The top transmission additives for cars in 2022 can prevent substantial financial burden stemming from serious transmission-related problems. Additives such as the globally renowned Prolong Super Lubricant PSL1500 can effectively enhance the functionality of your transmission system.
Specific benefits of the additives include the restoration of the transmission responsiveness, eliminating slippage issues, friction reduction, and preventing overheating. Most of the transmission additives on the market today will cost you less than $30, with a good number being between $10 and $30.
Our best picks for transmission additives for automotive in 2022 consist of the five biggest contenders in the market. We will look at their unique features and what makes them stand out from the competition.
5 Best Transmission Additives For Automotive 2022 Review
Liqui Moly 20040 ATF Additive
A specialized feature of the ATF additive is that it drastically reduces the noise produced in the power steering system. All of this enables the extension of the transmission lifespan and reduces the amount of money you will spend on transmission-related repairs. It is easy to apply the ATF additive since all you need to do is mix it into gear oil with the help of a dipstick.
Liqui Moly is a reputable brand that adds to the reliability of the 20040 ATF additive. The company produces motor oils, service products, and vehicle care products. It has won multiple awards from MotorSport as well as other agencies.
Moreover, the German company has over 60 years of experience in the industry. This has contributed to their rise to one of the market’s best in 2022.
Pros
- Reputable brand with over 4,000 products
- Sizeable
- Prevents oil loss
- Ability to regenerate seals
- Lengthens the service life
Cons
- No noticeable difference in certain vehicles like the 1988 Volvo 245DL
- Does not reduce oxidation
- Only works with basic ATF
Final verdict
Despite being used only basic Automatic Transmission Fluids, the Liqui Moly 20040 is one of the best additives in the market. The brand’s reputation adds to its value, and a price point of less than $30 makes it a great buy. Get the Liqui Moly 20040 to regenerate seals and clean transmission fluids that are going bad.
Liqui Moly 20040 ATF Additive
Read more: Automatic Transmission Vs. Manual Transmission
ATP Automotive AT-203 Additive
The AT-203 friction modifier is your go-to additive for converting Automatic transmission fluids into friction-modified fluids. AT-203 works with Chrysler, Mitsubishi Diamond, Nissan Matic, Toyota, and Honda Z1.
It consists of blends that improve the transmission system’s efficiency and performance. The AT-203 Friction modifier comes in a 10 Oz bottle that reduces the wear of the transmission system components.
Pros
- Capable of resisting thermal breakdown
- Features oxidation resistance
- Resists sludge
- Capable of getting rid of converter and clutch chatter
- Instant improvement in transmission performance
Cons
- Not compatible with manual transmissions
- Not great at dealing with excessive heat in some high mileage vehicles
Final verdict
ATP AT-203 is excellent at eliminating transmission shuddering issues by reducing friction and preventing excessive heat generation. The bottle is sizeable for fixing any vehicle transmission.
ATP Automotive AT-203 Additive
Read more: What Transmission Fluid Do I Need?
ATP Automotive AT-202 Additive
This is an additive that acts as a protectant to your transmission system. It is not compatible with manual transmissions but can get used in all automatic transmissions. ATP AT-202 can also be used in 4 x 4 transfer cases.
It works well in protecting the system’s internals from excessive wear due to excess friction. ATP AT-202 resists oxidation and thermal breakdown, similar to the ATP AT-203. Get this additive to improve the life span of transmission systems in the personal, commercial, high output, and towing vehicle industry.
Pros
- Features oxidation resistance
- Performs thermal breakdown
- Reduces rough gear shifts
- Works with all automatic transmission systems
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Not compatible with manual transmissions
- Does not feature Anti-Friction Metal Treatment for treating metal surfaces
Final verdict
With a wide range of applications in the automatic transmission sector, the ATP AT-203 is an excellent addition to the ATP AT lineup with enhancements such as oxidation and thermal breakdown resistance.
ATP Automotive AT-202 Additive
Read more: CVT Transmission Vs. Automatic Transmission
Hot Shot’s Secret – HSSTSE32Z
This kind of additive is tailored to be a CVT and automatic transmission protectant. It is also a cleaner that is contained in a 32-ounce bottle. HSSTSE32Z is ideal for fixing transmission issues. These issues may include high operation temperatures, rough gear changes, high frictions, and corrosion problems.
Hot Shot’s Secret HSSTSE32OZ is composed of an ester formula. The formula is a cleaning agent that sticks to the metal surfaces of the transmission system. The attachment to the metal surfaces of the transmission is not affected by surrounding factors like heat or pressure.
Pros
- Instant results in a relatively short time
- The bottle is sizeable for multiple applications
- Capable of dealing with friction and wear issues
- The temperature reduction properties are high
- Works in both gasoline and diesel automatic transmission systems
Cons
- Can only get used in automatic transmission vehicles
- Problematic shifting issues are harder to fix with this additive
- Expensive compared to its competition
Final verdict
Hot Shot’s Secret HSSTSE32OZ is your go-to transmission additive if you are looking for quick results in a short time. It has a wide range of compatibility and comes in a sizeable bottle for multiple applications. Remember that hard shifting issues won’t be easily solved with the Hot Shot’s Secret HSSTSE32OZ.
