The transmission is a very important systems in your vehicle, yet many drivers don’t quite understand how it works. Essentially, the transmission regulates the amount of power your engine sends to the wheels, relative to the speed you’re going—ensuring an optimal performance. To accomplish this, your transmission needs transmission fluid, which lubricates your gears and prevents wear and tear. Additionally, vehicle owners should be aware of the need for routine transmission maintenance—and in particular, transmission fluid inspection and replacement.

You shouldn’t hesitate to take your car in for transmission repair at the first sign of a problem. It’s wise to incorporate transmission inspection and repair into your routine maintenance schedule. When you get your tires rotated and your oil changed, also have the transmission fluid examined, and flushed if needed.

It’s important to bring your vehicle in whenever you notice problems with the transmission. As for how often you should have a transmission flush, that depends on the vehicle; some manufacturers recommend getting a transmission flush every 30,000 miles or so, others every 100,000. You can check in your owner’s manual, but what we really recommend is just having your transmission fluid looked at when you take your vehicle in for routine maintenance, like a tire rotation or oil change.