When to Get Your Transmission Flushed

Whether you drive a manual or automatic transmission, your vehicle needs the transmission system to function properly to get precise, consistent gear shifting. Part of keeping it that way is maintenance, such as transmission flushing.

But how do you know when to get your transmission flushed? The team at World Ford Pensacola looks into this service to help drivers in Crestview and Fort Walton Beach.

How Often Should You Flush Your Transmission?

The most common number you’ll hear is every 30,000 miles. Like many service and maintenance-related questions, there’s a lot of varying opinions on this, especially since how frequently you drive is a factor.

Some service centers will even say that an automatic transmission can go between 60,000 and 100,000 miles before they need a transmission flush. To be on the safe side, though, stick to getting this taken care of around the 30,000-mile mark.

What Is a Transmission Flush?

A transmission flush is where a machine cleans and replaces all the fluid in your transmission. It’s equally useful for both manual and automatic transmissions.

First, all the current transmission fluid is sucked out of your vehicle. Next, cleaning solution is pumped in to remove any debris, sludge, or corrosion that’s built up in your system. Finally, fresh and new transmission fluid is pumped in to help all your parts run smoothly again.

This maintenance job requires a specific machine to swap out the fluids and clean the system, so it’s best to take your vehicle to a professional instead of trying this in your garage.

Why Do I Need a Transmission Flush?

Your transmission fluid works very similarly to how oil helps your engine. As the area that controls your gear shifts, there are lots of moving parts in your transmission that are constantly working. These need lubrication to stay cool and prevent friction.

Transmission fluid acts as the necessary lubricant and keeps the parts of your transmission from overheating and breaking down.

While both types of transmissions should get a flush every so often, the reasons for it are actually different. Automatic transmission fluid eventually wears down and loses its effectiveness. With a manual transmission, metal particles from the parts can contaminate the fluid and make it more of a corrosive liquid than a lubricant.

Contaminated fluid can leave debris and sludge behind, which is why simply draining the transmission fluid isn’t enough. A flush focuses on cleaning your transmission, too.

Continuing to drive with a transmission filled with fluid that won’t cool or lubricate its parts can lead to overheating and an expensive transmission replacement later on.

Ford Transmission Service

At World Ford Pensacola, our service center can handle all transmission issues, from flushes to service and repairs. Our team of highly trained technicians is proud to help drivers in Crestview and Fort Walton Beach get peak performance out of their vehicles.

Contact us to learn more about when to get your transmission flushed or schedule service online.