Does Your Automatic Gearbox Really Need Servicing?
Many motorists ask us the same question:
"My automatic gearbox feels fine. Why would it need servicing?"
It's a fair question, especially when some manufacturers describe their transmission fluid as being "sealed for life". Unfortunately, that phrase has caused a lot of confusion over the years.
The reality is that automatic transmission fluid has an incredibly demanding job. It lubricates moving parts, operates the hydraulic systems that change gear, removes heat and protects the gearbox from wear. Over thousands of miles, that fluid naturally deteriorates.
As the oil ages, it becomes less effective at protecting the precision components inside the gearbox. Microscopic particles from normal wear also circulate within the transmission, gradually reducing the fluid's performance.
Routine servicing replaces this ageing fluid before it can contribute to unnecessary wear.
Why service your gearbox?
Routine gearbox servicing helps to:
- Improve gear quality and responsiveness.
- Maintain hydraulic pressure.
- Protect internal bearings, clutches and valve bodies.
- Reduce heat-related wear.
- Extend the service life of the transmission.
- Reduce the likelihood of major gearbox repairs.
Like servicing an engine, preventative maintenance is considerably less expensive than rebuilding or replacing a gearbox.
Servicing isn't a repair
One of the biggest misconceptions is that changing the transmission fluid will repair an existing fault.
If your gearbox is already slipping, selecting gears poorly, making unusual noises or displaying warning messages, a service alone is unlikely to resolve the problem.
In certain circumstances, servicing a transmission with an existing internal fault may even exacerbate the symptoms.
For this reason, we always recommend diagnosing the condition of the gearbox before carrying out any service work.
Specialist diagnosis comes first
Every automatic gearbox is different. DSG, torque converter, CVT and semi-automatic transmissions all have different servicing requirements.
Before recommending any work, we assess the condition of the transmission using specialist diagnostic equipment and our extensive experience with automatic gearboxes.
Our objective is simple: provide the correct solution rather than the quickest one.
Need advice?
Whether you're unsure about your service interval or you've noticed a change in the way your gearbox performs, our specialists are happy to help.
Contact AutomaticMan for honest advice, professional diagnostics and specialist automatic gearbox servicing.