As cars get increasingly complex, it's easy to get lost amidst of all the jargon. This is true for automatic transmissions, too. In the past, automatic transmissions were fairly straightforward torque converter units. These days, there is a wide range of automatic transmissions. The ZF gearboxes in BMWs, Aisin gearboxes in newer Citroens and Peugeots and the 9G-tronic in Mercedes-Benzes are examples of torque converters. Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT) can be commonly found in newer cars from Honda, Toyota and other Japanese brands.

Dual-Clutch Transmissions (DCT) are usually found in premium and high performance models, such as the DSG gearboxes in Audis and Volkswagens, Porsche PDK transmission, as well as in Mercedes-AMG and BMW M models. Also, there are semi-automatic transmissions such as Lamborghini's E-Gear transmission, which electronically controls the clutch.

When it comes to properly maintaining and servicing your car, it's important to understand exactly what sort of transmission your car has, and what are some of the key characteristics of that particular type of transmission. And regardless of what transmission your car uses, you can be assured that Eclipse Pro Auto are well-equipped to meet all of your maintenance and servicing needs.

Is Automatic Transmission preventive oil change necessary?

Some people have the misconception that Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) has a long life span and does not require replacing or servicing. However, this is not the case - our hot climate and start stop traffic tends to put higher strain on the transmission and cause greater wear on the ATF.

Different manufacturers have their own recommended oil change interval. For example, ZF indicates that ATF should be replaced in interval of 80,000km to 120,000km. Porsche recommends replacing ATF at 90,000km or every six years, while Aisin specialists recommend oil change every 20,000km.

For peace of mind, you should have your technician check the ATF quality during your regular engine oil change. The highly experienced technicians at Eclipse Pro are able to detect any change in viscosity, colour or smell that could be a tell tale sign of the oil under excessive usage, or early signs of transmission issues.

The common transmission problems that drivers will face are either jerkiness during gear changes, or the inability to engage drive from a standstill, or slippage during acceleration. When this occurs, you should immediately stop driving and seek assistance - carrying on driving will only further damage the gearbox, which may lead to significantly costly repairs. 

All around capability

Of course, Eclipse Pro is also capable of dealing with all types of cars, anywhere from your daily beater to rare supercars alike. The workshop has invested in a wide range of diagnostic tools, software, and hardware to deal with all manner of potential problems. With the technicians' extensive experience and the workshop's expansive capabilities, Eclipse Pro has also become the go-to workshop for difficult issues that cannot be resolved elsewhere.

Eclipse Pro is also certified to service hybrid vehicles as well. Also, the workshop is consistently looking to deepen the knowledge of its technicians and expanding their skill competency, to deal with the evolving car market that will likely see more hybrid and electric cars in the future.

What else should I know?

It's important to understand that each car model is different, and thus comes with its own unique characteristics and maintenance requirements. Understanding your car will ultimately help you to better judge the condition of your car, and to be able to recognise when issues occur.

If you're unsure about what are the things you should be looking out for, you can head down to Eclipse Pro for a free consultation. There, the well-trained and highly-experienced technicians are fully equipped to help you better understand the specific characteristics and maintenance requirements of your car.  The technicians will also be able to highlight any issues that are known to commonly occur with your particular car model.

Additionally, Eclipse Pro also recommends that especially at the end of your car's initial warranty period, it's best to get it checked and thoroughly evaluated. This will ensure that you can carry on driving without having to worry about undetected problems eventually surfacing. The workshop is equipped to carry out an extensive range of services, including general maintenance, engine overhauls, hybrid battery replacement with coding and ECU fixes.

Also, Eclipse Pro recommends getting your car checked for common issues such as engine or transmission leakage, as well as wear and tear to the engine mount. This is especially the case if you are considering renewing the COE of the car.

For any queries, issues or troubleshooting, the easiest way to get in touch is via phone or whatsapp. Eclipse Pro Auto Transmission can be contacted at 9022 5288, 9889 3838 or 6257 5055. You can also visit the company's website at www.eclipseproauto.com. Eclipse Pro Auto Transmission is located at 10 Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2A #02-04/10 Singapore (568047), and is open from 9:00am to 6:00pm from Monday to Friday, and from 9:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday.