Downsides of a Transmission Flush The flushing procedure may cause some fluid to move in the opposite direction of normal flow due to eddy currents, which may increase the risk of dislodging debris and causing it to settle somewhere it shouldn't.
Changing your fluid cannot cause any damage by itself, if everything is fine inside the transmission. The issues start to appear when you change the fluid if your clutches are already worn or damaged from use. If you go and replace the fluid after they are already worn out. this can cause slipping.
Where a transmission fluid change will only replace some of the existing fluid for new, clean fluid, a transmission fluid flush completely removes all old fluid and replaces it with new. Mechanics recommend a complete flush approximately every 60,000 miles.
Many manufacturers recommend a transmission flush every 30,000 miles or 2 years. However, not all recommend this frequently – some suggest a flush only every 100,000 miles, and others don't recommend a transmission flush at all.
It improves shifting and reduces transmission heat. The biggest benefit is it extends the life of your transmission making it less likely for an avoidable expense like premature transmission replacement. Raben Tire's trained technicians perform multiple preventive maintenance services.
The simple answer is yes. But service intervals for new vehicles can exceed 100,000 miles before this needs to be done. That makes this seemingly clear-cut advice something of a conundrum for car owners. Those who don't hold on to a new vehicle for very long may never have to have the transmission fluid changed.
If you drive manual, most manufacturers will recommend changing your transmission fluid every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. If you have automatic, you can typically boost that range up to 60,000 to 100,000 miles. There's no harm in changing your fluid early.
Common transmission flush intervals range from every 30,000-50,000 miles to every 3-5 years. How often should you replace transmission fluid? If you aren't having full transmission flushes, a common ATF change interval is every 3,000 miles or every two years. Again, check your vehicle's manual.
If you don't replace your transmission fluid, it will break down much like engine oil and lose its lubricating and cleaning properties. This leads to high temperatures, sludge buildup, and excess friction, which can damage the internal clutches that shift the gears.
Difficulty Shifting Gears - If you ever accelerate and hear your engine rev, but don't feel your car go any faster, your transmission is likely stuck in gear. Drivers with a manual transmission will feel some resistance when you try to shift. Not being able to shift is a direct result of having low transmission fluid.
Drivers can expect to pay $125 to $250 for a transmission fluid flush service. This is approximately twice as much as a transmission fluid change. This is due in large part to the additional fluid required. A flush will take 12 to 22 quarts, while a fluid change requires 5 to 7 quarts.
How Long Does it Take to Flush a Transmission? It can take between 3 to 4 hours to flush out the old transmission fluid by vacuuming or using a simple siphoning system. Siphoning or vacuuming is repeated to remove all sticky dirt from the synchronizing gear and until the inside of the transmission is clean.
As it goes about its job of lubricating a vehicle's transmission, it picks up grit and grime. It also starts to break down as it gets older. Old, dirty transmission fluid doesn't flow properly, and this puts your transmission at risk.
The flushing procedure may cause some fluid to move in the opposite direction of normal flow due to eddy currents, which may increase the risk of dislodging debris and causing it to settle somewhere it shouldn't.
quicker explanation: Changing fluid will NOT damage your transmission, but it could reveal damage that was already present.
From our 30 years of hands-on automotive experience, there is no such thing as a truly "sealed for life" or "lifetime transmission fluid." Over time, all transmission fluids will eventually deteriorate, break down, and become contaminated and will need to be changed.
Commonly, the shelf life of transmission fluids does not exceed more than 5 years from the date of manufacture. However, this period is specified for tightly closed and sealed (and stored under recommended conditions) products.
Many mechanics recommend drivers get their vehicle's transmission fluid changed approximately every 50,000 miles. Making sure your vehicle's transmission system is in top shape can help extend your vehicle's life and keep you safe on the road.
If you wait too long to flush your transmission fluid, your transmission will begin to deteriorate from the inside out. Transmission fluid flushes are designed to prevent transmission issues and keep your vehicle working as it should.
Can a Transmission Flush Fix Slipping? Yes, your fluid might be the issue, whether it's contaminated, too high, or too low.
Keeping that in mind, it's recommended that you change your transmission filter whenever you have to perform a transmission fluid change.
The fluid's frictional properties play a vital role in ensuring the clutch plates bind together properly and gear shifts occur seamlessly. Over time, the fluid's frictional properties can degrade, leading to hard, jerky or inconsistent shifts. In this case, it's time for a fluid change.
If a transmission has too much dirt or sludge in the fluid it can cause a sluggish response when shifting gears. It may be time to flush the transmission fluid in an automatic if the car changes gears too quickly or too late. Manual transmissions that need a flush may be hard to shift at all.
Dirty Transmission Fluid
One of the easiest ways to see if you should replace your fluid is to look at it. Contaminated or old transmission fluid will be a dark brown or black color. The darker the fluid, the more critical it is that you replace it. The fluid may also have a burnt smell.
If your vehicle shifts gears without warning at any speed or refuses to go into any gear, the transmission is either about to fail or has already failed. If the gear shift in your car is difficult to get into gears, causes grinding noises, or just won't move at all, the transmission is dying or has died.