchase a vehicle.
If you want to buy a brand new car and you only want to keep it for 70,000 or 80,000 miles, then go ahead and follow those instructions. You’ll probably be okay. The problems are going to arise for the next person who owns the car.
Photo Credit: 1968 Dodge Charger R/T | Scott Crawford via Compfight cc
If you’re a person who will buy either a used car or a car that you’re going to keep for 150,000 or 200,00 miles, you should definitely keep an eye on the transmission fluid. As expensive as cars are, we’re starting to see more and more people who are driving their cars 200,000, 250,000, or even 300,000 miles.
With regular fluids services, transmission flushes, oil changes, brake fluid flushes, tire rotations, and spark plugs replacement at the correct time, your car will stay in good shape. If you do all that stuff, there’s no reason you can’t have a fabulous running car for at least 300,000 miles.
It’s so important not to slack on routine maintenance for your car. It may be a pain, but it will save you money and headaches in the long run. A well-maintained car can last for tens of thousands (or even hundreds of thousands) miles longer than a car that’s not properly cared for. Don’t just take the dealer’s word for it… they want to be able to sell you a new car sometime in the next few years. Talk to maintenance professionals you trust to come up with a regular maintenance schedule that’s best for your car.
