Tips to Keep Your Transmission Running Longer
Whether automatic or manual, your car’s transmission is a critical part of what keeps you moving. The transmission is responsible for sending power to the wheels from the engine, as well as changing gears, so it’s important to keep it in working order. The experts at Auto Correct have a few tips to keep your transmission in good shape for as long as possible.
Your Transmission’s Temperature
A car transmission works its best when not under the strain of extreme temperatures. When dealing with hot Arizona summers, you should take care not to overheat your transmission. Luckily, the engine cooling system does help to cool transmission fluid, but you can also help by not putting too much strain on it. Don’t haul too much weight or attempt to tow on those hot days.
On cold days, start your car early to give your transmission a chance to warm up before you drive, then drive easy for the first while to ensure everything is fully warmed through.
Maintaining Your Transmission
One of the most important and easiest ways to extend the life of your transmission is to stay on top of its regular maintenance. You can keep an eye on the transmission fluid yourself with periodic checks as a simple measure of its general health. While your engine is idling, remove the dipstick and give it a quick clean, then reinsert it to get a fresh sample. The fluid should be red and have a somewhat sweet smell. If this is not the case, or the fluid is drastically low, we advise bringing your car in for an inspection to find out exactly what is wrong.
The routine maintenance schedule for most transmissions involves an annual inspection and fluid flush to keep an eye out for potential damage or leaks and keep the fluid from going bad. If your transmission has a filter — not all do — that should also be replaced regularly.
Transmission No-Gos
There are a few other things to minimize or avoid to keep your transmission going. No one likes stop and go traffic anyway, but doing it regularly can put strain on the transmission as your car shifts so frequently from stopped to moving and back again. If you need to use a spare tire, try not to use it for too long, and replace it with a fitting tire quickly. If you have mismatched tire sizes, your suspension and transmission are strained to accommodate. Finally, if your care is making strange noises or straining in any way, don’t ignore the signs. Take your car to the experts. It may be a small issue now, but having it repaired when it’s small can prevent a larger issue later.
Auto Correct in Glendale is here to help with those repairs, big or small, as well as with the general maintenance to keep your car running smoothly. Give us a call for your car needs.
