Are you worried that long drives and rough roads are damaging your car’s transmission?
If you are someone who has interest in vehicles, you should try to be aware of each and every detail about your motor vehicle. Knowing about your car and how it works can help you take better care of your car so that you can prolong its working life. Moreover, if you are quick to notice any bad signs or peculiar smell coming from your car then you can take the action to repair it quickly.
Most of us do not prioritize maintaining our vehicles the way we should. We assume that everything is fine with our car as long as it is running smoothly and are not aware of the intricacies and the technology that powers our vehicle. This is why many factors that affect critical aspects of our vehicles go unnoticed for weeks, resulting in huge problems that require expensive repairs.
One of the main components that power your motor vehicle is the transmission. Like every other key component of your car, the transmission’s performance is also affected by certain factors. Here is a list of some factors that you need to be wary of to ensure the longevity of the transmission.
Fluid
Both excess and insufficient amounts of fluid hurt the transmission. The presence of fluid ensures that the internal parts of the transmission are lubricated and are functioning efficiently.
Failing to regularly check the fluid in the transmission causes it to wear out. Being irresponsible on this front will cause the fluid to become dirty and can cause the significant components of the vehicle to overheat or break down.
Reckless Driving
Abrupt acceleration or breaks can damage both the engine and the transmission of your car. The best way to keep your transmission in check is ensuring that you drive safely. Shifting into either drive or reverse gears without completely stopping the car be deadly for the transmission.
This is especially true for cars with automatic transmissions. You don’t have the luxury of disengaging the clutch to shift into drive or the reverse gears as you do in manual transmissions. Changing gears when moving in an automatic transmission can also hurt the suspension and the drive shafts.
If you want to reverse your vehicle, ensure that it is stationary by applying the brakes before changing the gear.
Driving the Vehicle before the Engine Warms Up
This is a common cause of damage to the transmission during the winter season. The harsh cold can affect the engine and other components of the car. This is why you need to allow the engine to heat up before you start driving. The absence of heat in the engine exerts more pressure on the transmission, causing it to break down if you don’t pay attention.