Transmission Maintenance 101

Posted February 1, 2020

Your vehicle’s transmission is an incredibly complex and sophisticated component that performs the vital task of powering your wheels vis-à-vis sophisticated gear-shifting mechanisms, making forward progress possible. Given its vital role in your engine’s functionality, transmission maintenance is extremely important to your vehicle’s overall health.

The majority of transmission issues arise from overheating, which can stem from a variety of factors including weather/temperature, workload of the engine, speed of the vehicle, etc. as all of these activities force the transmission to work harder than it’s used to.

When your transmission begins to experience high heating conditions, it loses its ability to maintain proper lubrication levels which can lead to complete component failure. When this occurs, you’ll need to rebuild or replace your transmission which can be a lengthy and costly process.

In order to avoid having to shell out big bucks after your transmission breaks, here are a few steps you can take in order to maintain its health:

– Don’t shift from drive to reverse/park/neutral until your car has come to a complete stop.

– Check your transmission fluid every time you get an oil change (ever three months or every 3,000 miles, whichever comes first). If your fluid levels are consistently low, there is most likely a leak somewhere which can be highly-problematic.

– Refrain from shifting out of park when your engine’s RPM is greater than idle levels.

– Keep your brake firmly down when you’re shifting from park into drive or neutral.

– Change out your transmission fluid in the intervals specified within your owner’s manual. If you notice that the fluid is getting noticeably dark, have an ASE-certified technician perform a transmission flush.

If you have any concerns whatsoever regarding transmission maintenance, be sure to give us a call at 616.796.9929! Click HERE for more information on the transmission services offered at D’s Auto & Truck Repair and you can make an appointment at our shop in Holland by clicking HERE.

Categories: Car Repair

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