While the majority of drivers hardly ever think about it, the way that you treat and drive your vehicle can have a direct and long-term impact on the engine, transmission, and other components. The transmission is by far one of the most integral components of the motor, so it is important that it remains in good condition, particularly if you want to maintain your vehicle's long-term performance. There are certain habits that you may be partaking in that could be harmful to the transmission. If you are doing any of the following things, you need to try to break yourself of these habits as soon as possible for the sake of your transmission.
Excessive Stopping and Starting
When you are constantly stopping and starting and performing drastic changes in speed, your transmission is going to take a hit eventually, as this is a lot of strain. It is much easier on your transmission to drive your vehicle at a steady pace, such as during a daily commute from your home to work on the highway, than it is to drive your vehicle several times per day for one or two miles at a time.
Shifting Before Completely Stopping
A lot of people tend to shift before they stop without even realizing that they are doing it. For instance, you are reversing out of a parking spot, and before you ever bring your vehicle to a full stop, you shift out of reverse and into drive. This is a maneuver that becomes incredibly natural and almost like second nature to you, but it is a maneuver that your vehicle—and transmission—and will never get used to, and it will eventually require repair to the transmission. So, make sure you are bringing your vehicle to complete stops before you shift the gears.
Driving Before the Car Warms Up
During the winter, especially on those particularly frigid mornings, you need to allow your vehicle 10 to 15 minutes to warm up before you take it out of park. If you opt to drive your car before it warms up thoroughly, the engine fluids will not be thawed out and will be stiff, placing a significant strain on the transmission as well as other auto components and warranting premature repair.
If you are making any of the aforementioned mistakes, you are causing damage to your transmission. For more information, an inspection, or repair, contact a transmission shop today.
Share27 April 2020
There's more to owning an automobile than simply getting in and driving it every day. You have to fill the tank with gasoline, have the oil changed every three months or so, keep an eye on the brakes, make sure there's a spare wheel handy, check the tire pressure — and so forth. These skills can seem overwhelming when you are new to car ownership, but in time, you will catch on. Reading a little more about automotive structure, repair, and maintenance can help. Get started by reading the articles on this blog, written by real automobile aficionados for car owners like yourself.
