“Yeah, I know. I have to change the oil in my car regularly to keep the engine in tip-top shape.”

“That’s true. But I’m talking about the ‘other’ lubricant.”

“The ‘other’ lubricant?”

“That’s right – the automatic transmission fluid.”

“How often do I need to change that?”

“Well, fortunately, it’s not as often as you need to change the engine oil. Depending on your vehicle, between 30,000 and 60,000 miles.”

“And it’s important because …”

“It’s important because you’ve never heard anyone happily mention, ‘I need to have my transmission repaired’ or ‘replaced.’”

“That’s the truth – expensive and a pain in the neck.”

Changing the transmission fluid can keep your car’s transmission running smoothly and out of the repair shop. Trans fluid is a lubricant. It helps those many parts interact without excess wear or damage. It reduces the heat from that friction. It has chemicals that prevent corrosion.

Just like engine oil, automatic transmission fluid breaks down over time. The heat breaks it down. All those particles floating in the trans fluid increase over time. It loses its lubricating ability. It can even leave a sheen of varnish and other deposits on the parts in your transmission.

“Compared to repairing or replacing a transmission, changing the automatic transmission fluid is a bargain.”

“Makes sense. Maybe I’ll have the engine oil changed while the car’s in the shop.”