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How to Find When Your Car Needs a Transmission Flush

ByTsukasa Azuma-February 06, 2018

Cars or vehicles are not only some automotive that you buy and use but they are one of the essential parts of today’s life. Imagine, you are getting late for an important meeting, or there is some medical emergency in your family and you are in a rush and suddenly the gears of your car start acting weird. What would you do at that time if not cursing your vehicle and your destiny?  However, have you ever thought that the villain is the transmission fluid, and your carelessness is behind the crazy behavior of your car? Yes, transmission fluids lubricate the transmission system and other components against timely wear. Sometimes due to carelessness or unawareness about the transmission-fluid-maintenance, it leads to a major disaster.

What are the important signs that your car needs a transmission flush:

Usually, it is not specific to tell when your car needs a transmission flush. Different vehicles perform differently and it actually depends on upon many factors that decide about the need for a transmission flush. Let us discuss some very common symptoms about needing to change the transmission oil.

The car gear slips:

Mainly three reasons can cause the slipping of gears. If the transmission fluid is dirty or, if the dirt or the grunge interrupts the easy flow of a transmission fluid in the car, or the transmission fluid is not full. A gear can perform better when the transmission able to create enough pressure for smoother functioning. When the transmission fluid is dirty, the hydraulic power of the car affects badly because the dirt or contamination in the transmission fluid restricts the obvious flow. In such case, it is compulsory to flush the dirty transmission fluid or refill the transmission fluid to its exact level needed.

Grinding of transmission:

Is your vehicle making horrible noises when you start it? It is the time to check the cause of the strange noise. The reason may be obvious. Either there is dirt in the transmission fluid or the transmission fluid’s level is low. In either of the cases, you need to look for a transmission flush. Now the question persists, how would you recognize that the transmission fluid is dirty or contaminated? It is quite easy. Mostly the fresh transmission oil is having a red color but various other brands have different colors also. Now, when the obvious color of your transmission fluid changes to the dark black, it means that the fluid is full of sludge.

Vehicle Jerk or Stall:

Have you ever felt the jerking of your car without any road bumper as soon as you shift the gear? If yes, when is the last time, you went for the transmission flush? The jerking or stalling of the vehicle is also the symptoms of the dirty transmission fluid and your vehicle needs a transmission flush to deal with the problem. If the car transmission flush is dirty, it restricts the smooth flow of the fluid into the transmission and hence, the vehicle jumps, surges, stalls or delays its movement as soon as you start the car or shift the gear.

The Gear has been shifting problem:

If you often feel that your car’s gear behaves sluggish, this may be due to the contamination in transmission fluids. The symptom is telling you to go for the transmission flush.

The transmission flush does not mean that you need to replace the whole transmission system of your car. It simply means it is the time that you need to take your car to the service center or the gas station, and ask for the change of the transmission fluid. A cautious timely action and a bit of knowledge about your car can help you to protect your vehicle from further chaos. So, next time, when your vehicle acts weird suddenly, do not blame the destiny but be quick to look for the reason and do the safe driving.

Tsukasa Azuma is an awesome car blogger of Car From Japan. He owns a car repair shop at downtown Osaka, and he put all that experience to good use in his sharing posts. Tsukasa’s blog is one of the best resources for information about keeping your favorite imported car running smoothly. Moreover, because of being passionate to learn about the recent happenings in auto industry, he doesn’t only provide great car maintenance tips, he also always updates latest trends in among car brands and share them in his own interesting viewpoint.

Comments

Roger Middleton11:37 November 14, 2017
Reply

I liked that you had mentioned that it can be important to watch out for your vehicle making loud and horrible noises when starting because of the transmission. My son and I have been working on his car and recently it’s been grinding the transmission when starting and just isn’t changing gears as well as normal. I might have to start looking into a company that can handle a transmission repair and hopefully we won’t have to worry about this anymore.

john16:47 September 15, 2017
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Hello,i appreciate your answers car problems now why is my Mitsubishi cedia ABS light is always on while driving& secondly the car normally vibrates when driving over 80kpm on the road what is the problem?thanks

Trang Tran02:42 September 26, 2017
Reply

Thank you for contacting Car From Japan. However, we cannot answer your problem because there are many things we need to see at your car. I suggest you bring the car to a local mechanical shop to solve your problem.

Lewis Kasanka05:45 January 31, 2017
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Thanks a lot your information was so helpful. I drive a Hyundai tucson JM 2006 model and for two years now I have never flushed the transmission system. Your advice is very critical but could it be too late because I feel some jerking when accelerating?

Trang Tran01:09 February 07, 2017
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Thank you. We will provide more useful information like this. Stay tuned

Annika Larson10:18 January 25, 2017
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Lately, my car has been making some pretty awful sounds when starting up. Just as you described, it is most likely a simple issue in the transmission. I’m not very good with cars, so I will definitely need to take it in to get some work done on the transmission, but I appreciate the help to know more about what was wrong with my car! Thanks for sharing!

Trang Tran01:40 April 03, 2017
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We are glad that you like the article. Don’t forget to share with your friends!

emily bennette13:43 January 11, 2017
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I like that you pointed out that when you have a transition flush doesn’t mean you have to replace the whole gearbox. I don’t know much about my car’s gearbox. So, I am glad that you pointed this out and it seems like you should have a professional do the repairs.

Dennis Sanchez04:59 November 24, 2016
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I noticed a bit of grinding in my transmission early today and was curious as to what that might mean. You mentioned that it could mean that there is dirt in the transmission fluid or that the transmission fluid level is low. I’ll have to take it to a reliable transmission repair to have it checked, to see if it needs a transmission flush or something more.

Sarah Smith05:38 September 22, 2016
Reply

I drive an older car and it’s been shifting funny. Thanks for the advice about how jerking when shifting is a sign that your transmission needs to be flushed. I would be smart to get your transmission repairs done by a licensed professional.