Protecting Your Transmission from Winter Hazards

By Mister Transmission

Winter conditions vary geographically, but there are a few conditions that are common to most of Canada during the winter months. How you deal with those conditions can have a dramatic effect on your transmission.

So What Happens?

  • As temperatures drop, fluids thicken, reducing their ability to lubricate.

Solutions:

  • Driving slowly for the first few miles, until your engine and transmission reach normal operating temperature.
  • Invest in an engine heater that plugs into a wall outlet and warms the engine before you come out in the morning. A timer will let the engine warm up a few hours before you’re ready to leave, saving you money on gas, and reducing engine wear.

Did you know for many transmissions, you may be damaging the internal components with excessive engine idle? That’s because some transmissions don’t lubricate the internal components with the shifter in park. Oil doesn’t start moving in park so internal transmission components are spinning — ice cold — with no lube flow. Not good.

Snow and Ice — for much of the country, driving on snow and ice is part of a normal winter. But there are specific hazards to your transmission on those frozen roadways.

So What Happens?

  • When stuck, too often, drivers spin their wheels in the hope of freeing themselves from a snow drift or icy patch.
  • The transmission in today’s cars use a computer to control transmission operation. When you spin the wheels, when the speedometer registers 40-or-so MPH, the computer identifies driving conditions as being right to engage the converter clutch. Now the engine is locked directly to the drive wheels.
  • If the wheels regain traction, all that force is applied directly to the drive line components.

Solution:

  • The best way to get out of a drift or icy patch is to rock the car back and forth… forward and reverse… until you can get moving again. Or, better yet, get someone to push or pull you out of the snow. Avoid spinning the wheels excessively or make sure there is not excessive wheel spin when you contact a surface with better traction as you could end up damaging the transmission.

Water in the Transmission — No major component of your car can survive indefinitely with water in its internal components. But no other component can be damaged as quickly by water as your transmission. Even a small amount of water in an automatic transmission almost always results in serious failure and major repair bills.

So What Happens?

  • The reason is the band and clutch linings absorb water, even if they have to push transmission fluid out to do it.
  • This water quickly finds its way down to the metal backings, causing them to rust and lift the linings off. The result is metal-to-metal contact, which always means serious damage to the transmission.

Solution:

  • Steer clear of deep puddles, should you find your car submerged, don’t start the engine. Your only chance of avoiding a big repair bill is to have your car towed into a transmission shop and have the oil drained out and replaced immediately. If not, your auto insurance may cover part or all of the damage. Mister Transmission will be happy to supply the necessary technical information to your insurance company.

So whether its snow and ice, water, or just plain cold out, winter delivers a whole new set of conditions just waiting to damage your transmission. Whether it succeeds or not depends on how you deal with those conditions.

Mister transmission specializes in transmission and drivetrain repairs and service. Mister Transmission is a member of ATRA — the Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association — and adheres to its requirements for honest, reliable, quality service.

