When should I change the transmission fluid in my Chevy Silverado?

If you own a Chevy Silverado you’re going to want to make sure you take care of it. It might be one of the most dependable and powerful trucks on the market, designed to tackle the toughest tasks while providing the smoothest driving experience possible, but it’s still important to maintain your vehicle to ensure its longevity. Regularly scheduled maintenance is crucial to getting the most out of your Chevy Silverado, and one oft overlooked aspect of that maintenance is your transmission fluid.

Making sure your transmission system is properly cared for will ensure that your performance doesn’t dip and it continues to do its job for years to come. In order to do that, you’ll want to change its transmission fluid on a regular basis, but when exactly is that? Keep reading to learn all about the importance of changing your transmission fluid and when you should do it.

Let’s first give you a quick overview of the purpose of transmission fluid in your vehicle, as it’s something about which not everyone is knowledgeable. Like other fluids in your vehicle, its main role is lubrication. In this case, its purpose is to lubricate the different components of your transmission system. Without that lubrication, your gear shifts won’t be as smooth and the system might create too much friction and heat. Improper lubrication can obviously lead to more wear and tear of the system as well, which is never good.

Much like your engine oil, transmission fluid isn’t consumed by your vehicle but rather reused over and over. Also like oil, though, it can become contaminated and degrade over time, thus losing its effectiveness and reducing your vehicle’s performance. None of that is something you want in your Chevy Silverado, so changing your transmission fluid when recommended is very important.

So, when exactly is it recommended to change the transmission fluid in your truck? While we can give you some general rules of thumb, your best and safest bet is to check your owner’s manual for the exact recommendation. Your owner’s manual has all kinds of information on regularly scheduled maintenance and when you should be getting things done, including transmission fluid changes. However, a general rule of thumb is to change your fluid every 30,000 to 60,000 miles or two to four years.

Keep in mind that your driving conditions can affect this recommendation. For example, if you frequently tow very heavy loads, if you’re consistently driving in stop-and-go traffic or if you operate your vehicle in extreme temperatures one way or the other, your transmission fluid might need to be changed more often.

While it’s important to stay on a regular schedule for maintenance like your transmission fluid changes, there are certainly instances in which you might need to change it sooner. Here are a few warning signs to be on the lookout for, in which case you’d want to bring your vehicle in for an early change.

• Transmission fluid appears dark or cloudy
• Transmission fluid emits a burnt odor
• Difficulty shifting gears
• Delayed engagement or slipping gears
• Whining, grinding, clunking noises from transmission
• Visible fluid leaks under your vehicle
• Low transmission fluid levels

Hopefully, we’ve helped you figure out how to take better care of your Chevy Silverado. If you have any questions about your transmission fluid, when you should be getting it changed, or even any other service issues, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here at Jim Glover Chevrolet today!