If you own a truck, you know how important it is to maintain it so that it will run properly. Doing so will help your truck last much longer, and you will have fewer repairs. One thing you must do is to keep your automatic transmission fluid changed when needed. Below are some things that will likely happen with your truck if you do not change this fluid.

Hurt Your Transmission

The main thing that is affected by not changing your transmission fluid is the transmission. Transmission fluid acts as a coolant and keeps your transmission cool.

Each time your transmission pumps, flecks of metal from the transmissions, gears, synchronizers, and gears erode. Over time, these flecks of metal will contaminate transmission fluid. Once this happens, the fluid becomes much thicker, and the fluid cannot do its job, which causes the transmission to overheat.

As the fluid runs through the transmission, the flecks of metal scratches it, which causes damage. The transmission will run hotter, and this causes the transmission to degrade.

Problems with Slipping Gears

When your transmission becomes dirty, there is less hydraulic power. To be able to keep your truck in the right gear, the transmission has to give enough pressure. When the transmission is dirty, the fluid cannot flow throughout the gears.

Causes Surging

When driving your truck, you may notice it surges quickly. This is because when your transmission is dirty, not enough transmission fluid will flow through the moving parts and inside the transmission. Once this happens, these parts cannot work properly, and your truck will surge forward or jump and then fall backwards again when you are driving it.

Delay in Movement

Because the transmission fluid is dirty and the gears cannot operate properly, your truck may stall for a few seconds before it starts moving after you put it in gear.

Flushing the fluid and replacing it with clean fluid may be all you need to do to get your truck running normally again. If you still have problems after you flush and change the fluid, however, take your truck to a transmission repair technician. If you are not sure when you should change your transmission fluid, refer to your owner's manual. If you do not have this, the transmission repair technician can give you this information. They can usually tell this if you give them the make, model, and year of your truck.

For more information, contact a business such as Karry's Automotive Service Center.