Two of the most boring and undervalued maintenance tasks done on a car are transmission fluid change and oil change. True, you never really see the difference once the shiny, translucent, colorful liquid is poured into engine. Many people even feel the difference. But leaving your car to run on very low transmission fluid and oil can leave devastating consequences on your engine – it performs poorly, or worse, damaged. The cost of a transmission fluid and oil change is cheap compared to an engine overhaul. You can’t fix it overnight, too, so you will be left with days or weeks without a vehicle to use.
How important is transmission fluid and oil anyway? A vehicle runs on multiple gears, and each gear represents the range of speed your vehicle is running at. While your accelerate or decelerate, you will have to switch gears. Switching gears depend on what kind of vehicle you are driving: is it an automatic transmission or a stick shift? Each kind of transmission uses a different kind of transmission fluid. Transmission fluid helps you effectively switch gears, especially with manual shifting. if, when switcing gears, you feel that the stick cranks up, or is not moving when you step on the clutch, then it is time to have the transmission checked. Needless to say, you can’t switch gears when your transmission is stuck, and you won’t be able to drive your car either.
And what about oil change? If transmission fluid is the life and blood of the vehicle’s transmission, then the engine oil is vital in making your engine perform at its best. When the engine’s pistons are moving are charging and firing at breakneck speeds, you would need a reliable oil to make sure that everything is well lubricated. Something which is pure and does not leave junk stuck on your car’s pistons. Regular oil change and using the right engine oil can make your engine perform better. This means that for every internal combustion firing up your pistons, the car moves more flawlessly. This means a good engine oil can help you maximize your gasoline use, which helps you save money on gas.
If you are unsure of which transmission fluid or engine oil to use for your vehicle. Valvoline has a handy dandy tool in its website to help you decide. No need to browse through Valvoline’s vast catalogue of products – all you need to do is enter your car’s make and model, its engine or transmission type and in the end Valvoline recommends the best product to get. This is very convenient especially for car owners who know nothing about their car’s engine.
Also, when having your transmission fluid or oil changed, it is best to leave it to the professionals. Aside from making sure that the every nook and cranny of your transmission or engine will be cleaned of old, used oil or fluid, they will also dispose of it properly. Improper disposal of transmission fluid and engine oil can wreak havoc on the environment. Also, some of this fluid can be recycled, which help lower its cost.