How often should the transmission fluid in a sedan be changed?
2 Answers
Sedan transmission fluid replacement cycle: 1. The replacement cycle of transmission fluid is based on mileage or usage time. If the vehicle manual clearly specifies these two indicators, the one that comes first should be followed; 2. If the vehicle manual does not clearly indicate the oil change interval, it is generally recommended to replace the transmission fluid every 50,000 to 80,000 kilometers. The following are the hazards of not changing the transmission fluid for a long time: 1. It can cause abnormal wear and tear of the transmission and deterioration of the fluid. 2. It can lead to aging and degradation of the transmission fluid, which not only increases fuel consumption but also shortens the service life of the transmission.
When it comes to changing the transmission fluid for a sedan, since I mostly use my car for commuting, following the owner's manual recommendation of changing it every 30,000 kilometers or two years is the safest approach. If you frequently encounter traffic jams in the city and take many short trips, the fluid can degrade faster, so it's better to shorten the interval to 25,000 kilometers. Checking the manual yourself isn't difficult, and if you've lost it, you can find the recommended intervals online by searching for your car's make and model year. The mechanic at my regular repair shop warned that delaying fluid changes can lead to transmission slippage and strange noises, which can be costly to fix—especially for automatic transmissions. If you often haul heavy loads or drive long distances on highways, maintenance should be done earlier. Saving money is good, but don't lose sight of the bigger picture.
