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The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation

MAHLE Aftermarket advises on the benefits of transmission oil flushing

Date: Wednesday 24 July 2024

MAHLE Aftermarket has released its latest Technical Messenger, focusing on the benefits of transmission oil flushing, which is an essential maintenance practice for ensuring the longevity and performance of automatic and direct-shift transmissions.

Alan Povey, Quality, Warranty, and Technical Manager at MAHLE Aftermarket, commented: “Transmission oil flushing is a vital process that removes contamination and abrasion particles from within the transmission.

“This not only improves shifting behaviour but also reduces wear and prolongs the transmission's service life. In cases where the transmission oil is contaminated, such as through coolant leakage, flushing becomes essential to prevent further damage."

Over time, the oil in automatic and direct-shift transmissions degrades, and simply changing the oil and filter doesn't solve the problem entirely, as up to 50 percent of the used oil and dirt can remain in the transmission.

Transmission oil flushing effectively removes these contaminants, ensuring cleaner operation and better performance, says MAHLE.

Modern transmission flushing devices, such as those in the MAHLE FluidPRO® ATX series, offer a combination of user-friendliness and high performance.

These devices use only the cleaning power of fresh oil and the flow rate of the flushing process, avoiding potentially harmful chemicals.

The intuitive user interface guides the operator step-by-step through the process, which can be performed and monitored by a single person.

The Remote Viewer app even allows the procedure to be conveniently controlled from anywhere in the workshop via a smartphone.

“The benefits of transmission oil flushing are clear, as it removes contaminants that can affect the transmission's performance, resulting in improved shifting behaviour. What’s more by eliminating abrasive particles, flushing helps reduce wear on transmission components,” added Povey.

Regular flushing extends the life of the transmission, and it is crucial when transmission oil is contaminated by other substances such as coolant.

For a long service life and high shifting comfort, MAHLE recommends changing the oil in automatic and direct-shift transmissions and flushing the transmission at regular intervals. If the transmission oil has been contaminated, flushing is essential to maintain optimal performance.

For more detailed technical information, please refer to the technical bulletin available for download here.