WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON'T DO THIS: Change Transmission Fluid

If you don't change the transmission fluid on schedule, like in a manual transmission, automatic transmission fluid will become contaminated with worn bits of the transmission. If these metal shavings and contaminants are not drained out, they will shorten the life of your transmission.

Transmission fluid is a slippery liquid that acts as a lubricant for all of the moving parts inside your transmission. In an automatic transmission, this fluid also serves as a coolant and a viscous fluid that transmits power from the engine to the transmission…