Easy shifting in your Chevy is partly due to the sophisticated transmissions that Chevy produces, but also due to the transmission fluid in your vehicle itself. Transmissions have hundreds of parts that have to work together under pressure, and transmission fluid provides the kind of lubrication it needs. Chevy transmission fluid maintenance is an important part of keeping your Chevy running reliably.
Chevy Transmission Fluid Maintenance
A transmission is made up of gears that transmit the power of generated by your combustion engine to the axles that your tires sit on. Fluid keeps the gears and other moving parts within this mechanism lubricated and free of friction. If you didn’t have fluid, the transmission would get very hot, very fast, and your gearbox would quickly burn out.
What It does
Transmission fluid creates intense hydraulic pressure, and that helps maintain just the right amount of friction for the various parts of the system. But for the fluid to create this pressure perfectly, it has to be just the right level. Too much or too little, and you run the risk of getting air into the system and hydraulic pressure would drop. If that happens, your valves, actuators, solenoids, the torque converter and the clutch won’t engage correctly.
Another key role of the transmission fluid is temperature control. As mentioned above, your transmission could easily burn out if it were allowed to run without lubrication, and like the engine, your transmission is always at risk of overheating during use. Transmission fluid minimizes the amount of friction and heat and also has some anti-corrosive properties that protect the parts of the transmission from degrading. This means that, even if your transmission fluid is just a bit low, you could see your temperatures rise gradually. As that happens, the fluid you have left begins burning off even more quickly.
Warning Signs That You Need Transmission Service
Now that you understand how important this fluid is, the early warning signs of trouble should start to make sense. One of the simplest things to look for is a leak. Transmission fluid is usually dyed bright red so that it’s easy to distinguish from the other fluids in your vehicle, though if you have a CVT, it might be green. If you notice a fluid leak, take it to your dealership right away.
Another warning sign to look out for is hearing the gears grind against each other or any strange whining sounds when you’re shifting gears. This may also become accompanied by shifting delays or loud engine revving or some vibrations. Eventually, if the fluid is really low, you might start having trouble switching gears at all.
Come see us at Coughlin Chevrolet of Pataskala, OH today for help with your transmission or any other maintenance issue for your Chevy.
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