Most auto parts stores have walk-through aisles where you may get several "mechanic-in-a-bottle" transmission oil additives supposed to improve gear performance. Are there any working transmission additives? That's what this post will discuss. Some transmission additives make lofty claims and promise one or more of the following:

• Fixes transmission slipping
• Restores smooth shifts
• Stops leaks
• Conditions worn seals
• Frees the stuck valves to improve shifting

What Do Transmission Additives Do?

Let us first define what transmission additives are and what they do.

Your transmission fluid performs some essential functions. It is a hydraulic fluid that allows shifting, protects bearings and gears from wear, controls heat, and offers frictional properties to guarantee consistent shifts. The fluid deteriorates over time, particularly in cases of very hot transmission from towing or hauling.

Heat causes transmission fluid to oxidize or break down. Breakdown of fluids allows sludge to form, plugging small passageways and interfering with shifting. Worn fluid can also fall short of giving your transmission the right frictional properties. You soon find your car moving erratically or hard. The seals may potentially harden with time, which would cause them to leak and break.

Transmission fluid additives are meant to restore the fluid's properties and are in charge of providing the right frictional properties, heat resistance, and other advantages. Some incorporate chemicals used to soften and swell old seals, hence "fixing" leaks.

Their lower cost than a fluid flush or refill has benefits. Most folks would also sooner toss a bottle of the additive into their Napa parking lot than arrange a transmission fluid change at their technician.

Additives Can Harm Your Transmission

Lubricant producers put great effort into creating transmission fluids that prevent wear and leaks and provide reliable shifts. Aftermarket additives might upset the highly adjusted chemical balance of the fluid and reduce performance. Most makers of vehicles and transmissions also warn against using them.

If you have transmission issues, save your money from a "miracle" solution sold in a bottle. See your mechanic to have the issue corrected. Invest the money then into correctly servicing your transmission with premium transmission fluid. Over time, you will probably save time and frustration.

Does Transmission Fluid Have Additives?

Automobile lubricants have a particular purpose: to keep a car running at its best performance. Particularly in an automatic gearbox, the transmission fluid serves several purposes in protecting one of the most sophisticated systems in a vehicle, out of countless components inside it.

Among other things, transmission fluid lubricates, guarantees correct performance in both high and low temperatures, maintains appropriate clutch friction, and offers liquid coupling in the torque converter. This is where the additives come in.

Transmission fluid usually calls for 10 to 20 percent additives and 80 to 90 percent base stock oil. Though it seems like a small amount, additives have a great impact. The base stock oil loses its protective qualities and breaks down with time.

Additives either give fresh ones to the lubricant or aid in enhancing its qualities. Since automatic transmission fluid (ATF) interacts with practically all transmission components, a fluid derived from premium base stock oil and additives offers better protection.

How Additives Benefit a Vehicle’s Transmission

Today's gearboxes operate at higher temperatures; additives help to lower damaging heat and stop overheating. Additionally, transmission fluid additives help in providing friction modifiers to prevent metal-on-metal contact and anti-wear protection.

Add to that anti-shudder durability, anti-foam agents, detergents to clean metal surfaces, and oxidative protection against heat breakdown, and it's clear to see why transmission fluid additives are so crucial.

Additives in Hybrid Vehicle Transmission Fluid

A hybrid car has different powertrain needs. In a hybrid vehicle, the electric charge might cause problems when a lubricant contacts an electrical component. A hybrid car requires an automatic transmission fluid specially designed for hybrid vehicles.

CVTs: Additives for Seamless Operation

Fixed gears are absent from a continuously variable transmission. Rather, it achieves an infinite range of gear ratios by using either a belt or a chain moving between two pulleys. This kind of equipment increases fuel economy and makes acceleration seamless. Still, it calls for quite extraordinary lubrication. Specifically, friction modifiers for CVTs are the ideal additives for these systems. This guarantees that the chain or belt will not slip or seize and will slide easily between the pulleys.

They also stop the continuous movement of the belts and pulleys from damaging them. For the oil of CVTs, their high-pressure functioning calls for extreme-pressure agents. These reduce metal-to-metal contact and, thereby, belt and pulley wear. Another essential quality of antioxidants is their ability to prevent heat- and oxidation-induced fluid degradation.

Anti-foam agents are necessary for the constant performance of CTV additives. These compounds guarantee seamless fluid movement and help to avoid air bubbles. It keeps the hydraulic efficiency in the transmission intact.

Automatic Transmissions: Additives for Hassle-Free Shifting

Furthermore, the design of an automatic transmission is significantly more complicated than a manual transmission. Its automatic hydraulic shifting mechanism means it uses hydraulic media and fluid for lubrication. Under several circumstances, the transmission fluid should maintain its viscosity and flow properties.

Automatic transmission depends on friction modifiers as a basic additive. They stop clutch slippage, therefore facilitating smooth gear changing. They also eradicate any shaking that can arise during running. For older automatic systems prone to rough shifts, they are priceless.

Agents for cleaning, such as dispersants and detergents, prevent sludge build-up. They keep the hydraulic system practical and clean. Furthermore, heat-resistant additives are important since automatic transmissions might cause heat while running. The thermal stability of additives helps to stop fluid breakdown at high temperatures.

The hydraulic system depends heavily on anti-foam chemicals. Their prevention of air bubble formation helps to explain the existence of air bubbles in the fluid, which can destroy the functionality of the transmission.

Manual Transmissions: Additives for Reliability and Durability

They are designed to be less complex than other forms. Drivers use a clutch and gear stick to engage the gear shifts. This configuration calls for thick transmission fluid to resist extreme environments.

Wear and pressure reduction is where the best manual transmission fluid additives shine. Between the gears, anti-wear chemicals create a covering that shields. They are ideal for wear reduction. Likewise, in harsh conditions, the additives with EP (extreme pressure) compounds enable smooth gear shifts.

Heat is the natural byproduct of gear movement. The thermal stability of additives helps to guarantee that the fluid maintains performance even in hot conditions. From any dampness, the anti-corrosion chemicals resist rust on the gears. Cleaning solutions remove sludge and deposits so as not to affect seamless gear changes.

Can Additives Prevent Transmission Fluid Leaks?

Leaks in transmission fluid often cause worry. A little fluid loss could cause slippage, overheating, hard shifting, and ineffective transmission. Additives in a transmission fluid can help avoid leaks, even if they won't stop them once they start. High-efficiency conditioners are used in some full synthetic ATF formulations, for example, to preserve and extend the flexibility of seals, therefore preventing leaks and expensive transmission damage.