Want to know more?
Visit one of our locations

image-reviews image-reviews
Customer Reviews
I highly recommend Mister Transmission!...
Arlene M.
I highly recommend Mister Transmission! Jason gave excellent customer service! very satisfied with everything!
Date: March 28, 2024
Website: Yelp
I brought my 2009 Toyota...
Naturally Yours
I brought my 2009 Toyota Rav 4 to the pros at MR TRANSMISSION last week before a long road trip. John and Paul were unbelievably kind and professional. Being a woman even in the new politically correct world we live in can still be intimidating when it comes to taking your car in for a service. Unlike my regular mechanic who I won't be going back to, they were proactive and fair. They cleaned up the issue and put a fresh coat of paint on their work . They were informative during the inspection and didn't down play the issue but also didn't tell me to repair anything that didn't need repairing. Also they didn't jump to worst case scenarios. I find it extremely difficult to trust but felt I was being treated more than fair right from the moment I called for my appointment and they treated me the same way throughout. Fast , efficient and affordable to say the least. Amazing team! Thank you 😊 🙏
Date: March 26, 2024
Website: Google
Absolute best transmission shop in...
Chris Sheeler
Absolute best transmission shop in Southern Ontario. Love these guys! Impeccable service and very fast. They will never jerk you around. Thanks as always!
Date: March 26, 2024
Website: Google
Giorgio was able to rectify...
Robin Das
Giorgio was able to rectify a intermittent issue with my Dodge Journey transmission. He also was genuinely concerned that the problem was fixed by following up on the problem. I recommend this location for all transmissions needs. This is the second time I’ve gone to Giorgio for a transmission issue. Previously his shop fixed my Sport Trac transmission. I am very satisfied with this locations expertise on transmission issues. Great job!
Date: March 25, 2024
Website: Google
Good and fast service!
Aleksey Krasnov
Good and fast service!
Date: March 24, 2024
Website: Google
I have a very rare...
George Smith
I have a very rare 2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer SS that I trust very few people to work on. The Stoney Creek location (Dan) went out of their way to not only completely rebuild the transmission but fix other problems along the way thinking outside the box. I highly recommend this place to all.
Date: March 24, 2024
Website: Google
10/10 DAN IS THE BEST!...
MarkXybel “MX”
10/10 DAN IS THE BEST! He did my transmission fluid change on my Mazda 3 09 Sedan ..was quick and the price is very reasonable I was very happy for the time service and Dan made my appointment really quick. I booked it few weeks ago but got reschedule due to his team was sick and dan give me a quick date and day to reschedule and here it is just got it done on March 22 2024 morning. Very happy with the service DAN IS THE BEST! And his team ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Definitely going to him everytime for all my vehicles regular maintenance 🙌!! Old but Gold Mazda Mark X.
Date: March 24, 2024
Website: Google
Good experience. Very humble staff
Kuldeep Official
Good experience. Very humble staff
Date: March 23, 2024
Website: Google
Great experience, great staff, thank...
Keith Shingleton
Great experience, great staff, thank you
Date: March 22, 2024
Website: Google
I'm very impressed with Mr...
Sarah M
I'm very impressed with Mr Transmission. I went in yesterday with a leaking Transmission and got my SUV back this morning. Very quick. The repair cost was reasonable as well. Great customer service. My SUV runs great now!
Date: March 22, 2024
Website: Google
Featured Services
Transmission Repair

The evolution of transmissions has made these machines and systems increasingly complex. When transmission repairs are required, determining the cause and cure for what ails can be tricky.

Read More
Transmission Technology

At Mister Transmission we have access to leading-edge diagnostic equipment, enabling us to offer you the fastest and most accurate findings about what’s going on inside your vehicle’s transmission.

Read More
Transmission Maintenance & Service

Just as you have other parts of your car serviced, your transmission needs maintenance to ensure a long life and avoid transmission problems.

Read More
Recent Blogs
The Role Of Solenoids In Your Transmissi...
In the intricate world of automotive transmissions, solenoids are fundamental
Read More
March 14, 2024
Transmission Shop Near Me: Ensuring Your...
When it comes to vehicle maintenance, the transmission is a critical component,
Read More
March 7, 2024
How A Timely Transmission Fluid Change C...
In the world of automotive maintenance, the importance of a timely transmission fluid
Read More
February 23, 2024
Rebuild Transmission: A Cost-Effective S...
In the complex world of automotive repairs, transmission issues can be among the most
Read More
February 16, 2024
The Journey To Becoming A Leading Transm...
In the dynamic world of automotive repair, the rise to prominence of a transmission
Read More
February 9, 2024
What Makes A Transmission Repair Shop St...
In the automotive service industry, selecting the right transmission repair shop is
Read More
February 2, 2024
Mister Transmission’s Approach To ...
When it comes to maintaining the health and efficiency of your vehicle, the
Read More
January 26, 2024
Solving Automatic Transmission Slipping:...
Automatic transmission slipping is a common yet perplexing issue faced by many
Read More
January 19, 2024
The Ultimate Guide To Solving CVT Transm...
Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT) have revolutionized the automotive industry
Read More
January 12, 2024
Preventing Vehicle Breakdown: Identifyin...
In the realm of automotive care, the transmission is a vital yet often overlooked
Read More
January 5, 2024