Automatic Transmission Fluid

Why "all-fits-on" products are no alternative

As the drive to increased fuel efficiency and lower emissions continues, automatic transmissions continue to evolve each having their own specific and unique set of performance needs. Due to the technical requirements each transmission needs to achieve, it is essential the correct Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) is specified in order to ensure the transmission performs to its potential, providing efficient and reliable operation throughout its lifetime. This applies to automatic transmissions of all ages, whether straight off the product line or those which have been in operation for several years.

Requirements for an ATF

Automatic transmissions are being developed with more speeds, ever increasing torque levels and using alternative and often lighter materials. Therefore, the requirements for the ATF are changing and increasing:

Cooling
Lubricating
Transmission of force and pressure
Wear protection
Fill-for-life capability

Improved friction control providing excellent shifting performance
Strong anti-shudder properties
High durability, oxidation and shear stability
Low-temperature fluidity

Due to the variety of performance requirements for the ATF and the variety of hardware used, there can not be a universal solution for ATFs.

The importance of dedicated automatic transmission fluids

The implication of using fluids which have not been designed and tested for the specific automatic transmission can lead to problems such as

loss of acceleration,
difficulties in gear shifting,
excessive component wear and
in worst-case scenarios total (and very costly) transmission failure.

Some damages are not noticeable immediately after an oil change, but only become noticeable in the long term.

The right transmission fluid contains a balanced formulation of base oil, performance additives and viscosity modifiers, each performing very specific and vital functions. OEM specific and industry standard tests must be conducted to validate ATF performance prior to final proof of testing in long-term durability transmission and vehicle tests.

Benefits of the correct dedicated ATF:

Lower total cost of ownership
Reduced service and maintenance costs
Improved reliability
Increased fuel efficiency
Improved driving experience

Good to know:

"Fill-for-Life" with automatic transmission oils

The first-filled automatic transmission fluid usually remains in the engine over the entire life of the vehicle. Only in the event of a repair of the gearbox there will be a gear oil change. FUCHS recommends a regular check of the oil level - preferably with every engine oil change in a specialist workshop.

However, automatic transmissions and the used automatic transmission fluids are often exposed to difficult and severe conditions. High operating temperatures e.g. can lead to increased wear of the gear oil and to significant losses in shifting ease.

In this case a change of the automatic transmission oil can lead to a significant improvement. But it is quite important that all the remains of the old filling are flushed out. FUCHS offers special equipment for all interested workshops.

In any case, on the one hand the drain intervals of the manufacturer as well as the exact quantities are to be considered exactly. After all, automatic transmissions are very sensitive to both over- and under-filling. The FUCHS oil chooser offers you exact information about suitable automatic transmission fluids and the right quantities.

FUCHS portfolio of ATFs

As leading supplier of gear oils, FUCHS has a unique portfolio of ATFs designed to meet a range of specific automatic transmissions.

New in our portfolio:

FUCHS has developed three specially optimized ATFs for ZF, a major supplier of driveline and chassis technology, with its automatic transmissions being used by a significant number of OEMs across the globe.
These ATFs are designed to meet the specific demands of latest and older generation ZF automatic transmissions:
TITAN ATF 6009, TITAN ATF 6008 and TITAN ATF 6006.

Contact us

Phone:

+420 603 899 911

E-mail:

Pavel.Broz@fuchs.com

The automatic transmission

Automatic transmissions comprise many components with varying materials needing to work together to provide a smooth and reliable performance. Such components include the torque converter, planetary gear sets, vane oil pump, seals, as well as clutch packs and brake assemblies.