Get ready for a lot of figures because they tell the story about automatic transmissions. First and most important, everybody including the Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association agrees that 90% of failures are due to overheating. The oxidation rate (which determines the useful lubrication life) of ATF doubles for every 20 deg. F. temperature increase over the normal operating level of 175 deg., which means fluid that's formulated to last 100,000 miles (a distance frequently recommended by car makers as the change interval) at 175 deg. will only go 50 grand at 195 deg., or 3,000 at 275.