Changing your transmission fluid is very important whether driving an automatic or manual vehicle. Most car owners neglect the transmission oil and are only concerned with the motor oil. Therefore, you must have your transmission oil checked and changed every so often. If you are wondering if you can get your transmission fluid changed at a Walmart Auto Care Center in 2023? This post is for you.
Transmission fluid plays many roles in a vehicle. If you drive a car that uses automatic transmission, the transmission oil plays an even more critical role. The transmission oil is used in gear lubrication, torque converter operation, clutch friction operation, and valve body operation. The transmission fluid lubricates the metal parts inside the gearbox and keeps them from grinding against each other once you change gears.
Read on if you are curious about the transmission oil services provided at a Walmart Auto Care Center as of 2023.
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Does Walmart Change Transmission Fluid In 2024?
As of 2023, you cannot get your transmission oil changed or flushed at a Walmart Auto Care Center. If, when offering Oil and Lube services, Walmart notices you are running low on transmission fluid, Walmart may refill it. The service cost will be $19.88, but it may vary depending on your oil brand preference.
If you need to flush or change your transmission oil, you can buy the required transmission oil from the store. You can later change your transmission oil yourself or hire a professional mechanic to do it for you. Alternatively, you can get your transmission oil flushed or refilled at other stores such as Valvoline or Meineke.
How Much Does Transmission Fluid Refill Cost At Walmart?
If the transmission fluid in your car only needs to be refilled, the total cost will be $19.88. The services you will get at the auto care center include checking the transmission fluid and filling it up if it is running low.
The price, however, is not inclusive of the transmission fluid. If you want to buy transmission oil for your car, the price starts from $4. The price may vary depending on the brand of transmission fluid required for your specific vehicle. It is also essential to know whether you need manual or automatic transmission fluid.
How Long Does It Take To Refill Transmission Fluid At Walmart?
Checking and flushing transmission oil is often an easy task for an experienced and well-trained mechanic. Therefore, the service only takes 15-30 minutes at a Walmart Auto Care Center. If you are on a tight schedule and want to get your transmission oil filled up, you should call your local auto care center first to know when to go in. By doing so, you will avoid waiting in queues if there are any.
Walmart Auto Care Centers are also open at different hours, and it is necessary to call first if you are unsure if your local center is open.
Can I Buy Transmission Fluid At Walmart?
Walmart sells bottles of transmission oil. The price ranges from $4 to $60; it depends on the particular brand, size, and quality of the transmission fluid.
Which Brands Of Transmission Fluid Are Available In Walmart?
Walmart sells a wide variety of transmission oil brands. Examples are Super Tech, Honda, Mobil, Castrol, LUCAS, Caraquet, Mopar, Motorcraft, Valvoline, etc. If you are unsure about the brand of transmission oil that you need for your car, you should use the oil recommended by your car dealer.
For more help, you can visit Walmart’s Auto and Tires Page on Walmart’s official website. A “find the right parts for your vehicle” tool is provided. You can use that tool to get a recommendation of the transmission oil to use for your specific car. All you need to do is enter the year, make, model, submodel, and engine base of your vehicle and click on the “view results” button.
Where Can I Get My Transmission Fluid Changed?
You may have to look for an alternative store since you can not get transmission oil flushing and changing services at a Walmart Auto Care Center. The following are some stores that offer transmission oil flushing and refilling services.
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Valvoline
Valvoline offers an exceptional transmission oil change service called Valvoline Instant Oil Change SM. At Valvoline, some certified technicians will offer the services in only about 20 minutes. The oil changing service will happen when you are sitting in the comfort of your car. When you use Valvoline, you will save up to 30% to 50% compared to your dealership.
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Pep Boys
Pep Boys offer multiple transmission fluid service packages. The first package is the Automatic Transmission Fluid Change Service package which costs $129.99. When you buy the package, the technicians provide a thorough check of your transmission fluid. Another package is the Automatic Transmission Complete Fluid Exchange Service. The package costs $179.99. With that package, you will get your transmission oil replaced entirely.
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Meineke
Meineke provides transmission services at their Meineke Transmission Service Shop. They provide services such as transmission maintenance. At Meineke, a certified technician will perform a computer diagnostic to figure out the problem. Additional products include transmission fluid flush and replacement.
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Jiffy Lube
Jiffy Lube offers transmission oil services such as transmission oil flushing and refilling. You will get all standard oil checks and flushing services at Jiffy Lube.
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Las Americas Auto Repair
With 15 years of experience, Las Americas Auto Repair offers many transmission-related services. Las Americas Auto Repair will rebuild, repair, and service all transmissions, including high-performance, high-duty, and automatic. Apart from transmission oil change, other comprehensive transmission services include custom 4x4 transmission, drive axels, manual transmission repair, transmission band adjustments, and transmission rebuilds.
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Budget Transmission
Budget Transmission has over 40 years of experience in fixing transmission problems. Because Budget Transmission only deals with transmission problems, they can do the job right and at an affordable price. Additionally, every mechanic who works on transmission problems at Budget Transmission is a fully trained ASC and GM specialist.
Reasons Why You May Want To Change Your Transmission Fluid
As mentioned earlier, most car owners only check their motor oil regularly while forgetting to check their transmission oil. If left unchecked, the transmission oil will break down. The oil may also become contaminated with debris created from the moving parts grinding.
If the transmission oil starts running low, you will notice a decreased performance when changing gears. The leading cause of transmission failure is transmission overheating, mainly caused by low transmission fluid.
The following are some symptoms of low or contaminated transmission fluid which may imply it is time to change or fill up your transmission fluid.
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Puddles
The formation of puddles under your car is often a sign that your transmission fluid is leaking and needs to be checked.
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Colour
Suppose your transmission fluid’s color turns from the original light, clear fluid to a darkey, muddy fluid; it could indicate that your fluid is contaminated with debris and therefore needs to be replaced.
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Burning Smell
If you can smell an unusual tart smell, it could indicate that you have an issue with your transmission, and it needs to be checked.
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Dashboard Warning Light
If there is a dashboard warning light indicating high transmission temperature, there is a problem with your transmission resulting in your transmission fluid overheating.
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Roaring Sounds
If you hear a roaring sound when taking a corner or accelerating, it could indicate something wrong with your transmission, and it may be a good idea to get it inspected.
When Should I Change My Transmission Fluid?
Once you start seeing any of the symptoms mentioned above, it might be time to go and get your car serviced and have your car’s transmission thoroughly inspected. It is recommended by some manufacturers that you have your transmission fluid changed every 30,000 - 60,000 miles.
The recommended mileage depends on many factors, such as the type of transmission that the car has. Other factors include the car’s make and model.
If you are concerned with the state of your transmission fluid, you can just pull the transmission dipstick to check the levels. Most cars have a dipstick, and you can refer to your owner's manual to locate it if you are unsure of its location.
Conclusion
As of 2023, you can not get your transmission fluid changed or flushed at a Walmart Auto Care Center. However, Walmart will fill up your transmission fluid once they detect that it is running low when offering Oil and Lube services.
You can buy transmission fluid from Walmart from their wide variety of brands. If you are unsure of the correct transmission fluid for your car, you can use Walmart’s official website to get a recommendation of the correct transmission fluid for your specific car model.
If you are looking for alternative stores that offer transmission oil flushing and changing services, you can check Valvoline, Pep Boys, Meineke, Jiffy Lube, and Las Americas Auto Repairs. You must keep checking your transmission oil as much as your motor oil. Some indicators of contaminated or low transmission oil are puddles, color change, burning smell, roaring sounds, and dashboard warnings.