What You Need to Know About Transmission Fluid Changes

The transmission fluid is a very important part of your engine. Without the proper levels of transmission fluid in your car, you will experience all kinds of problems. Additionally, if the transmission fluid is not changed periodically, you will experience problems. Some people have come to believe that transmission fluid is something that never needs to be replaced. While it does not need to be changed as often as oil does, it is still very important to check and maintain clean fluids in your car.

The schedule by which to change your transmission fluid will differ between manual and automatic transmissions. Every 30,000 miles is a very good suggestion for all drivers regardless of whether they own an automatic, or manual. Those who are heavy manual transmission drivers are suggested to get a change every 15,000 miles. Intervals for automatic cars goes up as high as 100,000 miles between changes. There are reasons why you would want to change the transmission fluid more often than that. Because of the long length of this kind of fluid in automatic cars, some believe it never needs to be changed. This is incorrect and can lead to costly repairs.

The problem that you will run into with it is the build-up of metal particles. These particles will float through your engine and build up in different components causing you other kinds of problems. The money you saved on not changing the transmission fluid will seem like a drop in the bucket compared with the price of replacing the entire transmission later on. This can be avoided by simply changing the fluid regularly. Keep in mind, automatic transmissions run hotter than a manual does. For this reason, transmission fluid can actually be broken down over time. This will cause the fluid to not lubricate as well which will lead to mechanical problems.

Those thinking about changing their own transmission fluid may want to reconsider as it is not as simple as an oil change. With regular oil, you can utilize gravity to easily drain the car of any oil it contains. It is much more viscous and requires a transmission flusher to get everything out. It is recommended to bring in your car to get this kind of fluid change in order to make sure all metal shavings in the old fluid will be washed away. Not removing all of the fluid can cause you just as many problems as if you did nothing.

Those looking to check the levels between maintenance visits simply need to know what they are looking for. Keep in mind, most manual engines will not come with a dipstick to help you check the fluid level. Those with an automatic transmission will want to either have their mechanic point out the right dipstick, or check the owners manual. Many will confuse the crankcase dipstick with that of the transmission. Keep in mind, generally the only reason why the fluid level will be low is if there is a leak. If you check your level and it is low, you need to get your mechanic to check out the transmission right away.

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What Engine Tuners Dont Tell You

PART 1

First and foremost let me define...
An Engine Tuner is a person who does the adjustment, modification, addition and alteration to the internal combustion engine components (software or/and hardware)to alter its performance, to change the engine output characteristic (torque curve vs rpm, hence horsepower), fuel economy, durability (or any combination of those).

It is a norm for any engine tuner to tell you what will be the expected improvement in maximum torque and maximum horse power after the what so called tuning is done for your car engine. Probably you believe it after taking a short spin when your car had been successfully tuned...

You are so happy when a gentle tap is applied on the accelerator pedal the car seems to be flying... and you tell the whole world without knowing your car engine will be out of breath before reaching the new record breaking top speed.... then you became frustrated!

For instance, an n.a diesel engine car also behaves like that. A diesel engine of the same capacity even has higher maximum torque than petrol powered engine. But how come a car powered by n.a diesel engine is so sluggish in century acceleration and 400m standing? However, a turbo diesel engine has a totally different story.

Now, there are something that some engine tuners dont tell you. While a few are pro enough letting you know some..., if not all. Im not paid to make any recommendation but you will be able to decide whats not and where not to go to tune-up your car.

Before I proceed, probably you need to refer back to your old school book to find out the relationship between TORQUE, RPM and HORSE POWER then come back. Ill wait.
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PART 2

Most people are confused about the relationship between POWER and TORQUE. We often heard engine tuners ask customers:

"U mau improve HORSEPOWER atau TORQUE aah?" in a tone which strongly suggests that these experts believe power and torque are somehow mutually exclusive.

In fact, the opposite is true, and you should be clear on these facts:

Horsepower is dependent on TORQUE and RPM. Torque and RPM are the MEASURED quantities while HORSEPOWER is CALCULATED from the product of torque, RPM and a constant figure. For time being forget about the constant figure . What you should know now is:

HORSEPOWER is proportional to TORQUE x RPM inclusively (but the horsepower is not necessarily proportional to torque or rpm exclusively)

Remember that, torque and horse power do not work together. Horse power is a result of the the torque applied at specified rpm.

Got this? Good. Now think for a moment... what makes a car to accelerate? Torque or Horsepower?

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PART 3

In my studies I categorize torque curves in three difference types. Each type has its own application, one of them may suit ur driving style. Ill explain later.

The following are different type of torque vs rpm charts and the calculated horsepower in p.u values. (Taking maximum torque and horsepower as 100%).

Type 1: Low-Rev (narrow) Power Band


Type 2: Mid Range (wide) Power Band


Type 3: Hi-rev (narrow) Power Band

BTW, our Peugeot 308Turbo torque is Type 2 . Relatively wide power band at moderate engine rpm. AL4 transmission is good enough. In tiptronic mode, in 3rd gear the car can accelerate aggressively from 70km/hr to 145km/hr and still has enough torque to ultimately reach 160km/hr w/o shifting up. On 4th it can pull away easily from cucukers behind you from 90km/hr to 190km/hr before the engine is out of breath and lifeless after touching a few km/hr above 200.

Pls take note... even though some n.a cars with bigger engine capacity which accelerate at slower pace below 190km/hr still be able to accelerate all the way beyond our stock 308 top speed... dont play play with them above 190km/hr... unless we tune up our car in such a way the torque curve is extended further into the redline, hence increasing maximum horse power!

You need a suitable tuning kit and remapping... w/o even increasing maximum torque too much. The key word is EXTENDING the useful torque curve further into the red zone!

Ada tuner boleh bikin ini macam kaa?

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PART 4
When a close-ratio or 6- or 7-speed transmission needed?

A car having six-speed and even seven-speed transmission can not be legitimately called "close-ratio" for performance driving. Probably it is not better than a car equipped with a standard 4- or 5-speed. It actually has extra high overdrive gears for leisure and economic hi-way cruising.

However if it keeps the top gear ratio about the same as in a comparable 4- or 5-speed transmission, and rather distributes more closely spaced ratios among the lower gears, then YES it has a closer-ratio transmissions so to speak.

For instance a 5-speed transmission can be a close ratio too as shown below:
... the 5-speed stock transmission is actually a 4-speed with an over drive.

When do u need a close-ratio transmission?
The answer is when you got dyno chart as shown in Type 1 and Type 3 in PART 3 where power band is relatively narrow.

What is the significant of Type1 and Type 3 and where to use?
Ask you tuner for the answers.

So do not simply upgrade and lanyak ur car w/o knowing how it is going to perform and whether the power band ngam or not with the existing transmission . Otherwise u will be a born looser even before the red lights are off....

HAPPY MOTORING

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Well take care of you for less

Well take care of you for less. Tube. Duration : 0.52 Mins.

Budget Brakes uses the best parts available and offers you the best prices, guaranteed! Check out www.BudgetBrakes.com for locations, coupons and special offers.

Keywords: Budget brakes, brake repair, cheap brakes, brakes, brake repair cost, brake replace, brake pads, brake service, alignment, tire rotation, wheel balancing

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