{"id":32312,"date":"2022-12-19T01:47:34","date_gmt":"2022-12-18T17:47:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carsome.my\/news\/item\/lifetime-transmission-fluid"},"modified":"2023-05-03T16:51:24","modified_gmt":"2023-05-03T08:51:24","slug":"lifetime-transmission-fluid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carsome.my\/news\/item\/lifetime-transmission-fluid","title":{"rendered":"Falling For Your Car\u2019s \u201cLifetime\u201d Transmission Fluid Claim Might Mean an Early Death for You Gearbox"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many modern transmissions in cars are now labeled as having a \u201clifetime\u201d transmission fluid. At face value, this implies that the fluid or lubricant in the gearbox doesn\u2019t have to be replaced for the entire lifespan of the car.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nonetheless, much in the same way that Thanos believed wiping out half of all life rather than doubling the amount of resources would prevent the extinction of resources, the term \u201clifetime\u201d is wide open for interpretation and debate.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Do Carmakers Mean by \u201dLifetime\u201d?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Driver<\/p>\n

To the layman, a lifetime might be mistaken as forever. That\u2019s a mistake. Forever implies until the end of time whereas lifetime infers that the existence of something is finite and will cease at some point.<\/span><\/p>\n

Still, at the risk of evoking the wrath of Aristotle, Gandhi, and Friedrich Nietzsche, let\u2019s not fall down the rabbit hole that\u2019s existence but circle back to lifetime transmission fluids.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read More: <\/b>5 Habits That Are Actually Damaging Your Car\u2019s Transmission<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Most transmission fluids such as ATF (automatic transmission fluid), CVT fluid, DCT fluid or manual transmission fluid require replacement after the car has clocked a certain amount of mileage. Therefore, \u201clifetime\u201d transmission fluids wouldn\u2019t need to be replaced at all, right?<\/span><\/p>\n

Again, back to the definition of \u201clifetime.\u201d It implies there\u2019s an end to the car\u2019s life, or a point when it becomes obsolete.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s due to the fact that modern cars are all designed with planned obsolescence in mind, meaning that the carmakers consider them obsolete after a certain mileage has been clocked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Corresponding with that, they designed the transmissions; usually traditional torque converter automatics, with a sealed case that doesn\u2019t cater to replacing the fluids within.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, the scheduled maintenance list for a 2015 <\/span>Mazda 2<\/span><\/a><\/span> doesn\u2019t carry a suggested interval for the ATF\u2019s replacement. As such, the official service center won\u2019t perform an ATF replacement, even if requested by the owner.<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, the owner can opt to have an independent workshop carry out the task but that would likely result in the warranty being voided.<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, some carmakers that implement a lifetime transmission fluid in their vehicles design the transmission case in such a way as to prevent easy access to replace the fluid.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"car<\/p>\n

Circling back to the definition of \u201clifetime,\u201d it\u2019s generally understood to be the span of the car\u2019s warranty. That\u2019s approximately 5 years or 100,000 km, though the timeline and mileage can vary depending on the make and model.<\/span><\/p>\n

For argument\u2019s sake, the carmaker will argue that the \u201clifetime\u201d claim is completely accurate as once said car surpasses 5 years or 100,000 km, it\u2019s considered obsolete by their definition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Obviously, most car owners don\u2019t exactly replace their rides after 5 years. Not everyone has been able to cultivate the fabled money tree in their gardens yet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read More: <\/b>Auto vs Manual Transmission<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Should You Replace Your Transmission Fluid?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The pertinent question now is, how will the transmission fluid in the case stand up to the vehicle\u2019s use following the end of this period?<\/span><\/p>\n

Regardless of the type of transmission, all fluids within the case will degrade over time under the heat and sheer forces exerted by the gears. That means the fluid will lose its ability to properly lubricate the transmission’s internals over time.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is precisely the reason most specialist, independent workshops strongly recommend you replace the transmission fluid regularly in cars that come with a \u201clifetime\u201d fluid. Prevention is better than cure, so keep the fluids fresh before they degrade to the point that the transmission experiences catastrophic failure.<\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, depending on the type of vehicle or your usage of it, these specialist workshops will suggest a shorter interval. It might seem like an unnecessary cost on your end but don\u2019t be penny-wise but pound-foolish. If your transmission fails, that might leave you needing lubrication for yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read More: <\/b>What Is a Car Engine Overhaul and When to Do It<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Draining<\/p>\n

How transmission fluid is drained<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re fretting over how these workshops will replace the fluid due to the sealed case, well, that\u2019s why we pay them\u2026 They\u2019re the experts.<\/span><\/p>\n

While it might not be as simple as unscrewing a drain plug and letting the old fluid out, even these sealed transmissions will have been designed with accessible service points for technicians.<\/span><\/p>\n

The reason for this is that if the center were to carry out a transmission rebuild or perform major work, they would definitely replace the fluid due to the possibility of contamination. So, yes, there will be a way. It\u2019s just not made easy by design.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re unsure of the type of fluid in your transmission or its lifespan, just check the owner\u2019s manual. Most types that require a replacement will be within the 80,000 to 100,000 km range.<\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, if your car has an ATF dipstick, you can <\/span>check the condition of the fluid yourself<\/span><\/a><\/span>. ATF is usually red in color and turns darker as it degrades with use.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/span><\/h2>\n

To sum it up, \u201clifetime\u201d transmission fluids fall squarely under the carmaker\u2019s definition of what said lifetime\u2019s span is and not as long as the car runs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Among the fluids in a car, the transmission fluid undergoes extreme forces. Therefore, it\u2019s paramount that the transmission fluid doesn\u2019t lose too much of its properties due to degradation.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, even if your car comes with a \u201clifetime\u201d transmission fluid, it\u2019s recommended to have it inspected by an independent workshop to ensure optimum levels of performance. If you\u2019re worried about voiding the warranty, have that inspection done as soon as the warranty period is over.<\/span><\/p>\n

At CARSOME, when we <\/span>refurbish<\/span><\/a><\/span> a pre-owned car, we make sure all the parts, including the lubricants, are in good condition. Otherwise, we\u2019ll replace them to ensure an optimum service life for the car\u2019s parts. So you can rest assured that you\u2019re getting a quality vehicle when you buy from us.<\/span><\/p>\n

Visit <\/span>CARSOME<\/span><\/a><\/span> to find your dream car or download our app from the <\/span>Google Play Store<\/span><\/a><\/span> or <\/span>Apple App Store<\/span><\/span><\/a> today!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do \u201clifetime\u201d transmission fluids actually last that long? We explain it all here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":30079,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[150,117],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nShould You Change Your Car\u2019s \u201cLifetime\u201d Transmission Fluid?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Many manufactures claim to use "lifetime" transmission fluid but do they actually last a lifetime? 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