Description:
Automatic transmissions/transaxles
use a filter on the inlet side of the transmission’s
hydraulic pump. Different types of filtering media may be used including
a fine mesh screen, paper, or felt for filtering
media.
Purpose: A transmission filter
prevents harmful contaminants from entering the hydraulic system,
where they can increase wear and cause scoring and sticking of
hydraulic control
valves. Additionally, if a major part fails inside
the transmission, the filter may prevent pieces of that
part from contributing to
a more catastrophic transmission failure. Normally transmission filters trap metal
chips from hard parts like gears and bushings and the normal
fine material that results from wear of the hydraulic clutch facings
and bands.
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions:
Your car’s automatic transmission filter and fluid
should be changed periodically according to the schedule in your owner’s
manual. Although some maintenance schedules may claim that the
transmission fluid or filter doesn’t need to be changed for the life of
the car, remember that the average driving situation falls into
the “severe” maintenance category due to short trips and stop-and-go driving. Some shops offer
transmission flushing and filling, which is intended to remove more contaminants
than simple draining of the transmission. If you decide
to have this service performed, make sure that the transmission pan
will be removed in order to change the filter before refilling
it with new fluid. If the filter is not replaced, contaminants
from the old fluid, along with those
dislodged during the flushing process, could impair flow through the
filter and lead to transmission problems.
