What is a transmission flush and why does your car need one? Your car is able to last for many years with the appropriate maintenance. Along with engine, the transmission and the gears are a very important part of the car which should be maintained but is often overlooked and attended to when it’s too late.

Without an appropriately functioning transmission, this in turn puts stresses on other parts of the vehicle so that your costs for maintenance could escalate just from not properly maintaining the transmission. As you know, the purpose of the transmission allows the engine to operate at various speeds according to what gear that the car is in.

There are two types of transmissions: automatic and manual. The manual transmission operates by way of clutch system the driver has to maneuver. The automatic transmission shifts gears by itself. To operate effectively, an automatic transmission must contain a proper level of transmission fluid which will work as a coolant and a lubricant.

After a certain number of miles, the fluid in the transmission becomes old and discolored from continual heating. The transmission system can reach 175 degrees at its most hottest. This is normal for an appropriately functioning transmission. Sometimes, normal driving can force the heat to temperatures way beyond the normal threshold. This heat can cause friction within the system and damage the internal parts of the transmission.

Seals get broken and varnish may form inside the transmission. For these very reasons, you should take your car in for a transmission flush procedure every so often.

What is Transmission Flushing?

There are two ways that a person can go about removing old fluid from the transmission. The first method is having a simple transmission draining procedure performed. The draining process is very simple as it only involves removing the transmission plug and allowing the old fluid to drain out.

The mechanic would then place the plug back in place and add new transmission fluid to the system. While draining the fluid does allow for a significant amount of old fluid to drain, some residue is still left in the pan. This causes the new fluid to mix with the old fluid which could potentially still damage the transmission.

A full transmission flush allows for a greater amount of the old fluid to be removed. The servicing people use a pump or flushing machine to force in the new fluid and push out the old fluid. The flush machine is usually connected to the transmission cooler lines. The new fluid is put in through this line and the old fluid is collected while it’s being forced out.

When to Flush the Transmission

Typically, manufacturers recommend that a vehicle owner have his or her transmission flushed every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Some manufactures recommend a change at 100,000 mile intervals because they have added a fluid that can last longer. The owner should follow the instructions recommended in their car manufacturer’s user manual.

There are certain situations when an individual should not flush the transmission. Before making a decision on whether to give the vehicle a flush for the first time, the owner should pull out the dipstick and inspect the fluid.

If the fluid appears to be extremely dark, burnt or flakey in texture, you should not have the flush performed. This means that the transmission has already suffered a significant amount of damage and flushing it at this point might cause further problems.

The dirt may have been sealing the system, so emptying it out may cause immediate transmission failure. This seems to happen with many older cars that have not been properly maintained. It is imperative that an owner keep up with the transmission-changing schedule before the fluid begins to look dirty and harmful.

Cost to Have Transmission Flushed

An individual can perform a transmission flush on his or her own vehicle. However, it’s better to have a professional shop take care of it and use the proper equipment. The cost of a full flush by a professional establishment can vary from $70 up to $250.

The price of the procedure depends mostly on the make and model of your vehicle. The owner can sometimes find deals and coupons to use to get a certain level of savings.

The first place to look for deals on transmission maintenance is the auto shop’s website. Most auto repair shops have promotions and specials on major work because it’s usually so expensive. They will probably have advertisements on the front page of their website.

A random online search can also land the owner on a page of printable coupons they can take in for further discounting on the procedure.