Best Transmission Fluid Buying Guide

You should always purchase the best oils and fluids for your vehicle to ensure its top performance and quality of life and longevity. Using the wrong products in your vehicle is much more serious than most people think, and it can cause your car engine to fail. Read the following article to discover the best transmission fluid for your vehicle.

 

Without the proper lubrication and heat control in your transmission, your vehicle won’t perform like it should and will begin to show long-term damaging effects.

 

How to Choose the Best Transmission Fluid for Your Car Model

In this article, we give you the transmission fluid options available on the market today and explain why choosing the right transmission fluid the first time, every time is so important.

 

Importance of Transmission Fluid

 

Before you can choose the right transmission fluid, it is probably a good idea to completely understand what it is they do.

 

When you get inside your vehicle and turn it on, you have to put it into D(drive) or R(reverse) before you can go anywhere. Once you arrive at your destination, you have to put it into P(park), so the vehicle stays where it is.

 

All of these instructions are given to your vehicle’s transmission. The transmission controls the application of power between shifts in the movement of your vehicle.

 

For your vehicle to transfer from one instruction to the next, it has to adjust gears, clutches, plates, etc.

 

For these parts to move smoothly and without any friction causing overheating and damage from metal on metal grinding, transmission fluid is used.

 

Important roles of transmission fluid:

 

● Protect metal surfaces from damage
● Cleans metal surfaces from dirt and debris
● Provide the proper viscosity
● It prevents foam and any oxidation of the fluid
● Amps up cooling within the transmission
● Controls dangerous high temperatures
● Maintains good gasket conditions
● Prolong temperature range and speed rotation

 

Choosing the Best Transmission Fluid

 

Each transmission is designed a little differently depending on the make and model to provide the best performance possible. The fluids used in these vehicles are made up of different viscosities, corrosion inhibitors, and friction modifiers to best assist the transmission while running and shifting.

 

Viscosities

 

The viscosity of your transmission fluid is extremely important because it creates a line pressure that allows the gears to switch from one to the other. The fluid running through the transmission will keep a thick lining separating the parts while powering the gears.

 

Corrosion inhibitors

 

Each transmission requires the use of corrosion inhibitors to keep the metals from rusting and corroding away. The corrosion inhibitors will be different depending on the make of the transmission.

 

Friction Modifiers

 

Different makes and models of vehicles require different bands and clutch materials, which will, in turn, require different friction modifiers to keep your gears from slipping.

 

Now that you understand the importance of each fluid and the components that make up each product, let’s discuss all the different types of fluids on the market today.

 

Types of fluid

 

There are a handful of transmission fluids you have the option of choosing from. While many products state vehicle specific on the label, they (for the most part) can be interchangeable, depending on the formula used and the specific vehicle you drive.

 

Before making any decisions, you should always refer back to your vehicle’s owner’s manual to avoid any costly mistakes. Although the fluids can be multi-vehicle products, you should always stick to the fluid the manual suggests.

 

Dexron/Mercon/ATF+4

 

Dextron (Ford)/Mercon(GM)/ATF+4(Crystler). These three types of fluids are made by well-known car manufacturing companies in the country, making them some of the more popular options on the market today.

 

These are the most widely sold transmission fluids and will more than likely be one of the options you end up choosing for your vehicle.

 

● Honda/Acura
● Jeep/Eagle
● Hyundai
● Toyota/Lexus
● Saturn
● Sterlin

 

Type F(Ford)

 

Type F doesn’t include friction modifiers, making it pretty obsolete these days. This fluid was designed for Ford’s vehicles made with bronze trans clutches. The last design was the Cruizematic, and it was last used in the early ’70s. So unless you are cruising around in a 50-year-old vehicle, this won’t be an option for you as it won’t work in modern transmissions.

 

Synthetic Fluid

 

Synthetic fluids are becoming a more common option for transmission of all types. They are made with advanced technology and include additives that make the performance superior to alternative options.

 

● Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) Fluid- Each CVT product is designed for a specific transmission, although most have proven to be effective across multiple transmission designs.

 

Many newer manufactured cars will have this transmission fluid in them with the promise of better fuel economy.

 

● Multi-Vehicle Synthetic Transmission Fluid- This synthetic blend of additives creates a high-performance, low-friction transmission fluid that works in just about any automatic transmission on the market today.

 

Synthetic Blends

 

Synthetic blends are man-made fluids created with a mixture of many additives and are easily transferable from one type of transmission to the next, making them much more versatile in the automotive industry.

 

Many big-name fluid manufacturers are starting to switch to these products as they are easier to design and can be offered to several different clients. You will often notice synthetic oils in a newly purchased vehicle.

 

How to Choose the Right Fluid

 

There are a few different ways to find which transmission fluid is best for your specific vehicle, with the obvious being your owner’s manual.

