“Take care of your car in the garage, and the car will take care of you on the road.“—Amit Kalantri. Whether you drive a manual, an automatic, or a CVT, your car’s transmission needs to be kept in good condition.
In this article, we’ll discuss the essentials of transmission fluids, specifically signs that your car might be due for a transmission flush.
What Is Transmission Fluid?
Transmission fluid lubricates the various moving parts in your car’s transmission to boost its overall performance.
If you have an automatic transmission fluid, it also acts as a coolant, so you won’t have to worry about your clutch or solenoid overheating.
What Is Transmission Flush?
In is service a mechanic removes contaminated old fluid, sludge, and grime from your car’s transmission and replaces it with new, high-quality transmission fluid.
This process can significantly enhance your car’s performance, ensuring smooth gear shifts and prolonging the life of your transmission.
Signs That Indicate Your Vehicle Needs A Transmission Flush
Below are six signs you need a transmission flush:
1. Grinding or Strange Sounds
If your car’s transmission is making unusual noises like grinding, this could be a sign you need new transmission fluid. The solution can be as simple as a transmission fluid flush to get your car running smoothly again.
2. Problems Shifting Gears
A car should shift gears smoothly and quickly. If your car is having trouble shifting or is not operating smoothly, it could be due to worn-out transmission fluid.
3. Slipping Gears
A transmission in good condition should stay in the gear you select until you decide to change it. If your transmission “slips,” moving from one gear to another on its own, you may need a transmission flush.
4. Surging of the Vehicle
If your vehicle randomly surges forward or falls backward for no apparent reason, your transmission fluid may be at fault. Debris within the fluid can cause these surges in power, which can be rectified with a transmission flush.
5. Delayed Vehicle Movement
When a vehicle is in good shape, movement should begin right after you shift from park to drive. If car stalls for a few seconds before acceleration, your transmission fluid probably needs to be flushed.
6. Fluid Color
If the fluid itself if brown or black, it’s also a sign that you need a transmission flush. New, clean transmission fluid should be bright red in color. It’s crucial to take your car to a service center as soon as possible, to avoid further, costly repairs.
7. Your Check Engine Light is On
A check engine light can come on due to issues related to bad or contaminated transmission fluid. While the check engine warning signs are primarily associated with engine-related problems, fluid level issues can trigger the light as well.
Transmission Fluid Change Vs Flush
Both transmission change and flush replace your vehicle’s old, dirty transmission fluid with new, clean fluid. However, there are a few key differences between them, as mentioned in the table below:
| Fluid Change | Transmission Flush |
|
A transmission fluid change is the simplest transmission service. | A transmission fluid flush is more thorough and comprehensive. |
| This transmission service only removed about 70% of the old fluid, and the filter are replaced. | Unlike the change, this will remove all of the fluid from the transmission. |
| You will still have some old fluid lingering in the system. | This will help your car to perform the best that it can. |
Factors That Will Affect The Pricing
While a transmission flush is more expensive than changing your transmission fluid, there are some factors that can change how much you’ll need to spend. Some of the factors that will affect your transmission flush include:
- The year, make and model of the car.
- The type of flushing machine utilized.
- The type of fluid required.
- The amount of fluid needed.
- If you need to change the filters or other services.
- If you’ve scheduled an appointment beforehand with a car technician.
Conclusion
If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to consider a transmission flush. Remember, following a regular maintenance schedule can prevent these issues and help keep your car in top shape.