QA

When To Flush Transmission Fluid

Depending on what the manufacturer recommends, you may need to get a transmission flush every 30,000 miles or two years. In some cases, your owner’s manual may suggest waiting until your car reaches 100,000 miles. Your best bet is to check your manual and consult with our technicians.

Are transmission flushes really necessary?

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. A transmission flush can extend the life of your transmission.

Why You Should Never flush your transmission fluid?

Almost every car manufacturer recommends against using transmission flushing chemicals, and most will void your transmission warranty if they can prove these chemicals are being used. These chemicals can damage your transmission, which is why most automakers recommend against them.

Is it better to flush or change transmission fluid?

A transmission fluid change will help to restore your system to good working order and is the cheaper option. It is also a relatively simple task that can be undertaken by vehicle owners. A transmission fluid flush is more costly, but will replace all of the fluid and any contaminants that have built up in the system.

When should transmission fluid be 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.

How much does it cost to flush transmission?

A typical transmission flush will cost around $150. A transmission flush on smaller cars may cost in the low $100s while it may cost more than $200 on larger vehicles. A good rule of thumb is that a transmission flush costs about twice as much as a fluid change.

Should I change transmission fluid after 100k miles?

Do You Need to Have the Transmission Fluid Changed? The simple answer is yes. But service intervals for new vehicles can exceed 100,000 miles before this needs to be done. Those who don’t hold on to a new vehicle for very long may never have to have the transmission fluid changed.

Is it safe to change transmission fluid on high mileage?

Changing the transmission fluid on a high-mileage car is risky. Don’t do it unless your transmission is running fine and the fluid is first-rate, because it can make transmission failure imminent.

What are the benefits of a transmission flush?

What Are the Benefits of a Transmission Flush? Prevent Transmission Problems. One of the most important benefits of a transmission flush is that this simple service can prevent transmission problems in the future. Save Money on Repairs. Transmissions can be expensive to repair or replace. Improve Engine Efficiency.

How do I know if my transmission fluid is bad?

6 Signs Your Transmission Fluid is Bad and Needs Changing Dirty transmission fluid. Transmission whining noise. Gears slipping. Can’t go into reverse gear. Slipping out of gear. Engine running hot. Grinding noise.

What is the difference between a transmission flush and a transmission service?

There are two significant differences between a transmission service (routine maintenance) and a flush (also called a fluid exchange). The first is during a service, approximately 40-45% (4 to 6 quarts) of the transmission’s fluid is changed and a flush changes closer to 100%.

Will changing transmission fluid improve shifting?

If you catch a shifting issue very early, a transmission fluid flush can sometimes fix shifting issues. The fresh fluid helps clutch discs and steel discs bond and hold without slipping. The seal conditioners in the new fluid help soften the clutch piston lip seals so they seal better.

Is it OK to change transmission fluid at 150000 miles?

Transmission change intervals in cars vary from 30,000 to 50,000 miles, 100,000 to 150,000 miles, and so on. Many modern vehicles run-up to over 100,000 miles before requiring a change of their transmission fluid. They recommend that you change the transmission fluid after about 50k miles.

How do I know when I need a new transmission?

What Are the Transmission Failure Symptoms? Refusal to Switch Gears. If your vehicle refuses or struggles to change gears, you are more than likely facing a problem with your transmission system. Burning Smell. Noises When in Neutral. Slipping Gears. Dragging Clutch. Leaking Fluid. Check Engine Light. Grinding or Shaking.

What are the signs that you need a transmission flush?

5 Signs That Your Car Needs a Transmission Flush Transmission Grinding or Strange Noises. Problems Shifting Gears. Slipping Gears. Surging of the Vehicle. Delay in Vehicle Movement.

Can I flush my transmission myself?

A transmission flush-and-fill from a shop will cost you $149 to $199. But you can do it yourself and save about $100. Draining the old fluid has always been a messy, ugly job. That’s because it has meant lying under the car, “dropping” the pan—and then getting drenched in fluid.

Can a transmission flush cause problems?

If you do a flush when there is damaged transmission material in the transmission fluid, you could cause a problem in the valve body at the bottom of the transmission. If the valve body gets gunked up with damaged transmission material, you could lose the ability to shift between gears.

Should I change my transmission fluid at 120k miles?

At 120,000+ miles you should change it. Even under ideal conditions you are only changing 75% of the transmission fluid unless you pump fluid through the torque converter where several quarts will remain , The idea behind the fluid change is to renew the additives and lubricating properties in the fluid.