Garage Services and Automatic Transmission Fluid
By Charles on Mar 20, 2011 with Comments 0
Driving a vehicle with automatic transmission does not remove the responsibility for undertaking regular garage services. In fact automatic vehicles are vulnerable on the basis that there are few mechanical parts that you can look at. You need to begin by placing the car on a level surface so that there is room for you to work. You can engage the parking brake and go through the routine that is recommended as part of the garage services. It is at this point that you gently start the engine. The transmission label must be set to the Park position or the āPā position. The engine can be left in an idle position for some time. There are different procedures depending on the model that you are driving. It is imperative that you follow the instructions that have been given.
Effective garage services for automatic vehicles
Once the engine has been idle for some time, you will then pull the transmission dipstick. The manual on the vehicle will tell you about the location of these parts and the best way to handle them. It is really not advisable to commence garage services on your car unless you have read the manual. Each vehicle is given some unique steps that you should not ignore under any circumstances. Failure to do so might lead to serious driving problems and even a mechanical breakdown on the road. You need to have some tissue or a rag that you use to wipe off the excess fluids as you work. You need to insert the parts as recommended on the schedule. You pull the stick until you can check the level. There are various gradated settings depending on the conditions that you are driving in.
Where the engine is cold, then the level should be on the COLD markings. Likewise a hot engine has to be on the HOT mark. If you find that these elements are not reflected then you might need to top up the oil. The condition of the transmission fluid is another area of legitimate concern. You should not ignore it if it is black and dirty. A burnt smell is a definitive warning sign that something has to be done on the vehicle. The process of garage services might involve some investigation depending on the vehicle. Some things will not be obvious whereas there are other things that might be relatively straightforward. You need to be able to make the right choices at the right time.
The transmission fluid should ideally be clean and transpired. However there are various shades that you might see especially if the car has been driven for a long time. There are also some routine changes that must occur at either the thirty thousand or forty thousand miles marks. This is meant to give you some sort of time table as to how you handle the garage services. It also means that you are not likely to forget the responsibilities that go with car ownership and management.
Practical garage services
It is in your best interest to follow some of the practical steps that are recommended for the car. The garage services will be adjusted according to the brand of the vehicle and the kind of work that you have done on it. If you take the right steps then there is every chance that you will be able to enjoy long rides on your car without too many disruptions. Do not labor under the false impression that automatic cars do not need assistance. In fact it may be that they need a lot more care than the manual vehicles that you are driving.
Filed Under: Car Tuning • Guides/DIY