Transmission Fluid Flush
Transmission fluid flush is a very necessary service. Do the Flush: A primer on Changing your Transmission Fluid.
Unless you’re a seasoned driver who knows the anatomy of your car like you know your own body, reading car manuals can be very stressful. Not only are information hard to follow and understand, there can also be bits and pieces that could appear unclear and vague if you’re simply not familiar with auto mechanics or a beginner. One of the most frequently asked questions for many vehicle owners would concern the transmission fluid flush; what is it, how they affect the car performance, why they are needed, how to do it and when. Indeed, it is something not clearly expounded in most car manuals and guidelines, and thereby neglected—leading to some of the most common car problems and failures.
In actual fact, based on a recent research conducted by the Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association (ATRA), 90% of all transmission breakdowns are prompted by overheating; most of which can be directly attributed, if not blamed, on worn out fluid that should have been replaced. For this reason alone, we could already see how significant the transmission fluid flush could prevent such potential inconveniences. Worry not, for as long as you know the basics and some quick know-hows, your car should be problem-free.
Understanding the system of how your car’s automatic transmission fluid (ATF) works is simple enough. Through friction, it creates a lot of internal heat once the vehicle is in motion. Inside the torque converter, the friction of the fluid churns and engages the gears and other bearings, once the ATF rises in temperature. Normal driving shouldn’t be a problem but once they reach a particular limit, that’s where the ATF starts to wear off. It starts to oxidize and change color, usually turning brownish and takes on a distinct burn smell. This should be easy enough to recognize and watch out for. Then, as the heat proceeds to destroy the fluid's lubricating features and friction characteristics, varnish also starts to form on the rest of the internal parts (such as the valve body) which interferes with the operation of the transmission. Hence, unless you drive extreme or deal with extreme climate, then fluids don't need to be changed early. You should know when exactly would be the best time to do a transmission fluid flush.
Most car manufacturers and dealers would be likely to recommend a transmission fluid flush every 100,000 miles because their prescribed maintenance schedule is designed and calibrated for a 100,000-mile lifetime for the car. Thus, it is necessary to do the process far more than what the dealer recommends if you wanted to get your car last longer. Standard ATF flush would be every 30,000 miles.
Also, you could do the transmission fluid flush by yourself for the cost of the new fluid if you wanted to steer away from expensive flushes on lube shops, or the probability that you could get ripped off. Place a a drain pan under it and then remove the drain bolt. Wait until it is fully drained before you put the drain plug back in. You can now fill it with the new ATF thru the dipstick hole according to the recommended level which you could find on your car manual. You could use a funnel and a hose, if necessary. That will change enough of the fluid to get you by until the next transmission fluid flush necessary.