ATF Additives

Automatic transmissions operate under extreme conditions with temperature difference from -60 to +400 ° C. The oil is constantly contaminated with transmission wear debris: pieces of plastic, metal fragments, rubber and sealing elements, adhesive layer of friction clutches. ATF should lubricate rubbing parts, save them from wear-out, cool transmission components, help in shifting gears and transmitting the torque from the engine to wheels. Contaminated oil gradually loses its qualities, its ill-timed change leads to the whole series of malfunctions. ATF issues are considered to be the main reason of automatic transmissions failure, therefore some drivers use ATF additves. Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) additive is a liquid with unique characteristics which is used for improvement of the automatic transmission performance and prolonging its service life.

Contaminating pieces should be settled in the filter, but it has a limited capacity. The filter may get clogged and become the source of significant hydraulic resistance depriving some transmission parts of ATF. The contaminated valve body starts to operate incorrectly, plungers and valves become wedged, sensors provide incorrect data and the valve body delivers wrong pressure. The oil with metal pieces damages channels of the valve body. Due to improper pressure, some parts of the automatic transmission receive less oil and get burned, while other transmission components get excessive pressure and start slipping. Other negative result is that ATF may foam and lose its qualities, leading to burning of transmission parts.

In the following video you can see how to check ATF:

Some specialists assume that in addition to well-timed ATF change and filters replacement car owners can use transmission additives. It should be noted that such additives are intended only for improvement of the transmission lubrication and cooling. Auto owners should not expect that such additives will improve dynamic characteristics of the vehicle or restore worn-out mechanical part. But it can help in making transmission operation smoother and clean the valve body from contaminating pieces that in some cases may help in elimination of kicks and jolts.

The list of positive effects may also include:

- softening of hard seals and pistons

- avoiding of pressure losses in the hydraulic system

- postponing of the gearbox overhaul

- neutralizing of acids that accumulate in ATF

- providing additional resistance to the effect of heat

- preventing ATF oxidation

- modifying friction parameters for better gearbox performance

-providing additional lubrication to moving parts

-softening and removing of varnish from internal components

Additives are divided into several types, namely:

• Fluids for washing automatic transmissions (usually products of such brands as "Lubegard" or "Hi-Gear"). These products are used before the oil change and help to wash out all wear products from the torque converter. On the other hand, usage of these fluids in significantly worn or damaged transmissions leads to clogging of the transmission with large worn-out components

• Sealing additives are used to prevent or eliminate leaks in channels of the transmission. It helps to fix the leakage without transmission disassembly. But at the same time this substance may have a negative impact on plungers, solenoids, and mechanical valves. In some cases oil valves get clogged.
• Additives-conditioners reduce the level of friction between metal components of the automatic transmission. The friction level actually decreases, which leads to lower level of wear-out and higher durability of metal parts (bearings, gear components). But usage of additives-conditioners may also result in worse quality of traction between components and slipping.
• Additives for restoration of rubber seals and pistons (such as Trans-XK&W). Such additives may temporarily restore operational characteristics (elasticity and flexibility) of sealing rubber bands and pistons. The problem lies in the fact that additives continue to soften and swell the seals until they simply fall apart.

• Universal additives (“Stage Transmission” produced by XADO) which are supposed to have positive qualities of above mentioned types of additives. The positive effect of many additives in most cases turns out to be short-dated and may be useful for more profitable car selling.

All in all, usage of additives attracts a lot of controversy. In some cases additives help to prolong the service life of automatic transmissions, on other occasions, usage of additives results in necessity to perform the overhaul or replace the entire transmission.