Transmission Flush

Archive for February, 2010

Shear stress is created from the teeth of metal gears being applied to the metal face of other gears in a parallel form. These gear faces are under the full force of the engine’s power in a manual transmission or differential. These components translate this power to the wheels at the desired speed depending on how the gears are applied. In order to protect the faces of these gears over time, gear oil must act as a lubricant and provide protection to these metal surfaces. It’s viscosity rating is normally higher than that of regular motor oil, and it’s molecular, strength level must stay consistent between drain intervals. If manual transmission or differential oil can not withstand these extreme pressures and temperatures from shear stress, pitting and scoring on the faces of these metal gears will occur. This wear will create metal flake and fluid contamination which will only cause more wear. The cycle will continue to repeat itself until part failure will ultimately occur. Synthetic manual transmission and differential oil lowers the chance of this occurrence because of it’s powerful properties.

Conventional, petroleum based oils break down quickly from shear stress and the extreme temperatures caused by gear frictions. Their irregular molecular structure created in the refining process can not withstand these conditions well between drain intervals. They thin quickly and allow the metal faces of gears to grind on one another. Synthetic fluids are created in a laboratory to possess more specific properties such as viscosity and a uniform molecular structure. Because it is chemically engineered for a specific composition, the power of synthetic manual transmission and differential oil is much better suited for these purposes. It withstands these extreme stresses, temperatures, and frictions better than traditional oils. These synthetic fluids also contain special, high pressure and anti-wear additives that protect and clean these vital metal parts. These additive rich, synthetic fluids cope better under the intense, gear pressures present in manual transmissions and differentials.

Although just as helpful and necessary for protection in ordinary vehicles, synthetic manual transmission and differential oil is especially helpful in those used for racing, hauling, and towing. These applications create the largest loads and stresses on the gears of these components. The financial savings created from better protecting these components in both regular applications and those used more for specific purposes is clearly demonstrated in longer drain intervals, fewer part repairs, and better performance. Amsoil, one of the leading producers of synthetic oils, offers a wide range of synthetic manual transmission and differential oils at competitive prices, including their Synthetic Manual Synchromesh Fluid which can be used in all automotive applications requiring synchromesh transmission fluid. Without question or exception, the power of synthetic protection in manual transmissions and differentials proves superior to traditional fluids every time.

Hybrid cars are one of the latest innovations in the car industry today. Because of the rising cost of fuel, car manufacturers have integrated the hybrid technology in their cars. The concept of the hybrid engine technology is actually very simple to explain. Although hybrid cars still use fuel, it can efficiently save it. This is because the hybrid technology combines the electric motor technology with the gasoline engine.
With the hybrid technology, it allows consumers to save as much as 30 miles a gallon on fuel. The main advantage of hybrid cars is when the car stops or when it is running on idle mode, it automatically shuts off the gasoline engine. However, the car will continue running but it will run on the electric motor. Therefore, it saves a lot on fuel. Just imagine being stuck on traffic, with the hybrid technology, you will never waste precious and expensive fuel when the car is running idle. This is also the reason why hybrid cars are so quiet when it is stationary. When you step on the accelerator, the gasoline engine automatically turns on again.
Another reason why hybrid cars are now preferred by most people is that it emits lower levels of toxic emissions. This means that hybrid cars are environmentally friendly. Just imagine, if all people would start using hybrid cars, it will lessen the emission of carbon dioxide. For this reason, it will effectively stop global warming.
Because hybrid cars can both help in saving precious fuel and reduce the emission of toxic fumes, the government is now taking all the necessary steps to promote the hybrid technology. The consumer who owns a hybrid car can enjoy more benefits than you may imagine. Not only will they save a lot of money on fuel, and help produce a cleaner environment, but they can also enjoy tax rebates.
Back in 2005, the President of the United States signed an agreement back in the year 2005 that says that hybrid car buyers will be able to enjoy large amounts of tax relief. However, the amount of money you will save on the tax incentives will also vary on the hybrid car you purchase.
The first one you have to consider when getting a tax break is that it will depend on the fuel efficiency of the hybrid car you purchased when you compare it to a conventional car in the same weight class manufactured back in the year 2002. The more it saves fuel, the bigger the tax break will be.
The tax break imposed on a hybrid car will also vary on the amount of gasoline that the hybrid car can save in its total years of operation when it is compared to a conventional car in the same weight class. The more gasoline it saves, the bigger your tax relief will be.
It is a fact that hybrid cars can be expensive. However, just think about the long term benefits that the hybrid car can give you. If you calculate overall total expenses of a hybrid car and compare it to the total expenses of a conventional car during its lifetime, you will see that you can save more money on fuel. You will also save money on taxes. You will see that purchasing a hybrid car is definitely a good investment that all people should consider.
Not only will you be able contribute in producing a cleaner environment and save a lot of money on precious, expensive and limited supply of fuel, but you will also save a lot of money on tax rebates for hybrid car buyers.

