Changing your vehicle’s transmission oil is essential to operate and move smoothly. The transmission system conveys power from its engine to the driving system and the wheels. Now, the question may arise: can oil change cause transmission problems?
Problems can happen because of the wrong transmission oil, resulting in overheating, poor lubrication, and even transmission failure. Aside from the wrong oil, it also happens due to mixing brake fluid and motor oil.
These are some destructive transmission issues that you can’t even by flushing your transmission system. As a vehicle owner, you must learn more about this concern. Please, keep reading!
Can Oil Change Cause Transmission Problems
Consumption of low engine fluid can affect your transmission system. But, transmission and engine fluid don’t have any relationship. The oil helps the inner parts keep cool, whereas low oil indicates insufficient oil to run the engine smoothly.
Because of lower oil levels, the engine may be hot when it runs. So, most transmission systems come with cooling systems. If there is low transmission fluid, it will note a noticeable pause for 2/3 seconds when shifting into reverse and driving.
When the transmission fluid indicates “E,” you can’t change in any way despite how forcefully you try. Due to prolonged use, the fluid may be discolored or burnt to make varnish sediments. But, the old fluid deposits will wash out when you replace the fluid.
What Are the Most Common Transmission Issues that Happen After Oil Change?
Your vehicle’s transmission is a crucial system that requires proper attention and care to ensure long-term operation. Many people don’t know that a transmission system may cost more than its engine if they need to replace it.
So, it’s essential to pay attention to the below issues that may happen after the oil change:
- Shaking or grinding feeling in gear
- Making noises like humming, clunking, or whining
- Gears slipping
- Leaking fluid
- Burning smell
- Not responding when it’s in gear
Why Do Transmission Issues Happen After Oil Change?
Typically, you’ll not find any issues maintaining specific driving speeds or shifting gears after changing the transmission oil of your vehicle. But, cases are there when drivers hear noises or something wrong with their transmission system soon after changing their transmission oil.
But, they don’t know why these issues happen. Let’s understand the two most common reasons that cause transmission problems right after changing transmission oil:
Varnish Deposits
When your vehicle has burnt or old transmission fluid, it can be stained and cause varnish deposits that increase inside the transmission system. Usually, these deposits float around its fluid that doesn’t build up anything as you keep using the similar fluid.
But, when you replace the old oil with a new one, these varnish deposits wash away, become sludge, and stick to the transmission system’s filter. As it prevents the flow of transmission fluid through the system, it produces strange noises. So, it’s crucial to flush the transmission before pouring new fluid.
Wrong Transmission Oil
It’s always great to avoid using petroleum-based transmission oil as they leave some deposits behind. When it increases on the filter and limits the transmission oil from running, it makes more friction and causes extra heat to the components of the transmission system.
It results in issues like clunking and noises. You can easily overcome these issues using synthetic transmission oils.
What is Transmission Oil & What Is Its Function?
Transmission oil lubricates your car’s components to ensure the best performance. Also, this oil is a coolant in automatic transmission system vehicles. Many types of transmission oils are out there, and what type is suitable for you depends on the transmission mechanism inside your car.
Cars with automatic transmission require the best automatic transmission oil. While it varies for manual transmissions, you can use regular transmission oil, simple motor oil, or automatic transmission oil.
You can check the owner’s manual to know the standard type of oil for your vehicle’s transmission system. As you already know, the critical function of your transmission oil is to provide lubrication to the transmission components. It also does something more, including:
- Protect and clean metal surfaces from tiring
- Condition gaskets
- Reduce higher operating temperatures and improve cooling function
- Increase temperature range and rational speed
How Can You Understand When You Need to Change The Transmission Oil?
Wipe your vehicle’s dipstick using a clean paper towel or rag and see the fluid. If you find it bright pink, it is a new fluid and does not require changing. But, if the fluid is light brown, you should replace it.
And you will find it highly dark brown if you have not changed the fluid for an extensive period. When you find floating particles of metal, it indicates the damage to the transmission system.
While your vehicle may have lifetime transmission oil, check it for about 100,000 miles. You must ensure the vent tube that provides pressure in the transmission to keep balance prevents moisture and dust.
What Is the Cost of Transmission Fluid Change?
Changing transmission oil is not extremely expensive as you think. You need to pay from $40 to $100 to replace with the new oil because the latest vehicles require something from 5 – 15 quarts. You may also want a new filter and pan gasket while changing oil.
But, it is a bit tricky to replace the old oil with the newer one. In this case, you probably need to get a mechanic to accomplish the task for you. For this, it will require to pay labor charges from $80 to $110 per hour.
As a result, the total cost would be $150 – $250 in minimum when you do an expert’s transmission oil replacing job. Besides, the transmission may require cleaning and flushing to remove the sediments from the system. For more information and suitable transmission oil.
FAQs & Answers Section
This section is essential to find the required answers to some questions you seek. Let’s know some of them below:
Like engine oils, an extensive range of transmission oils are there in the current market. However, it is very vital to use what your vehicle manufacturer recommends. Different types of transmission fluids come with other additives and base materials. So, it would be best to use the recommended transmission fluid compatible with your vehicle.
Generally, automatic transmissions require changing the transmission fluid less often than manual transmissions. The recommended interval for your manual transmission is about 30,000 – 60,000 miles. But, it is about 60,000 – 100,000 for the automatic transmission.
No, they are not the same. Engine oil helps to reduce potential friction of the moving components and removes impurities or dust. Besides, transmission oil works in the transmission system for better gear shifting that reduces the tiring of gears.
When changing your transmission oil, you get two options – just oil change and complete flush. Changing fluid means removing the old oil from its transmission pan that replaces the new one. But, a full flush of transmission oil means removing fluid from its pan, cooling lines, and transmission crevices. So, it would help if you choose which one you prefer.
Last Words
You know a lot about the topic: can oil change cause transmission problems? It is unacceptable to allow your vehicle’s transmission oil to grow too old as it can cause costly and severe transmission damage. Indeed, the transmission oil plays a crucial role in shifting the gears and some other moving components that reduce overheating and friction. As a result, you can drive your car as smoothly as you always expect.
