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What You Should Know
This part is designed to help educate drivers on the importance of care and maintenance to their automatic transmissions in hopes of preventing needless transmission failure. This is not to say that you will never have a failure. But we can say with 100% honesty that with proper maintenance, we never have.
Let’s first explain just how hard the transmission works. It works much like you would if you were pedaling a bicycle at a forced rate of speed on all road surfaces and levels for 30 minutes. You have just used a great deal of energy and power to get from point A to B. Now think of your transmission moving 3,000 pounds at speeds of up to 75 mph in temperatures of -20 to 100 degrees several times a day up to 7 days a week. Get the picture? The transmission seems to be the hardest working device on your vehicle yet it is the most neglected until it fails.
Now let’s explain how you can keep your transmission running trouble free for years with proper care, driving techniques and maintenance. First here is one very important thing all drivers need to know. Heat is a transmissions worst enemy. This combined with the lack of maintenance is the number one cause of needless transmission failure today.
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Have the transmission flushed or filter and fluid changed every 25,000 miles. If the fluid is not changed frequently it breaks down just like engine oil. Thus causing poor lubrication, varnish build up and sludge, which in turn causes friction, heat, hardening of the seals and gaskets then failure. If the fluid is turning brown and does not smell clean then service it asap.
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Prevent engine overheating. The radiator has a small transmission cooler inside of it the antifreeze circulates around it to help keep the transmission fluid cool. When the engine overheats the transmission also overheats. This again causes fluid breakdown just like engine oil. Thus causing poor lubrication, varnish build up and sludge which in turn causes friction, heat, hardening of the seals and gaskets then failure. If the fluid is turning brown and does not smell clean then service it asap.
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Do not spin your wheels if you are stuck. Rock the vehicle back and forth a few times, if the vehicle is still stuck call a tow truck to pull you free. Excessive spinning of the wheels creates a tremendous amount of heat and can destroy your transmission where you sit.
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Do not exceed the vehicles towing limit. If you want to use your vehicle for frequent towing look in your owner’s manual for the maximum towing limit and towing procedures. Make sure you have an external transmission cooler mounted just behind the grill, if you do not see one then have one installed. Keep in mind that towing makes the transmission work much harder creating more friction and heat. But if you maintain your fluid, do not exceed the manufacture suggested tow limits and there is sufficient cooling of the transmission you should be fine. Never pull heavy loads in Overdrive or use the tow haul feature if equipped.
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Do not let your transmission run low on fluid. Check your transmission fluid level as you would your engine oil and if you see any leaks, have them repaired immediately. We have already pointed out how devastating heat is to a transmission but when your transmission runs even a quart low on fluid for a period of time it can cause just as much damage.
It is really very simple. Keep the automatic transmission fluid clean, the automatic transmission cool and you may never need to replace it.
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