
Especially in the cold season, drivers complain about a jerky or delayed gear change, loss of power or starting weakness in their vehicle.
What seems to be just a vague feeling at the beginning often turns into the realization: the shift points of the automatic transmission are no longer correct.
The slight jolt that signals the next gear to the driver occurs too late. One possible reason for this is aging transmission oil, which loses viscosity (lubricity) over time and causes deposits in the transmission, which in the worst case jam the control pistons and damage the transmission.
To prevent such damage, we recommend that you have uwe thimm automobile perform a gearbox flush.
Table of contents
When is a transmission flush necessary??
Even the best automatic and direct shift gearboxes (DSG) are subject to constant wear and tear. There is still a misconception that the oil in the transmission does not need to be changed. The promise of "lifetime durability" only applies to the life of the car. Some manufacturers now also specify the change interval for the transmission oil.
Irrespective of this, flushing is necessary to prolong the life of the gearbox. Flushing should therefore be carried out at regular intervals. This can prevent major gearbox damage, which can be very expensive.
What are the symptoms of a dirty transmission??
- Delayed, jerky gear changes
- Starting weakness
- Loss of power, poor acceleration
- Increased fuel consumption
- Slight noise from the engine compartment
- Black hydraulic oil
How often should an automatic transmission be flushed??
We recommend flushing the gearbox after about 60 minutes.000 to 90.000 km to prevent repairs and damage.
However, if you notice any of the above symptoms, it is high time to have the automatic transmission checked by our specialists, even beyond our recommendation.
What are the advantages of a transmission flush compared to a transmission oil change??
According to the terminology, a gearbox oil change should be more effective than a gearbox oil flush. Finally, replacing the old oil with new oil should give the driver a guarantee that all contaminants have been removed from the transmission with the old oil.
In practice, however, this is not the case. For technical reasons, it is not possible to drain all the oil from most gearboxes. In some cases, only half of the oil can be changed (only 20-30% for DSG). Thus, when the oil is changed, most of the gearbox oil, including deposits and dirt, remains in the gearbox components and lines.
A gearbox oil change, which therefore only means adding or topping up oil to the required quantity, is not sufficient. This is why automatic transmission flushing is recommended. Almost 99 % of the complete automatic transmission is cleaned in the process.
Why is a transmission flush better than an oil change??
- The automatic transmission is actively cleaned and flushed several times
- A special cleaner removes stubborn dirt and deposits caused by abrasion
- Almost complete change of the oil
- Cleaning of magnets and oil pan
- Better shifting quality due to cleaning
- Longer life of the automatic transmission or DSG
- To reduce fuel consumption
How does automatic transmission flushing work??
Before the flushing we perform a test drive. Here we can already see the first inconsistencies. We then move the vehicle onto the lifting platform for the transmission flushing so that we can carry out the work on the underbody of the vehicle.
The automatic transmission has its own oil circuit. The circuit is extended by our special flushing device. With the help of our cleaning device, we add a special cleaner to the old oil. The special cleaner dissolves the dirt and deposits in the gearbox. For the complete process, the transmission must have reached the specified operating temperature. All gears of the automatic transmission are flushed several times.
After the cleaning phase, we switch off the engine and let the flushing device pump out the transmission oil. We then disassemble the oil pan, clean the oil filter and the magnets, and reassemble it after cleaning. Finally we fill the oil pan with new transmission oil.
In most cases, an improved shifting behavior is immediately noticeable during a new test drive after the transmission flush.
How long does a transmission flush take?
On average, the entire process of flushing the transmission takes approx. 2 hours. This work time is due to the fact that, in addition to the actual flushing process, parts such as the underbody panels of the vehicle still have to be disassembled and assembled. If other defects or malfunctions occur, the duration increases accordingly.
What does an automatic transmission flush cost??
The cost of a flush depends greatly on the vehicle and the type of transmission. Compared to a gearbox repair or overhaul, however, the cost is only a fraction of the price.
material as well as working time can therefore vary considerably per operation. Flushing is a preventive measure and protects you from high repair costs.
Please always provide us with your vehicle data when making an inquiry so that we can submit an appropriate offer.
Which automatic transmissions can be flushed?
According to the manufacturer of the device, up to 80 % of automatic transmissions can be flushed. This includes, for example, common transmissions with the designations automatic, DSG, CVT, or multitronic.
Please ask us if your vehicle is also supported.