Staying on the Road and Driving Smoothly - Tips for Maintaining Your Transmission
Posted on: 13 January 2015
American culture has long been centered around the freedom and excitement provided by car ownership and the open road, but all car owners know that that freedom does not come without a price. Your car's maintenance and upkeep can be a constant struggle if you feel uninformed or unfamiliar with the vehicle's systems, and so informing yourself is an important first step.
Below, you'll find a guide to some preventative steps you can take to maintain your car's transmission. The transmission is the functional heart of the engine, and if you neglect its upkeep, you can find yourself stuck with a broken vehicle and extensive repair. As with all other things, an ounce of prevention can be worth a pound of cure.
Pan Gasket Replacement
Transmissions are lubricated by a special fluid that allows the gears of the car to shift smoothly. As with all other fluids, when it is heated to a specific temperature, it evaporates into the air and you lose all of the functions that that fluid was performing.
In the case of transmission fluid, it is protected from evaporation by a part called the pan gasket. This typically rubber component can become degraded and allow steam and fluid to leak, eventually causing problems. Checking your gasket for degradation and damage is an important first step in maintaining your transmission's health.
Cleaning and Removal of Dirt
Perhaps the simplest step in transmission maintenance is also commonly among the most neglected. As with any other mechanical component, dirt and grime can cause contamination that will damage mechanical parts and cause your transmission to slip or otherwise fail.
Taking the time to completely wipe down your engine block at least once a month is a great way to make sure contamination doesn't threaten the life of your engine. Making sure that delicate auto components are not at risk of ingesting road debris, sludge, or other nasty buildup will make sure that you can keep your car out of the shop as often as possible.
Fluid and Filter Replacements
Even with the most proactive attempts at maintenance, your transmission fluid and its filter will wear down over your car's life. As opposed to oil, which is commonly understood to need replacement, many people do not replace their transmission fluid until it's already too late and a problem has developed. You should consult with a trusted mechanic to determine the proper schedule for you to have your transmission fluid and filter replaced, and you should be sure to adhere rigidly to that schedule.
For more information on transmission care, contact shops like Atomic Transmissions.
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