Is A Transmission Fluid Drain Enough?

Your car's transmission is one of its most valuable components, so it makes sense to do everything you can take to care for and maintain it. Since your transmission fluid keeps this crucial part of your car running smoothly, it makes sense to do everything you can to keep it fresh and clean. This vital fluid provides cooling, lubrication, and hydraulic pressure to keep your transmission operating correctly. However, some shops offer a transmission fluid drain and a transmission fluid flush. Is there a difference, and is a drain good enough for routine maintenance? This article help will shed some light on this problem so that you can decide what's best for your car.

How Does a Fluid Drain Work?

Draining your transmission fluid is similar to changing your oil, although it's usually a bit more complicated. Many vehicles don't have drain plugs, so it's necessary to drop the transmission pan and allow the fluid to drain out. If your car uses a replaceable filter, most shops will also take this time to install a new one. Unfortunately, your transmission contains many tiny passageways, so simply draining the fluid usually won't get all the old fluid out. In many cases, you'll drain far less than the maximum capacity of the transmission. Depending on the make and model of the vehicle and how you refill the fluid, some shops may measure the amount of fluid they drained and add roughly the same amount back in. If you drain your transmission fluid at regular intervals, this process works well to keep the transmission clean and the fluid fresh. Although you won't get all the fluid each time, each successive change will improve its condition and ultimately ensure that contaminants don't have an opportunity to build up inside your transmission.

Do You Need a Complete Flush?

Unlike a drain, a fluid flush usually involves using specialized equipment to pump fluid through the transmission. This process pushes the old fluid out, ensuring that you get a transmission filled with fresh fluid. This complete change may be helpful in some cases, but it can alter the fluid's viscosity on very old transmissions and potentially even cause drivability issues.

In most cases, a drain is sufficient to keep your fluid in good condition and maintain the health of your transmission. If you can make fluid drains part of your maintenance schedule, you may never need to flush and fully replace the fluid. Instead, you should only consider this more thorough service when recommended by a qualified transmission shop.

For more information on auto transmission fluid drain, contact your mechanic.