These days, the cost of a new automatic transmission is almost as much as replacing the engine. It’s very unwise to neglect your car’s gearbox: that enormously complex and clever machine that works away quietly beneath you. Here’s an outline of optimal Chevy transmission maintenance to keep your gears shifting smoothly, quickly, and quietly for the full life of your Chevy.
Maintaining Your Chevy’s Transmission: 6 Service Guidelines
Check the Transmission Fluid
Once a month, use the dipstick to make sure the fluid inside your transmission is at a suitable level. Transmission fluid lubricates the gears, combats corrosion, and maintains hydraulic pressure. If this fluid diminishes even a little, the gears and other moving parts will suffer premature wear. Also make sure the fluid isn’t too sludgy or dirty in appearance, which would mean it can no longer function properly.
Flush the Fluid Periodically
Modern automatic transmission fluid lasts over four years for most drivers and sometimes as much as seven or eight. You’ll eventually need to have it flushed and renewed; allow a trusted technician to judge when it’s time, or flush as soon your aging fluid is clearly causing trouble.
Warm Up Your Car Before Driving
One of the best things you can do for your gearbox is simply allow it to warm up for a few minutes in the morning. Don’t drive until the fluid is warm and liquid enough to lubricate properly. If you have the remote engine start feature, this is as simple as switching the engine on while you’re finishing breakfast.
Keep the Cooling System Healthy
Perhaps surprisingly, the engine’s cooling system also helps to control temperatures inside the transmission. There’s typically a transmission cooler that uses the same radiator to draw heat away from the gearbox. So be sure to maintain your cooling system well.
Don’t Overload Your Vehicle
Your Chevy is powerful, but every vehicle has specific limits when it comes to hauling and towing. Know those limits and avoid exceeding them. If you do tow too much one day, the transmission bears the brunt of the load and may become damaged.
Book Annual Chevy Transmission Maintenance
You’ll also want a professional to inspect your transmission once a year or so. We can make sure it’s shifting smoothly and check the gasket, seals, and lines for signs of wear or leaks. When the time comes, we’ll flush the transmission fluid effectively.
