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Transmission Fluid is Amazing!

Back in the day of the so-called "Slush Buckets" of the eighty's, we replaced transmissions regularly. Here in Pennsylvania, the typical auto transmission would get a real workout trying to keep the underpowered vehicle moving at a respectable speed. The varying hills and valleys would cause these transmissions to shift up and down and hunt for the correct gear in between.

Thank goodness those days are long gone. We now have transmissions that don't upshift and with more speeds to improve performance and gas mileage the entire time,and trying to keep weight to a minimum. Yet stil, Some automatic downshifts with a touch of the brake pedal when drifting down a hill.

I remember the days of replacing a transmission for less than $500. Yes, those days are long gone too. A transmission replacement can easily hit the $3,500 mark and more. So I ask a silly question, "Why don't we suggest transmission fluid flush or a fluid/filter change before the fluid gets dark in color or the transmission does not shift correctly? Basically because, if it's not broken, don't fix it.

The basic rule of thumb: if you are towing or other severe driving driving conditons, the transmission fluid should be serviced at least every 50,000 miles. (Remember a filter change does not replace all of the fluid.) Under normal driving condtions a 75,000 mile service can prevent costly transmission repair.