換 Transmission Fluid

1.多久換一次:一般自己車的manual上有，有些沒有，看repairmanual上也有，大致情況是30K或是24months,也有12個月的。
2.怎麽換，多少錢: 首先要明確的是不同的車很不一樣，大致分為兩種：
a,.同換engineoil類似，transmissionfluid有一個drainnug，filter也是圓柱形，很像enginer filter.這種車換起來很容易，labor應該同換engine oil/filter一樣，但是因為transimission fluid一般較貴，所以算起來大約10~20(labor)+20(4-5quarters)+ filter
注意：千萬不要混淆engine filter/transmission filter，因為相似，常有把transmission fluid放光，以為放得是engineoil，然後加engineoil.這種情況下很可能把車給廢了。（一個較簡單的區別方法：對大多Chrysler和GM來說，engine filter在副座那邊，而transmission filter在駕座這邊。其他的車係不好說，歡迎補充）
b,.要拆transmissionpan的，別的不說，就這個pan拆下來也要下10多個螺絲，拿下來以後（過程中放掉fluid），才能下filter，另外一般pan裏都有一個吸鐵石用來吸金屬屑，這個要清洗幹淨，安裝的時候要把舊的gasket和sealer都去掉，換上新的，filter的gasket也要換新的，這種情況下，labor要高很多，估計是50~100(1hourslabor)+20(fluid)+>10(filter/gasket).這個gasket有很貴的，也有很便宜的，看車了。所以比較不同車換transmission fluid的價錢是沒有太大意義的。
c.還有一些車，有專門的drainnug，但是filter在pan裏麵，這種車多數情況下車鋪裏就隻換fluid的，如果開了pan換gasket和filter，價格參照上麵的部分。
3. fluid的類型：常用的大致四種：ATF+3/4, ATF F，ATF A, Dexron III/Mercon. GM/Ford大多用DexronIII,Chrysler大多用ATF+3/4，其他較雜。最好參考自己的manual。千萬不用用混。
4. 換transmission fluid不是flush transmission一般小車中transmission fluid有大約12-16quarter，但是每次換一般4-6 quarter.所以其實並不是真正地換了transmission fluid，flush不同，要有專門的高壓設備，自己一般作不了，而且新車還可以作，舊車最好不要，flush舊車要冒廢掉transmission的風險的。

Materials and Preparation:
1. Buy an automotive repair manual for your model of car to get familiar with your car, especially, the layout of transmission cooler and hose lines. In most cars, the transmission fluid cooler is integrated into radiator. The transmission fluid flows out transaxle into top of radiator through cooler’s inlet, and goes back to transaxle through cooler’s outlet at bottom of radiators. Some car may have opposite design.
2. To have your friend, spouse as an assistant .
3. 6 mm or 9 mm plastic tube few meters long, different size of plastic connector and clamp.
4. 12 to 15 quarts (bottles) of ATF. Use the type of ATF recommended by manufacturer in the owner’s manual. Misuse of wrong type of ATF may cause damage to your car’s transmission.
5. A large funnel with long narrow stem for filling ATF.
6. One large container (4 Gallon). It is better to have a transparent plastic container with graduation, allowing to estimate the fluid volume. One flat oil tray (1 gallon).
7. A floor jack (optional). Transmission cooler’s inlet is located in front of car under the radiator. It is relatively easy to access without jacking up the car. But you may want to lift the car up a little for more room.
8. Paper towel or rug for cleaning.
9. Screwdriver and pliers for removing hose clamps, if you can not use your fingers.
10. Before starting the work, make sure you completely understand the procedure.


Procedure:
1. Start the car, let it warm up for 5 min, and then shut the engine down.
2. Locate the transmission cooler’s inlet, and put the oil tray beneath. Then pull off hose line coming from transaxle. At this point there will be some transmission fluid coming out thru both ends of line.
3. Connect the transmission fluid hose to a piece of plastic tube long enough to direct the fluid into the large container. For extra safety you may also connect a piece of plastic tube to the cooler’s inlet and direct the tube into the large container.
4. Remove transmission dipstick, put the funnel on to the filling hole. Open the cap of all ATF bottles and put them in a place where they can be easily reached.