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Automatic transmission oil change - the secret weapon for jerky transmissions
04/23/2025
If the gearbox is jerking and gear changes are becoming increasingly sluggish, there may be various reasons for this. Very few people think about the automatic transmission oil.
But why actually?
The reason is quite simple. Nowadays, many manufacturers still advertise with so-called "lifetime fillings" and terms such as "maintenance-free". Many people don't realize that there is no such thing for mechanically and thermally stressed vehicle components. After all, every part that is supposed to function smoothly in the long term requires regular and professional servicing - this also includes the automatic transmission fluid, as it fulfills a number of important functions that can be lost with advancing age and lack of care.
Checking the fill level and tightness - as recommended by many manufacturers - is not enough. This is because the viscosity of the oil decreases with increasing age and the additives added to it are used up. As a result, the oil cannot perform its tasks reliably. A condition that cannot be detected by the fill level alone.
Did you also know that it is particularly important to change the oil in automatic transmissions with wet clutches? This is because the friction lining floats in the transmission oil, which can lead to an accumulation of different types of abrasion in the oil itself. The hydraulic filter can absorb some of the abrasion and thus prevent deposits, but only for a limited period of time. This is because even the best filter medium becomes clogged after a certain amount of time and the surrounding components, such as the tooth flanks and running surfaces of the gears, can be affected.
At this point at the latest, an oil change or gearbox flush is necessary to prevent damage to the gearbox.
MEYLE's recommendation: Change the transmission oil after 80,000 - 120,000* kilometers or according to the manufacturer's specifications with a lower mileage.
Incidentally, electric cars are not "spared" an oil change, as many people think. They also have components that need to be lubricated to prevent premature wear and tear and bring the expensive car into the workshop sooner than necessary.
