We tend to take out vehicles for granted. It’s a sin of which many of us are guilty. We only stop to appreciate how complex these machines are –and how much we rely on them– when something goes wrong. And fixing broken vehicles is rarely cheap. The same goes for transmissions. If your transmission ever gets into such a bad state that it has to be overhauled or completely replaced, you are looking at a fairly expensive procedure. You want to avoid that and get the most out of your transmission for as long as you can. Here are five tips to extend the life of your transmission.
One cannot overstate the importance of transmission fluid to an automatic transmission. For a manual transmission, transmission oil is used, and it is equally as vital. Simply put, your transmission cannot run without transmission fluid. Furthermore, a lack of fluid or poor quality fluid can wreak havoc with your transmission. It can cause a whole host of problems and make other problems even worse. Because of this, checking your transmission fluid regularly is integral to extending the life of your transmission.
So get out your dipstick and check those levels. And while you’re at it, give the fluid an inspection and a good whiff. Damaged transmission fluid will look opaque as opposed the regular clearish red it ought to be. It will also smell bad. Foul smelling and opaque transmission fluid is a sign of problem, so if you discover this, bring your transmission into a mister transmission shop as soon as possible. You should also consider using a synthetic transmission fluid.
But the times when you discover problems should not be the only times you visit a mister transmission shop. Regular service is also key to extending the life of your transmission. Transmission technicians can look inside your transmission and notice things you can’t. That’s why you should bring your transmission in for service about every 30,000 miles or every two years.
All transmissions come with a filter. Some of these filters can filter particles very well; others struggle. But adding an external filter is never a bad thing for your transmission. The additional filter can help to trap even more contaminants, which can help to keep the fluid cleaner for longer.
Overheating is a major problem for transmissions. Your vehicle’s radiator is tasked with cooling everything down. Maintaining the cooling system is important so you should have it checked out regularly at a mister transmission shop; preferably every other year. The maintenance in question includes replacing the antifreeze, checking coolant levels, inspecting for leaks, checking the thermostat, and testing the pressure on the radiator cap.
Don’t drive in such a way as to put a strain on your transmission. Remember that the transmission takes time to warm up, so drive your car easy on a cold start. There are other little things you can do to help, too, like using your emergency brake when parking on an incline (which you should always do anyway) and try not to rest your hand on the gear lever while driving.
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If you would like to learn more about how to extend the life of your transmission, please contact us.
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