Tips Keeping Your Transmission Healthy

You might not know this, but your transmission is significant to the overall performance of your vehicle. Complicated, intricate, and expensive to repair, proper maintenance of your transmission is critical when it comes to keeping your vehicle alive and healthy. So, how can you keep your transmission healthy during spring?

Regularly check your transmission fluid levels

Your transmission fluid, just like your engine oil lubricates the transmission gears, presenting a cooling effect. It also works to create hydraulic pressure that is required while shifting gears. Depending on your vehicle, you might need to schedule a transmission maintenance service to check your levels —some modern cars come with sealed fluid systems. When checking the fluid, you need to look out for a bright red or pink color; it also needs to have a sweet smell. Brown or dark color transmission with a burnt smell is a sign of overheating transmission.

Make sure your cooling system is serviced

Your cooling system is essential to your transmission, just like it is with your engine. The coolant in your vehicle works to prevent your engine from overheating, while also ensuring the fluid pumping through the gearbox is cool too. In case your engine overheats, there is a good chance you will require transmission repair.

Avoid using your vehicle for towing or hauling

Depending on the type of car you own, it might have a towing dock. But, still, you need to check your owner’s manual and find out the exact load it can pull. Hauling or towing heavy loads, especially in hot temperatures, can force your transmission fluid to burn, damaging your transmission in the long run.

Schedule a routine transmission repair service

Transmission repair service is essential, and depending on your car or truck, it can range from 30,000 to more than 100,000 miles. Some modern cars come with gearboxes completely shut, and according to those manufacturers, the fluid will last the lifetime of the vehicle. If you are unsure of your transmission change schedule, check your owner’s manual or visit your local AAMCO Colorado transmission expert.