![]() Many modern cars don’t have a transmission fluid dipstick, and automakers instead recommend a service center check the fluid level because it’s often done from underneath the car. ![]() It may also acquire a burned odor that could indicate it needs to be changed or that the transmission is developing mechanical problems. Transmission fluid often is red but can come in other colors, and as it deteriorates it tends to turn darker. If you do a lot of driving under high-stress conditions, you should check the transmission fluid level more often and have a repair shop check the condition of the fluid. Unlike engine oil, which is primarily a lubricant, transmission fluid serves as both an oil and a hydraulic fluid that helps facilitate gear shifts, cools the transmission and lubricates moving parts. That kind of driving raises the transmission’s operating temperature, and heat puts more strain on the transmission and the fluid. Hard use - such as frequent stop-and-go city driving, hauling heavy loads and trailer towing - will accelerate the deterioration. Like other vital automotive fluids, transmission fluid deteriorates over time. Manual transmissions require more conventional gear oil rather than automatic transmission fluid and tend to be on a different maintenance schedule, so it’s best to consult the service intervals in the owner’s manual. A lot of mechanics say that is too long and that it should be done at least every 50,000 miles. The manufacturer’s maintenance schedule for many automatic transmissions doesn’t call for fresh fluid until 100,000 miles or, with some Ford transmissions, even 150,000 miles. But how often this service should be performed varies by manufacturer and vehicle, and it’s open to debate. Whether or not you should change it is not a matter of debate: Yes, you should. There are many fluids that run throughout your vehicle, but one of the most important to keep track of is the transmission fluid.
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