Hot Shot’s Secret – HSSTSE32Z
Read more: Dirty Transmission Fluid: Signs And Causes
Prolong Super Lubricants PSL15000 Transmission Treatment
The technology utilizes a molecular and chemical process to treat the surfaces in a unique engineering design—the molecules of the additive mix with the metal surfaces to form chemical bonds that create protective layers. Over time, the protective layer helps reduce heat generation in the system and component friction.
Prolong Super Lubricants PSL15000 also reduces rough manual gear shifts, increasing the responsiveness of the entire transmission system.
Pros
- Comes with anti-friction properties
- A reputable brand
- Increases gearbox responsiveness
- Uses Anti-Friction Metal Treatment
- Works in both automatic and manual transmissions
Cons
- PSL15000 won’t help in treating long term transmission issues
- High mileage trucks and SUVs will not benefit a lot from this additive
Final verdict
Prolong Super Lubricants PSL15000 has a broad compatibility compared to most transmission additives. It is a world-leading transmission additive due to its effective treatment technology that ensures your vehicle has a smooth transmission that does not generate excessive heat or experience friction issues.
Prolong Super Lubricants PSL15000 Transmission Treatment
What Should I Know Before Buying Transmission Additives?
The transmission system in your vehicle experiences friction daily due to the moving parts in the gearbox. The motion of these parts means that they need to be lubricated well for them to function at optimal levels. If this is not done, the components will gradually wear out, breaking down into smaller debris that will get mixed with the transmission fluid.
The transmission fluid will then get discolored and broken down. The fluid will lose its lubricating ability with time, leading to more friction and heat generation in the transmission system. This will cause the fluid to break down even more and wear out transmission components. The leading cause of these problems is the accumulated debris in the transmission fluid.
Transmission additives fix this issue in many ways depending on the type of transmission you use and the type of additive you are getting. Some additives coat the surface of the transmission system, which reduces friction-related wear and increases the lubrication of the system. Other additives perform this task by breaking down the debris or cleansing the fluid and transmission.
Here are the various factors you will need to consider before purchasing transmission additives for your vehicle:
Read more: What Does Transmission Fluid Smell Like?
Transmission compatibility
A manual transmission. Credit: Commons.wikimedia.org
The type of transmission additive you get has to be compatible with your type of transmission system. We are talking about manual or automatic transmission. Automatic transmission fluids and additives can be used in manual transmission systems, but you will first need to check, or the original equipment manufacturer recommends it. This information is usually on the owner’s manual.
Automatic transmissions are more advanced and complex when compared to manual transmissions. Manual transmissions require the driver to operate the clutch and choose when to shift gears. On the other hand, automatic transmissions automatically choose what gears to select concerning the engine speeds and conditions on the road.
With that said, you can tell manual transmissions will have more friction and generate more heat due to the manual operation of the gears. Therefore, manual transmission fluids and additives are made to counter these effects by having high viscosity, heat resistance, and the ability to withstand huge pressures. Automatic transmission fluids and additives prioritize anti-foaming characteristics and low viscosity.
Additive composition
Additive composition regards the ingredients used to make the transmission additive. You want to get an additive with a great set of ingredients since it will be more effective and increase the transmission performance by a huge margin.
Quality
Liqui Moly is one of the most reliable brands specializing in oils, lubricants and additives. Credit: Flickr.com
Company reputation is a huge deal when it comes to buying transmission additives. Popular brands are more reliable and provide better quality products that will be worth your money. Premium products from reputable brands like Prolong will give you the best transmission treatment.
Another factor to consider for the best quality is the price. Cheap transmission additives will not provide you the best protection and may end up causing more problems down the line as they fail to perform their tasks effectively.
Size
Get a bigger-sized transmission additive if you plan to treat your transmission more than once. It would be great to know the amount you need for a single treatment lest you find the one you purchased isn’t enough. The size will also affect how much you spend on the additives per year. A high-capacity additive bottle is a way to go if you want to spend less.
Formulation
On top of the additive composition, you also need to consider the additive formulation that gives each different blend special features. Some of the remarkable benefits of additives include oxidation prevention and noise reduction.
Suitability
The most suitable transmission additive for your vehicle is one that your vehicle manufacturer recommends. It would be best to avoid using additives that are not suitable for your vehicle since they will cause more issues and void your warranty in some situations.
Vehicle manufacturers, as well as transmission additive producers, indicate which additives are suitable for specific vehicles. Make sure to pick only the ones recommended for your car.
Recommendation
Transmission additives and fluids are not added regularly like engine oils. You will not need to use the transmission additives unless your transmission starts to face a few issues like seal leaks, slippage, and rough shifting. The first step is to take the vehicle to the repair shop to ensure the problem isn’t bigger than simple additive/fluid issues.
We recommend you get the Prolong Super Lubricant Transmission treatment if you have a new vehicle. The unique metal surface coating compound will extend the lifespan of your new car by reducing leaks, slippage, and friction-related issues.