Now every 3,000-Miles or Three Months which ever comes first take your car in to get it serviced:  Go ahead and change your engine oil and have them do a complete check of all of your fluids plus your tire pressure to make sure that the other fluids are good and that the tire pressure is set prefect also just in case you have a nail or a problem then they will find it out at the mechanic shop, or if you work on your car yourself to make sure to do a complete check list on it.

Now oil and transmission Fluid are one of the main things for the car and the most expensive parts to be changed.  So it is a good idea to make sure you keep your car maintained so that you will not have any problems in the future and to prevent expensive repairs when your car reaches a higher mileage.

Every Six Months: I would defiantly check my windshield wipers, since it is rubber the sun and smog will ware the rubber and it will not work properly.  Or if you decide not to change it during the summer time defiantly change it when winter comes around because it will rain a lot and you don’t want to get stuck somewhere also you want to be safe and not get in an accident for something that will not cost you a lot.  I do recommend that you change the wiper with the original ones from the dealer because they work the best, they last the longest, and they won’t make any noise or fall apart after so many months.  The reason I say not to get aftermarket is because they will change the original wiper and put aftermarket on and then you will use it and later find out that it is not working that good.

You can also find really good articles and info on 104Inc or you can also go to 104Automotive.com or 10mechanic.com and more at 104Inc.com you can find anything you need in your daily life.

Now overall there are 3 factory services that should be done at certain mileage.

First one is a Minor Service done every 7,500 miles:  This service is basically an oil change, rotate tires, ck all fluids, and ck the tire pressure.  Usually the dealers or certain mechanic shops will also steam clean the engine so that it stays clean.

Second is an Intermediate Service done every 15,000 miles:  this service has everything that the Minor Service has plus on certain models you would change the transmission fluid + Valve Cover Gaskets.

Third is a Major Service done every 30,000 miles.  This has everything that the Intermediate Service has plus depending on the make and model of your car things will be different.  But in general you would change the Distributor Cap & Rotor + Spark Plugs + Air Filter + Fuel Filter + Coolant Flush + Brake Fluid Flush.

Now basically this is a good overall procedure of what you would have to do to keep your car in tip top shape so that it runs at its best performance and you get the best gas mileage on the car.  But the main thing is that the car will be reliable and won’t leave you stranded in the middle of no where.

When you get right down to it, automotive vehicles are simply amazing machines, transferring the energy from gasoline into motion to get us where we want to go. This energy transfer process happens in part through a transmission, and that’s why it’s so essential to get the right automatic transmission or used transmission for a vehicle.

Transmissions are key to vehicles because they allow an engine to operate with a wide range of speeds. If we didn’t have transmissions, it would be like driving a car with only third gear – there’d be no acceleration at start-up, and at the high speed the engine would be screaming toward the red-line. The automatic transmission’s gears make more effective use of the torque produced by the engine, so it keeps the engine operating at an appropriate speed. In an automatic transmission, a single set of gears called the planetary gearset produces all of the different gear ratios. Thankfully automotive engineers figured all this out!

What engineers didn’t help with was the hassle of finding an good used transmission, or the price of installing an automatic transmission in a vehicle. That’s where Auto Parts Fair takes over.

Auto Parts Fair is the premier online store for automatic transmissions and used transmissions at warehouse prices. With more than 4 million automotive parts available from its nationwide network of auto parts suppliers, Auto Parts Fair has the right part for just about every make of vehicle on the road.

Auto Parts Fair’s online store puts the customer first. Customers’ time and money are as important to the company as to its customers. That’s why Auto Parts Fair’s online store takes its customers though a step-by-step process to find the right automatic transmission or used transmission for their vehicles.

The website starts with a handy picture guide showing some of the most popular parts recently purchased by customers – and often automatic transmissions are in the top five. Customers can easily click on a picture to find what they need. Or they can use the drop-down menus in the step-by-step process to define what they’re looking for in a used transmission. In fact, Auto Parts Fair specializes in finding good used auto parts for its customers. An entire online catalog is devoted to locating used parts, including used transmissions.

Don’t fret if this sounds like a lot of work, because it’s not. Auto Parts Fair’s online store makes finding the right automatic transmission as simple and convenient as possible.

