Transmission Flush

Check your vehicle owner’s manual to see how often your manufacturer recommends transmission flush for your model. Common transmission flush intervals range from every 30,000-50,000 miles to every 3-5 years.

How often should you replace transmission fluid? If you aren’t having full transmission flushes, a common ATF change interval is every 3,000 miles or every two years. Again, check your vehicle’s manual.

Need help choosing which procedure is right for your vehicle? Talk to your local Midas technician. We know transmissions, and we’ll help you design an ATF maintenance plan that works for your vehicle, your schedule, and your budget.

Here are some signs that it’s time to flush your transmission:

• Dark red or brown fluid on your transmission dipstick - Fresh ATF is brilliant red. If the fluid on your dipstick is dark, it means that foreign particles have accumulated in your ATF.
• Transmission slipping - Poor coordination between the engine and your vehicle. If you hear the engine engage but your vehicle seems to respond out of sync, you could have ineffective ATF or a leak.
• Shifting feels or sounds different - Both of these problems can indicate ineffective ATF or a leak.

Midas visually inspects your transmission fluid as part of every Midas Closer Look Vehicle Check™¹. But between Midas visits, any transmission problem should be checked out as soon as possible. Your transmission is one of the costliest parts of your vehicle to replace, so fixing a small transmission problem (while it’s still small) is a big win.

A trained mechanic can perform a simple transmission flush in three to four hours using a commercial flushing machine or pump inlet. A transmission fluid change takes just about 30 minutes. You’ll need to allow additional time for any other services performed at the same time, such as the Midas Closer Look Vehicle Check™, or a transmission inspection.