Many automatic transmissions are sealed or can be checked only by a mechanic. Always refer to your car’s owner’s manual for the proper service intervals.

A manual transmission is one with a stick for shifting gears and a third pedal for operating a clutch. Many automatic transmissions now enable manual shifting, and one style is even known as an ...

In our tests, we've found that in some cars a manual transmission can improve gas mileage by a significant 2 to 5 mpg, compared with an automatic, and can cut a car's price by $800 to $1,200.

We'll be in your inbox every morning Monday-Saturday with all the day’s top business news, inspiring stories, best advice and exclusive reporting from Entrepreneur.

So, where does the transmission come into play? In a vacuum (without a transmission), the explosive power produced by a typical automobile’s internal combustion engine would be too high for starting ...