Auto Parts Fair knows that customers have two priorities for automotive parts: price and performance. This can be especially important when searching for big-ticket items like automatic transmissions, which is what makes finding quality used transmissions such an advantage.

Naturally everyone thinks of price when considering such investments as an automatic transmission. Auto Parts Fair offers warehouse pricing both new automatic transmissions and used transmissions that’s much as 70 percent below the manufacturers recommended list price.

Performance is the other priority when choosing an auto part: Will this part work properly? Auto Parts Fair reassures its customers that quality hasn’t been skipped to get discount prices by providing a warranty good from 12 months to as much as the lifetime of the part. With automatic transmissions being such an essential auto part, and such a big financial investment, it’s great to have the kind of warranty that Auto Parts Fair provides backing up the purchase.

Whether it’s a new automatic transmission or a good used transmission, Auto Parts Fair has the right part for any vehicle.

Cars come with either manual transmission or automatic transmission. Whether buying brand new or used, there are many factors you need to weigh in choosing which car to buy from your automotive dealer in Tampa.    

Manual Transmission in Tampa Cars

Cars with manual transmission are cheaper. Tampa dealers generally price them lower by some $1,000.00 as compared to cars with automatic transmission. A Tampa mechanic will also tell you that a car with manual transmission is easier and cheaper to maintain and repair, needing less auto service and having parts that are less expensive to replace.

Furthermore, cars with manual transmission use less gas, cutting down your fuel costs by five to fifteen percent. Since gasoline is a recurring expense, this adds up to a tidy sum.

Experienced drivers who prefer manual transmission say that it gives them better control of the car on Tampa roads, especially in difficult weather conditions.

Automatic Transmission in Tampa Cars

Drivers who prefer more ease in driving, on the other hand, say that cars with automatic transmission are better options especially in Tampa traffic. This is because the driver only needs to control the brakes and the gasoline pedal with no clutch pedal and no need to shift gears. Cars with automatic transmission are also the choice of new Tampa drivers.

Manumatic Transmission in Tampa Cars

Very recently, new car models have been produced featuring automatic transmission with some features of manual transmission put in. Ask your Tampa dealer about the availability of these models. They might provide just what you want from a car.

Car Transmission Maintenance in Tampa

Whether you have chosen a car with manual or automatic transmission, you need to take very good care of its maintenance. Take note that the car transmission can be very expensive to repair.

Always make sure that you are using the appropriate transmission fluid. You cannot interchange the transmission fluid for a manual transmission and an automatic transmission. You should not also mix different brands of transmission fluids.

Avoid overheating your car. When the transmission fluid is burned up by extreme heat, it oxidizes and leaves deposits that clog the transmission. Heat also causes rubber parts to harden and metal parts to warp. Overheating can happen in heavy traffic under the hot Tampa sun. It can also be caused by overloading your car.

Leaks can cause your car to overheat. It may be your coolant leaking, or your transmission fluid. Be sure to check under your car regularly to spot any leaks.

Make it a habit to do a diagnostic check on your transmission fluid regularly, too. Use a clean dipstick to determine the color of your transmission fluid. It should closely resemble its original color – a clear brownish red – without any flecks. It should never smell burnt.

Be conscious of any changes in your car’s performance and sounds as you drive. Unusual jerks or noises when changing gears should alert you to the immediate need for professional consultation.

Car Repair in Tampa

Invest time and effort in finding a good car repair service in Tampa. Ask for recommendations from relatives, friends and colleagues. Make sure that you choose a professional and highly reliable auto service provider. A skilled car mechanic can help you with good diagnostic service and efficient repair not only for your car transmission but also for your engine, auto AC and other concerns. Remember that in our Tampa weather even simple AC repair has to be immediate.

Only trust your car to experts. Sometimes, incompetence can lead to further damage and greater expense, especially when it comes to your car transmission.

is a bit complicated and heavy on the pocket. Most car owners make their transmission automatic since this is a lot easy and convenient however, automatic transmission in not that reliable not unless you do a regular maintenance and check ups. The maintenance of a car transmission anyway, does not require too much effort but patient instead.

To avoid damages to your car’s automatic transmission, it is best that you know the factor that can cause this, so you may avoid getting into. Most of the time, transmission failure comes as a result from overheating. A lot of factors will cause overheats as well, such as traffic jams in hot weather that causes your car from stopping over and over, or even in snows. During this hard working time for the transmissions, the fluid is burned and it’s losing its quality to lubricate.

