Increasing demands for ever better fuel economy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions require increasingly complex vehicle designs. For vehicles with automatic transmissions, technological developments mean that it is more important than ever to choose the right Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) product so that the transmissions function optimally throughout their lifetime. Never before have there been so many different types of gearboxes as in today's vehicles. Today, the focus is increasingly on the gearbox being able to work with the rest of the vehicle to provide better overall performance with increased fuel efficiency, lower emissions and a more comfortable driving experience.

Automatic transmissions contain many components of different materials that must work smoothly and reliably together. Examples of such components are torque converters, planetary gear unit, centrifugal oil pump, seals, as well as clutch unit and brake unit. The trend is towards more gears, while at the same time using alternative, and often lighter materials. As a result, higher demands are being placed on the ATFs, which are very important for the function of the gearbox.

An ATF is probably the most complex of all lubricating fluids.

The oil must cool and lubricate, at the same time as it must transmit power and pressure. An ADR must meet requirements that can often be contradictory. For example, it should reduce friction and prevent wear on components, while at the same time providing a carefully balanced level of friction that allows the coupling and torque converter to work efficiently. Increasingly, ATFs also need to last for the lifetime of the system without replacement, have high anti-friction durability, good cutting stability, be liquid at low temperatures, and have better oxidation stability. All of these requirements must be met. At the same time, the oil will contribute to better fuel efficiency and reduced emissions combined with each specific solution for the automatic transmission.

As hardware designs in the automotive industry evolve to become increasingly complex, it's no wonder that fluid requirements preclude universal solutions for both new and old vehicles with automatic transmissions.

Costly faults or trouble-free operation

Possible consequences of using fluids that have not been developed and tested for the automatic transmission in question are poorer acceleration, difficulty shifting, excessive wear of components and, in the worst case, total (and very costly) gearbox failure. Some damage is not noticeable immediately after an oil change, but only in the longer term.

However, the benefits of using the right custom ATF are noticeable, including a lower cost of ownership, reduced service requirements and lower maintenance costs, higher reliability, increased fuel efficiency and a better driving experience.

A complex process

The development and testing (validation) of ATFs is a complex process due to the wide range of performance requirements and the variety of materials used in the components. OEM-specific and industry-standard tests must be conducted to validate ATF performance before final long-term tests of transmission and vehicle durability.

Tested and approved ATF oils with the right composition contain a balanced blend of base fluid, performance enhancing additives and viscosity modifying substances, all of which fulfill very specific and important functions. Examples of important additives that increase the performance of ATFs are friction-modifying agents, cleaning and atomizing agents (detergents and dispersants), foam, oxidation and corrosion inhibitors, floating point reducers, gasket swelling and wear-reducing additives.

The content of all these additives must be carefully weighed so that they work together and fulfil their specific functions. Chemistry specialists create the complex formulations so that additives, base fluid and viscosity modifying substances do not conflict with each other, allowing the ATF to work as intended with the mechanical parts of the automatic transmission.

The extensive development and testing process guarantees the function of the specially adapted ATF in the gearbox throughout the vehicle's lifetime.’’