loader image

Flushing a transmission is a maintenance tip for auto transmissions. This practice involves draining all the dirty transmission fluid and refilling it using a pump. This is done to maintain the integrity of the internal components of a transmission.

Moreover, it even extends the life of an auto transmission. Manufacturers recommend that you flush the fluid of an auto transmission every few thousand miles. Doing so also ensures that you get the best performance from the transmission throughout its useful life.

Another reason for flushing the transmission fluid is that it keeps the internal components clean. Over time, the grit and dirt from the transmission accumulates in the fluid. The dirty fluid needs to be flushed to ensure the transmission remains clean from within.

There are many speculations as to when you should change the transmission fluid. Some car mechanics recommend a flush every 10,000 miles. However, there are some that even extend this timeframe to 24,000 and 30,000 miles. So what is the correct time for flushing your car’s transmission fluid? The best bet is to follow your manufacturer’s guidelines regarding this.

However, it is a great idea to spare a few hundred miles. For instance, if your manufacturer specified that you should flush after 30,000, be sure to get it done at 28,000 or 29,000. This will leave enough wiggle room to have the transmission flushed before the specified time.

If you are not sure what the manufacturer specified for your car, try to find out. If you are not able to do so, then you can simply go with the standard 20,000 miles. The benchmark is two years or 20,000 miles, whichever comes first.

It won’t hurt to flush the transmission fluid before time. But it will surely damage your transmission of you fail to flush the fluid on time. Flushing is mainly aimed at cleaning your transmission from the inside. If you keep driving a car with dirty fluid, the transmission will get damaged over time.

If you want to extend the life out of your car’s automatic transmission, be sure to have the fluid flushed regularly.