The process will oxidize and will leave deposits on the entire transmission. And if the gaskets and rubber seals will exposed to heat inside the transmission, it will be hardened and will cause leakage. These continuous reactions and process will eventually cause failure of the transmission. Other transmission problem are caused by very low transmission fluid, reckless driving, and seldom by putting a wrong transmission fluid. But in this case, the reaction is very quick. It would take minutes or hours for your transmission to fail if a wrong fluid is applied.

Repairing car transmission usually needs a professional repair person as this is a complicated repair job. You can do the repair yourself if you already experienced the same situation in the past. And by choosing a repair shop, it would be better if you choose the one who offers warranty so it won’t be hard for you if the job’s affectivity doesn’t last that long. I would suggest that you use original parts for this kind of repair.

I will give you some tips on how to avoid problems on your cars such as transmission failure. A regular check up is still the best way. But in this case, it won’t take any effort at all. Just every time you park, look back on your parking space if there are any signs of leakage, it will only take a second s of your time. If you have free time, take a second to take a look at the level of your transmission fluid.

If the fluid seems to be dark than the normal color or looks dirty, I would suggest to change your transmission fluid as this can be a factor for your transmission to fail. Always remember that you never drain your transmission fluid. And when changing your transmission fluid, use a kind of fluid that is indicated on the manual, a lot of cars are sensitive to transmission fluids nowadays.

And for driving techniques, you can also avoid transmission problem through this tips. You can only shift to reverse if your car comes to stop completely. You can only shift from a parking mode if the engine’s rpm is higher compare than a normal idle. If you practice these simple guides and techniques, you can avoid your car to any damage thus avoiding repairing the car’s transmission.

So, OK, you paid your thousands for your vehicle. You feel great with it and also relax a bit and put some check up tasks for later.

Well, you better watch out!

Some of the most common mistakes car owners make at this point are to skip fluid checks and also the service their engines between longer periods of time.

You must always check at least the fluid levels on your car. If you don’t, you may miss a minor defect, for example, a coolant leakage.

If you don’t detect that leakage, then you will eventually run out of coolant in your vehicle, his leading to major damages to the engine and eventually diminishing your vehicle overall performance.

Protect your vehicle investment by checking your engine regularly.

In order to keep the engine in good condition this is what you must take into account:

- Engine lubrication: This can be achieved with oil servicing on time.

- Overheating prevention: Done with periodical coolant and radiator check ups

- Proper and properly scheduled engine maintenance and tune up

- Immediately eliminate any minor engine defects

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Checking the Engine Condition.
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Do you hear any noise when the engine is running?.

The engine should run evenly and you should not hear any strong noises, knocking, pinging, or whistling while the engine is idling or during acceleration.

When pressing the accelerator, the engine should accelerate quickly, with no delays or loud noises.

The idle should be stable during a stop. No smoke should come out from the tail pipe.

A good engine should be dry. The more leaks on an engine, the more damage your engine may have.

During routine engine maintenance and tune ups, cleanings, adjustments, and necessary replacements, check for the following:

- Fuel Filter: related to the loss of engine power when dirty.

- Air Filter: related to the loss of engine power, increased fuel consumption, and so on

- Spark Plugs: must be replaced to increase engine performance.

- Timing Belt, when it is damaged it can induce serious problems for the engine

- Coolant: must be replace to maintain the anti-corrosive properties.

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Check the Oil Pressure.
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Always check the oil pressure on a cold engine. Start the engine, and look at the low oil pressure warning lamp or oil pressure gauge on the instrument panel.

The time between the engine start and the time you note oil pressure at the instrument panel should be no more than one to two seconds. If this time is longer than two seconds, it means that either the oil filter is bad or the engine is too worn.

If the low oil pressure warning light goes on while engine is running or idle, there is definitely a problem with the engine. Stop your vehicle immediately if the oil pressure warning lamp goes on while driving to avoid further damage to the engine.

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Check the Engine Oil Level and Condition.
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This is very critical. Without oil a running engine will damage in a matter of seconds.

If the engine is leaking oil, try new gaskets or seals to fix the leak.

If the engine is burning oil, the valve guides and seals are most likely worn out, but the rings and cylinders could require replacement, too.

Check the engine oil on the dipstick periodically, especially if your car isn’t brand new.

Change to oil and oil filter every 3,000 miles. Immediately after performing an oil and filter change, check for oil leaks to be sure that the oil filter has been installed properly.

During oil level check up the oil should normally reach the “FULL” mark on the dipstick.

Do not add oil unless level is below the “ADD” or the “LOW” marks on the dipstick.

Never add oil to reach above the “FULL” mark, to avoid damaging of the spark plugs.

