Debunking the Myth – Transmissions filled for life
Transmissions Filled for Life?
Transmissions filled for life. Let’s discuss this for a minute. What are the manufacturers' and dealerships' definitions of life? What is the actual time frame? I made several enquiries at a number of different dealerships, and what I was told left more questions than answers.
Let me respond to some of the answers I received when asking: Should I have my transmission serviced? What is the life of the transmission? Can I have my transmission serviced?
“No, it’s a sealed unit. You can’t service it.”
…The oil got in there somehow. Of course you can drain the old fluid and refill with new fluid.
“The fluid will last the life of the vehicle.”
…Oil, over time, will degrade. Factors that accelerate this include towing, high temperatures, and hard use. Transmission fluid is not only used for lubricating internal components, it is also used for cooling and hydraulic pressure. Have you ever tried to cook something on the stove and accidentally got the oil too hot, only to have everything stick to the bottom of the pan? Same principle. When transmission fluid gets too hot, it thins. The next time it reaches that same temperature, it will not respond as well or be as effective at cooling.
“The life of the transmission lasts the warranty period.”
...This answer was interesting. Finally, someone willing to admit that transmissions have a life expectancy. Different manufacturers offer different warranty periods: 3 years, 5 years, 7 years, or even an extended 10-year warranty. In 2022, the average time people kept a car in Queensland was 9.5 years. Based on this, the likelihood of your vehicle's transmission lasting your entire ownership period without any maintenance is unlikely.
“It doesn’t say to service the transmission in the service schedule.”
…Many modern vehicles have extended service intervals, not only on the transmission but also the engine, fuel systems, and so on. Why do they do this? Synthetic oils last much longer than mineral-based oils. Thanks to technology and development, this means less maintenance. But at the same time, vehicles are getting used harder. Take 4x4s, for example. People are towing more and taking everything including the kitchen sink when they go away. Vehicles are being modified a lot more. You’ll hear things like, “I’ve had the engine tuned to run big horsepower,” or “I’ve just fitted larger tyres for more clearance,” or “I’ve added a throttle controller and now it’s so much more responsive.”
Our tropical climate in FNQ alone puts more stress on your transmission, with higher ambient temperatures and higher humidity.
So now let me give you our response.
At Allan’s Automatics, we maintain, repair, and rebuild transmissions every day. We see real benefits to getting regular transmission services. To the untrained eye, if it is not shifting rough, making strange noises, or driving erratically, you might wonder why you should spend money to get it serviced.
Well, like many other things, not servicing your transmission can cost you more in the long run.
There will always be some cases of early-life failure, and there will also be the rare vehicle that lasts with no maintenance at all. Some people are just lucky like that. But we recommend servicing your transmission every 20,000 to 40,000 kilometres.
If you have just purchased the vehicle, we strongly recommend getting the transmission serviced and a health check done as soon as possible. If we see signs of wear or are unsure about the vehicle's history, it is a good idea to reduce the next transmission service interval to 10,000 to 20,000 kilometres.
So please, get your transmission serviced regularly, and tell your friends:
It is not filled for life.