 

The owner’s manual tells you which type of fluid to use, how much, and how to add, change, and check the levels. The manual will also help you locate your dipstick, which is essential for keeping an eye on your transmission fluid levels and color to make sure everything is running correctly.

 

Next, you can visit your local automotive shop or mechanic. These places are full of informational tools and tips to help you get the best care for your car and guarantee the formulas chosen are the correct options.

 

Lastly, you can always go online and search for the right transmission fluids for your vehicle’s make and model. If you decide to go this route, always make sure you use professional and reputable sites (maybe consider visiting the manufacturer’s website first.

 

The internet has a lot of helpful information that can educate you on the right fluids for your specific car, why it is the best choice, and the importance of each ingredient.

 

Check Out Amazon Best Sellers in Transmission Fluids

 

Why it is Important to Choose the Right Transmission Fluid

 

As previously discussed, there are different options of transmission fluid to aid your transmission to work to its full potential. Because the formulas vary, the performance of the fluid is going to be different to help the transmission it was made for.

 

If you choose the wrong transmission fluid, you will notice a slew of problems start to occur that can result in costly repairs.

 

● Irregular pressures- your vehicle will not receive enough pressure to change gears fast enough, causing a pause or delay.

● Clogs- if you have a clog in your transmission, the gears will start to slip or pause, giving you a stop-and-go motion.

● Corrosion- the wrong fluids may not protect your specific transmission and aid the corrosion and rusting of internal parts.

● Poor lubrication- poor lubrication will result in heavy friction and grinding, damaging the metal pieces.

● Overheating-without proper lubrication and heat-reducing additives, your transmission could overheat and eventually fail.

 

Another severe mistake people tend to make is adding the wrong fluid type altogether into their transmission. If you try putting engine oil or brake fluid into your transmission, it can lead to serious damage.

 

What if You Put the Wrong Fluid into Your Vehicle But Notice No Issues Yet?

 

If you are lucky enough to notice that you used the wrong transmission fluid and no problems have started to occur or the problems haven’t caused any serious damage at this point, you can simply drain the transmission fluid and add the correct product.

 

There are some telltale signs that you have used the wrong fluid almost as soon as you put your vehicle into drive.

 

● Shifting gears will cause your car to stall- You may notice that in the middle of shifting gears, your car pauses or stalls out altogether.

● Clunking sounds coming from the engine- Clunking noises can mean many different things; however, if you notice it right after adding transmission fluid, that is probably the reason.

● Slipping gears- The wrong fluid won’t help the gears shift properly, and they will begin to slip while driving.

● Locked clutch- The wrong fluid will also cause the clutch to lock up, preventing you from shifting

● Rough shifting- if your clutch doesn’t lock, the gears may still be very hard to shift as you are driving down the road.

 

If you notice any of these issues, you should stop driving the vehicle immediately, so the problem doesn’t end up getting any worse.

 

You could have the car transferred to a mechanic where they can flush the transmission, hopefully removing the fluid completely.

 

However, even a mechanic may not be able to reverse the damage done. The quicker you remove the wrong fluids and replace them with the correct ones, the better.

 

If you had already started driving with the wrong fluid for your vehicle’s transmission and you noticed any of the signs above, it is better to get the aid of a professional rather than attempting to change it out yourself.

 

If changing it yourself is the only option, make sure you allow the fluid to leak out as much as possible before adding another one.

 

What if Your Transmission Fluid Level Keeps Dropping?

 

If you are losing pressure when shifting and it isn’t because you added the wrong fluid, it could be due to a leak.

 

A transmission fluid leak can be due to :

 

● A crack or puncture in the transmission pan
● Gasket failure in the transmission pan
● Fluid line crack or break
● Axle seal failure
● The failure of the torque converter

 

While many of these issues will require the care of a mechanic, you can purchase products to help aid in the leaking of your transmission fluid. A transmission sealer can repair damaged or defaulting transmission gaskets (dry, damaged, or shrunken rubber seals) that allow fluid to pass through.

 

Check Out Amazon Best Sellers in Transmission Fluids

 

Where Can You Purchase Transmission Fluid?

 

You can find the right transmission fluid for your vehicle from most department stores, auto parts stores, and online retailers. Below is a list of places you may want to consider looking.

 

● AutoZone
● Advance Auto Parts
● Walmart
● CarQuest Auto parts
● NAPA Auto Parts
● O’Reilly Auto Parts
● Pep Boys
● Walmart

 

You can also avoid the time and headache of picking out your transmission fluid and adding it to your car by heading over to your local mechanic.

 

Summing Things Up

 

Although adding a simple fluid into your vehicle may sound like a silly little maintenance detail that isn’t that important, making the right choice can be the difference between a high-performance transmission and a useless one.