When you regularly check your oil, you will become familiar with the rate of oil consumption of your car and you’ll know when the consumption is rapidly increasing.

Also check for the oil condition. Here’s how:

The oil should look clean and translucent. If the oil is slightly-brown, it can be fine too.

However, if it’s dark-brown, but still transparent, although still admissible, it would be better to change it. If it’s too black, it’s time to change it.

If the engine oil on the dipstick is color “latté” or if it is foamy, then the engine coolant is mixing with the engine oil, i.e. an evidence of an internal engine defect (such as a blown head gasket or cracked block).

Also, the oil should never have a gasoline smell. It means there is some fuel leaking and this can be dangerous.

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Check the Coolant Level and Leaks.
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Check the coolant (antifreeze) level and investigate the system for leaks periodically.

NEVER open the radiator of a car that has just been running. Wait at least 15-20 minutes after the engine has been turned off for the engine temperature to drop before adding any fluid into the system. The cooling system of a car is under high pressure and the fluid is usually hotter than boiling water. 

Begin your check of the cooling system by viewing the front side of the radiator and the space between the engine radiator and air conditioner radiator; it should not be clogged with debris, such as leaves or heavy pollen. One of the most common reasons for overheating is debris buildup in this area.

Be sure that electric fan operates, and water pump drive belt has proper tension. The water pump should not have coolant seepage.

Check the radiator for any trace of damage and all water hoses for leaks. If you find any coolant leak, try to stop it up as soon as possible to avoid engine overheating and have a mechanic inspect the damaged area immediately.

Next, look for the cooling system expansion tank; it is usually translucent white so you can see the fluid level without opening it.

The expansion tank has two level marks on the side of it: “FULL” and “LOW”. Check the coolant level in the expansion tank. The coolant level should be between “LOW” and “FULL” marks in the coolant expansion tank. If it’s lower, you should add it, because a low coolant level may cause the engine to overheat and therefore result in engine damage.

When engine temperature is reduced (in 15-20 minutes after the engine has been turned off) , simply add a coolant into the expansion tank till its level be at “FULL” mark.

If the level frequently falls below “LOW” after adding fluid, you probably have a leak and must have it checked as soon as possible. If there is no coolant in the expansion tank at all, you should add the coolant directly into the radiator.

If the coolant color brown or rust-colored, the car may need a radiator flush. The coolant should not have any engine oil in it. If you see oil in the radiator or expansion tank, it may be evidence of an internal engine defect, such as a blown head gasket.

Antifreeze is toxic, so be sure to capture and recycle the drained fluid. Keep it off your skin and away from your eyes. It can also damage painted surfaces, so avoid spilling it on your car.

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Automatic Transmission Fluid Check up.
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Automatic transmission is a very complicated device and its repair is costly. Most automatic transmissions must be checked with the engine running and warmed up. Also, make sure the car is on a level surface and fully warmed up.

If you not sure how to check the automatic transmission fluid, here is a step-by-step explanation:

Begin by letting the engine idle with the parking brake engaged and your foot on the brake.

Move the gear selector through each gear. This ensures that the fluid is circulating through the pumps, thereby providing you with an accurate reading.

Once you have done this, put the vehicle in park, but leave the brake engaged and the engine running.

The transmission dipstick is located near the rear of the engine. Pull the transmission dipstick out, wipe it clean with a rag, and note the markings on the end of the stick. The usual markings are “FULL” and “ADD 1 PINT”. Inset the dipstick fully and remove it again to take a reading.

If the engine is cool, it should be at the upper end of the “COLD” mark.

If the engine is hot, the level should be at the upper end of the “HOT” mark.

When the transmission is warm, the level should be in the safe zone between the hash marks. If it’s lower, you should add some amount of automatic transmission fluid.

Check the fluid condition also: If it’s too black and has a burnt smell – your transmission is going to break!

Normally it should be clean and transparent. Its color may be different, from red to brown. Wipe the dipstick with clean white paper and look at the paper. Normally there should be no black deposits, no metal particles, no dirt left on the paper.

How to add the transmission fluid:

Never add fluid unless it is below the “ADD” mark and never bring it above the “FULL” mark. Make sure you check the transmission fluid type in the owners manual and use the correct transmission fluid for your vehicle. Do not substitute anything else. For example some Chrysler transmissions need only Chrysler specific type of fluid and usual fluid like Dexron II can destroy the transmission.

Add a little amount of the fluid at a time. You will need a special funnel to get the fluid into the small tube that the dipstick came out of.

Wait for a couple of minutes for the fluid to flow down. Start the engine and check the level again before adding more fluids.