How to Determine Which Transmission Fluid to Use

Video Transcript

"How to determine which transmission fluid to use. Multiple transmission fluids are available on the market. It may seem like there are hundreds of choices, and it can be certainly a little bit daunting when it comes time to change your transmission fluid. But the good rule of thumb to follow always is that the manufacturer knows best. If you're unsure what transmission fluid to use, consult your owner's manual or consult the manufacturer directly. Transmission fluid serves many critical functions. In the case of manual transmissions, it lubricates all your gears, bearings, and synchro mesh units in the transmission to keep it from failing prematurely, and it also cools those components during extended use. Any material that is causing friction with another material will tend to get hot, and the transmission fluid helps to dissipate that heat. In an automatic transmission, the transmission fluid performs the same function, in addition to actually propelling the vehicle by engaging various valve assemblies and engaging the various clutch packs, which tell the vehicle what gear to go into. So the automatic transmission fluid is even more critical to be correct when you are changing it. The one last thing to note is that a lot of older vehicles, they would have requested a specific transmission fluid. And if they have been rebuilt, oftentimes, the rebuilder will rebuild them using more modern components and the rebuilder might specific a different type of transmission fluid so you always want to use the transmission fluid that is recommended by the rebuilder because it will give you the best performance and will allow you to maintain your warranty, which is critical in case you have problems down the road."