# CVT Transmission Service? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [March 25, 2025, 11:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cvt-transmission-service/199614 "2025-03-25T23:09:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![matthewdmorris\_178154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@matthewdmorris\_178154](https://community.cartalk.com/u/matthewdmorris_178154)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2025, 11:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cvt-transmission-service/199614/1 "2025-03-25T23:09:16Z")
Hello Everyone, I have a 2020 Kia Rio with 54K miles. The dealership has said go ahead and do a transmission service, because it’s needed more often with CVT’s. That might be wise advice, because a friend had one of the Nissan’s with the early CVT’s that crapped out before 75K miles. But… mine’s still going fine, and non-dealership mechanic told me that he only goes for the transmission service if there’s real symptoms, since as most of you probably know, what you’re flushing out isn’t pure liquid and can cause damage. My warranty runs to 100K and I plan to sell it before that, but I don’t want to leave someone with a ticking time bomb of a poorly maintained vehicle. Am I creating a problem for the next owner by selling at 95K and never having it serviced? Or worse, am I risking stranding myself at some point even though the performance is great? Thanks! =MM= ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2025, 11:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cvt-transmission-service/199614/2 "2025-03-25T23:13:00Z")
Usually once there are symptoms, it’s to late. I would do it now. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2025, 11:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cvt-transmission-service/199614/3 "2025-03-25T23:26:01Z")
I second that… change it now. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2025, 12:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cvt-transmission-service/199614/4 "2025-03-26T00:20:07Z")
One more yes vote, just make sure factory-approved fluid is used. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2025, 1:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cvt-transmission-service/199614/5 "2025-03-26T01:57:53Z")
I had a Honda Accord with a CVT and I had the AT fluid changed at 40,000 miles. I’d do it now too. ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2025, 2:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cvt-transmission-service/199614/6 "2025-03-26T02:59:44Z")
> [@matthewdmorris\_178154](#): > > mechanic told me that he only goes for the transmission service if there’s real symptoms, Do you go to the dentist for a cleaning and exam before you have a toothache or after? 😀 People say that servicing a transmission can cause trans failure. That’s only true if the transmission is on its way out anyway. I would service it now. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2025, 3:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cvt-transmission-service/199614/7 "2025-03-26T03:25:15Z")
+6 or however many above me… lol **Changing your fluid cannot cause any damage by itself, if everything is fine inside the transmission…** EDITed to say, while using the correct ATF for the vehicle… That should be a given… ---
**Author:** ![matthewdmorris\_178154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@matthewdmorris\_178154](https://community.cartalk.com/u/matthewdmorris_178154)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2025, 12:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cvt-transmission-service/199614/8 "2025-03-26T12:47:18Z")
Thanks everyone… Yeah, I am always a little suspicious of someone saying you don’t need a service when his shop doesn’t provide that service anyway, which was the case with the guy advising against. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2025, 3:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cvt-transmission-service/199614/9 "2025-03-26T15:02:08Z")
5 yrs old. How long have you owned it? ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2025, 7:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cvt-transmission-service/199614/10 "2025-03-26T19:57:37Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > Changing your fluid cannot cause any damage by itself, if everything is fine inside the transmission… Not exactly true anymore. With so many different ATF types out there, the wrong type can certainly damage your transmission. Beware of shops that use a “universal ATF with vehicle specific additives”. Also be careful with shops that service different models with the same machine even though they may use the factory ATF for each vehicle servced. The ATF may be contaminated with other types of fluid which may or may not do harm. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 1:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cvt-transmission-service/199614/11 "2025-03-27T01:59:04Z")
> [@keith](#): > > service different models with the same machine As I understand it, Generally speaking, you are NOT supposed to flush a CVT transmission using a normal pressurized flush machine, only drain and fill, or pan drop if it has a pan and filter if applicable, or the dealer/shop might have a CVT ATF exchange machine that is designed to exchange the CVT ATF… So a flush machine is taken out of the equation… Think of it like pulling the cooler lines and sticking the inlet line/hose in a big bucket/barrel of clean fresh CVT ATF and the outlet line/hose in another big empty bucket and run the engine and run 12-15 quarts of the proper CVT ATF, so even if a different branded CVT ATF was in the lines, the lines would basically self flush themselves… ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 3:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cvt-transmission-service/199614/12 "2025-03-29T03:58:25Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > Generally speaking, you are NOT supposed to flush a CVT transmission using a normal pressurized flush machine Mechanic spent a lot of money for a flush (fluid exchange) machine and needs to amortize that cost over as many vehicles as possible. You are not supposed to do a lot of things, but when it comes to doing those things or lose a lot of money, people will do it. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 9:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cvt-transmission-service/199614/13 "2026-10-30T21:51:25Z")
(post deleted by author) ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 9:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cvt-transmission-service/199614/14 "2026-10-30T21:59:05Z")
There’s no reason to flush a CVT. Because they have no torque converter. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/6/e/6eb2d4535753bd1b07a71616166b539686824e19.jpeg "Pat Goss talks about Transmission Flushes") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfrWzwic2Sg) Tester