In most cases, getting a transmission flush every 30 000 miles or every two years is sufficient. However, there may be times when you need to do this sooner, in order to help protect your car’s transmission. There are some common signs to look out for, which indicate that your car or truck needs a transmission flush.
Historically, opportunities for automatic transmission fluid (ATF) changing were limited. So owners of automatic vehicles tended to go for longer between gearbox services. They also used lubricants for extended time periods. Even with quality lubricants, failure to follow manufacturers’ advice regarding maintenance and care of drive systems can result in high levels of ATF contaminants.
This in turn can result in anything from minor issues (such as jerking or delayed gear changes) to the need to replace the entire transmission. Which can be a very costly procedure.
Transmission grinding or strange noises
A vehicle transmission that is contaminated with dirt, grease and sludge can display symptoms very similar to what you’ll experience with inadequate levels of transmission fluid. If you notice your transmission grinding or making strange sounds, you should immediately stop driving. Check the transmission fluid level while the engine is still running. Ensure that the transmission fluid does not appear brown or black (a colour change that is caused by grime and sludge). If the fluid level in the transmission is as it should be, your vehicle probably needs a transmission flush.
Problems shifting gears
Regardless of whether you drive an automatic or manual, your car requires clean transmission fluid that flows easily. A transmission that contains too much dirt or sludge will cause sluggish gearshift responses. This will result in your vehicle changing gears either too soon or too late. In manual transmission vehicles, dirty transmission fluid can mean you find it very hard to change gears at all.
The ‘filled-for-life’ myth regarding automatic transmissions is exactly that – a myth. Investing in an ATF change can add to the lifespan of the gearbox, enhance your automatic driving experience and save you money over time.
Hippocrates ‘Taki’ Bogiages Technical Manager at Motul explains: “Our MotulEvo system has a proven pedigree that combines the full range of our premium products and through our partners, this system offers a service to flush, analyse and change the automatic transmission fluid in a simple, timely and professional way.”
Slipping gears
A dirty transmission may cause a lack of hydraulic power, which can feel much the same as not having enough transmission fluid. In order to stay in the appropriate gear, the transmission must develop enough pressure. When a transmission is too dirty, contaminants can interfere with the flow of transmission fluid that’s needed to achieve this. If your transmission has no other problems and the fluid level of the transmission is full (or close to it), the problem is probably restricted fluid flow. The build-up of dirt and contaminants will need to be flushed out.
Vehicle surging
When your vehicle’s transmission is polluted with dirt and contaminants and needs a transmission flush, you may notice the surging of your vehicle. This happens because your car’s dirty transmission does not allow for adequate transmission fluid to flow. Your vehicle may tend to jump or surge forward and then fall backwards for no apparent reason. Without a consistent flow of clean transmission fluid, the gears and other moving parts inside the transmission bell housing cannot operate smoothly.
Delays in vehicle movement
Another sign that your vehicle may have contaminated transmission fluid is when it stalls for one or two seconds before moving after having been put in gear. If there are no other problems with the transmission, a flush may still help. You should be aware that if your vehicle is displaying these symptoms, your dirty transmission may have already caused bigger problems.
Conclusion
It’s clear that allowing contaminants to build up in your vehicle’s transmission can lead to performance issues and impact your driving enjoyment. While owners of manual vehicles have always been able to find workshops where they could have transmission flushes performed, this has not always been the case for owners of automatic vehicles. That situation has now changed.
The advent of MotulEvo in South Africa is an important step towards better and more frequent automatic transmission services. As well as an enhanced driving experience for owners of automatic vehicles, including classic cars.
Here’s a list of ATF service locations in South Africa:
HM Auto (Gauteng)
LUMO Motorworld (Gauteng)
GTone (Gauteng)
Versloot Motors (Gauteng)
Goch & Cooper Auto Services (Cape Town)
VAGcore Automotive (Port Elizabeth)
German Auto Clinic (Gauteng)
