In today’s economy, more and more car owners are turning to do-it-yourself car maintenance. Some jobs are very easy to do and require very little mechanical knowledge; others, like cleaning your transmission, may prove very challenging for the average car owner. If you should choose to try then these steps will help you.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
For this project you will need a jack stand, a putty knife, a drain pan, transmission oil, and solvent.
HOW TO CLEAN YOUR TRANSMISSION
Before beginning, drive your vehicle around for a few minutes to get it up to normal driving temperature. This will allow sediment that has built up to come off easier when you are cleaning.
Put your car up on jack stands and make sure they are secure. If at all possible do not use regular car jacks. Jack stands make it easier to access the bottom of your car and they are more reliable and safer.
Position the drain pan under the transmission pan. Loosen and remove the oil pan bolts from one end; on the other end, just loosen them. This way you can pry one end loose and tilt it downward, allowing the transmission fluid to flow into the drain pan.
Check the transmission fluid for foreign particles like sediment and metal.
Clean the transmission oil pan using solvent and/or a putty knife. Remove any residue that you find in the pan.
Remove the bolts that hold the transmission filter and remove it; replace with a new one.
When you have replaced all the bolts, apply gasket sealant. Press the gasket back into place firmly and tighten bolts.
Lower your vehicle down from the jack stands. Remove the transmission fluid dipstick and check the level. Using a funnel, add a little transmission fluid. When you have reached the recommended level, start your vehicle and let it run for a few minutes. Check for leaks. Continue to check for leaks as you add fluid.
FURTHER STEPS TO TAKE
If you are a good mechanic you can always remove the transmission and clean the individual parts, but this is not recommended for those with little mechanical knowledge. Cleaning the transmission oil pan and filter will go a long ways towards removing harmful sediment and prolonging the life of your transmission.
It is recommended that you do this once a year to make sure that the sediment is not building up and thus causing unnecessary problems with your transmission.
