Bad habits are hard to break, but unfortunately the same cannot be said about your transmission system. Indeed, it only takes one of the bad habits discussed below to spell the end of one of your vehicle’s most crucial and complex systems.
But don’t despair—keeping your transmission system in shape isn’t as hard as you might think. A little knowledge goes a long way, and the Mister Transmission team is here to help steer you clear of any costly transmission system maltreatment.
Read on to learn some of the best ways to destroy your transmission system and how to avoid them, or contact your local Mister Transmission to speak directly with a transmission specialist near you.
The automatic transmission is one of the most important modules in your vehicle. It multiplies the torque of your engine to aid in propelling the weight of your vehicle, allowing you to hit highway speeds without overtaxing the motor, and makes driving in traffic less stressful by eliminating the need for constant clutch inputs.
And yet, though vital to the proper operation of your vehicle, many drivers take their automatic transmission for granted. Even worse, they contribute to its failure via bad habits.
With tongue firmly wedged in cheek, let’s take a look at some of the best ways to destroy your transmission system, so you can steer clear of maintenance malpractice and damaging driving habits.
Most automatic transmissions are designed to operate at a maximum temperature of 200 degrees. For every 20 degrees you go above this limit, you risk cutting the expected lifespan of the transmission by a factor of two. To put that in a better perspective, by the time your transmission reaches 300 degrees its life span will be reduced to 1/32nd of what is considered normal. You should also note that at temperature as low as degrees your organic oil based transmission fluid can turn to varnish, leaving it unable to properly lubricate the moving parts inside your transmission.
Letting the transmission run out of fluid or operating it with a low fluid level is a guaranteed way to have a transmission breakdown. The fluid keeps the transmission’s internal components cool and lubricated. When the fluid level becomes low or runs completely out, the internal parts begin to grind and overheat, which quickly leads to serious damage and system failure.
Another way to kill your transmission is failing to change the fluid according to the schedule in your automobile’s owner’s manual. Like the oil in your automobile’s engine, transmission fluid becomes dirty and eventually needs changing. Failure to change the fluid can lead to the seals and gaskets, as well as internal transmission components, beginning to overheat and break down.
Adding the wrong type of transmission fluid can wreak havoc on your transmission system. Manual and automatic transmissions use different fluids (see ‘Choosing the Right Transmission Fluid‘). These fluids cannot be mixed with other fluids or added on a temporary basis to “just get by.”
Flooring it as soon as the lights turn green causes the torque converter to produce a lot of heat. If you don’t give the transmission a chance to cool down betweenjack-rabbit starts, it will overheat quickly. We know what happens to a transmission when it overheats. Unless your vehicle was specifically designed for this purpose, it won’t be able to sustain that form of abuse, and you run the risk of damaging all driveline components.
Like fast starts, sudden stops can damage drivetrain components like engine and transmission mounts. These can lead to transmission damage. After any sudden emergency stop, it would be wise to have your mounts checked, and we have technicians standing by to help at 56 locations across the country.
If another vehicle were to even tap yours at the front or back while you’re parked, it could cause the parking pawl to break, leaving your vehicle to roll down the street unattended!
A forced downshift at high engine RPM is sure to cause excessive wear on transmission friction components (e.g. clutches and bands).
This can cause abrupt transmission engagement leading to early failure of clutches, bands, gear sets, driveline components and engine or transmission mountings.
Before reversing direction your car must be at a complete stop. Using the transmission to stop the vehicle will lead to premature transmission failure.
For your transmission to perform properly, the fluid must be at operating temperature. (Give it a few minutes and it will give you better and longer service).
Rear wheel drive vehicles must be towed with the rear wheels off the ground, and front wheel drive vehicles must be towed with the front wheels in the air. All wheel or full time four-wheel drive vehicles should be flat towed, with all four wheels off the ground.
If you’re not sure which applies to your vehicle, check your owner’s manual or contact your local Mister Transmission for help.
Also, every vehicle comes from the factory with a recommended maximum towing limit. Unfortunately, few owners obey it, and when you exceed the manufacturer’s recommendations, bands and clutches can start to start. This causes them to wear out very quickly. It also results in the transmission getting pumped full of debris as they start failing.
In short, improper towing can cause serious damage!
Over the counter additives that are supposed to stop leaks or make the transmission shift better often contain chemicals that may cause worn seals to swell. This can interfere with the function of these operating rubber parts and lead to severe damage. Next time you spot transmission leaks or experience shifting problems, don’t play doctor—go pro with Mister Transmission instead.
There are plenty of ways to abuse the drivetrain, each of them just as bad as the next.
If you’re stuck in sand, snow, mud or another substance, don’t try to “rock” your way out of trouble—this will cause excessive heat which can burn out a transmission in a very short amount of time. Instead, dig your vehicle out or have it towed. While you might incur some service costs, they are much less expensive than those needed to repair or replace a transmission system ruined by quick-shifting.
Some other ways to abuse the drivetrain and wreck your transmission system include: driving in stop-and-go traffic for an extended period of time, idling the vehicle too long, using mismatched tire sizes, driving off-road, and using your automobile as a snowplow.
Avoiding these bad habits can do wonders for your transmission, not to mention your wallet!
If you found this article a little too late, don’t despair—Mister Transmission is here to help. We offer a complete suite of transmission repair, maintenance, and part replacement services under one roof, and no matter what you need, you’re guaranteed:
To get a free quote on transmission system services from a Mister Transmission near you, you can:
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