Keeping a Transmission Alive

[davbell22602]

keeping automatic transmission alive
How to keep the automatic transmission alive

The automatic transmission is one of the most complicated and thus one of the less reliable parts of the vehicle. The repair of an automatic transmission is complex and tends to be quite expensive. More than that, automatic transmission problem can make your car unsafe - some transmission defects may cause, for example, that the car can roll with the shifter in Park or drive forward with shifter in Neutral. On the other hand, if taking a good care of, your transmission can last you really long with no significant problems.

In this article you may find some simple tips how to prevent your automatic transmission from damage and keep it in a good shape. It doesn't require too much of your efforts - just periodical checking and regular maintenance.


How to keep the automatic transmission alive

How often to change transmission fluid • How to use the overdrive • How not to damage the transmission
Note, the information contained in this guide is for educational purposes only and cannot substitute for the advice of professional mechanic or authorized dealer. Different cars have different requirements; for information specific to your car consult your owner's manual or call your local dealer.


The automatic transmission is one of the most complicated and thus one of the less reliable parts of the vehicle. The repair of an automatic transmission is complex and tends to be quite expensive. More than that, automatic transmission problem can make your car unsafe - some transmission defects may cause, for example, that the car can roll with the shifter in Park or drive forward with shifter in Neutral. On the other hand, if taking a good care of, your transmission can last you really long with no significant problems.
In this article you may find some simple tips how to prevent your automatic transmission from damage and keep it in a good shape. It doesn't require too much of your efforts - just periodical checking and regular maintenance.

Tip: Have you looked in your vehicle owner's manual? Try, it's a best source of information on your vehicle maintenance. You will be amazed how many useful info you may find in this book! Having more questions? Don't know what type of fluid to use? - just call local dealer service department and ask them, they have all the information and they will be pleased to help you.


What can damage your automatic transmission


Most of the transmission troubles start from overheating.
Under heavy load, such as towing a heavy trailer, rocking the vehicle from the snow, having continuous stop and go traffic in hot weather, racing, etc. the transmission overheats. At higher temperatures the transmission fluid burns, losing its lubricating qualities and becomes oxidized leaving deposits all over inside the transmission. Exposed to the heat the rubber seals and gaskets inside the transmission become hardened causing leaks. The metal parts warp and lose their strength. All this, sooner or later, results in transmission failure. For example, a friend of mine burned the transmission when he was spinning the wheels too hard trying to free his shiny Audi from the snow on the next day after he bought it!
However, overheating is not the only reason - sometimes transmission breaks down because of poor design, due to lack of maintenance or after being rebuilt by inexperienced technician. Few other reasons: harsh driving, too low or too high transmission fluid level or wrong transmission fluid type - a person I know added gear oil into the automatic transmission... guess, what happen? - the transmission died after 40 minutes of driving!

How to prevent the transmission from damage

- Regularly check your parking space for leaks. Doesn't matter, is it the engine oil leak, power steering fluid or transmission fluid; if you discover any, get it fixed before it caused something serious.

- Once in a while check the transmission fluid level and condition. Not all cars however have the automatic transmission dipstick, in some cars, for example, in late Volkswagen models, the transmission fluid can only be checked by the dealer. Consult with your owner's manual for details. If the transmission fluid level is too low, there is a leak somewhere that needs to be fixed.

- Change the fluid as often as it said in your owner's manual or when it becomes too dark (rather brown than red) or dirty.
Also, keep in mind that an automatic transmission can not be drained completely - there is always some transmission fluid left inside the transmission (the torque converter, in the valve body, etc.) which means you only can change about %60 of the fluid at once. This is one more reason to change it more often.

- Use only the same type of the transmission fluid as specified in the owner's manual or on the dipstick. Some vehicles (e.g Dodge Caravan) are very sensitive to fluid type

- Never shift to the Reverse or Parking until the car comes to a complete stop.

- Never shift from the Parking mode when engine rpm is higher than normal idle.

- Always hold a brakes down when shifting from Parking.
- The automatic transmission can be damaged if towing with the drive wheels on the road. Always use a dolly or place powered wheels on the towing platform (if the vehicle is front wheel drive - tow it from the front leaving rear wheels on the road.

How to use overdrive

Generally speaking, overdrive (O/D) is the highest gear in the transmission. On most cars the automatic transmission has 3 speeds and Overdrive (forth speed). Overdrive allows the engine to have less rpm with higher speed in order to have better fuel efficiency. When you switch it on, you allow the transmission to shift into overdrive mode after the certain speed is reached (usually 30 - 40 mph depending on the load). When it's off, you limit transmission shifting by third speed.

In normal driving condition the overdrive should be always on.
You may need to switch it off when driving in mountainous area or towing a trailer.

[The automatic transmission automatically shifts from OD to the 3-th gear when it feel more load. When it feels less load it shifts back to the O/D, but under certain conditions, e.g: driving uphill or towing a trailer, the transmission can not decide to stay in OD or to shift into 3-th speed and it starts to shift back and forth. That's the time you may switch it off and help the transmission to decide.] .

You also may need to switch it off when you want to slowdown using the engine braking, for example, driving downhill. [For more details, check your owner's manual]

Servicing your transmission

I'd recommend to go for a service to your car make dealer - they have original parts, they know exactly what type of the fluid to use and their technicians are highly trained to service particular vehicle model. Even if you go to the independent garage, always ask to use original parts - sometimes, the after-market parts are not of as good quality as original.

When it's time to go to the transmission shop

If you experience any problems with your transmission such as leaks, noises, problems with shifting, etc. (Follow this link to learn more: How to check an automatic transmission) - don't wait until the problem will become worse and car will finally stop somewhere on a highway, visit your trusted local transmission shop. Automatic transmission problems never disappear by themselves. Also, when going for the repair, try to explain to service person more detailed - what exactly problem you experience, when it happens, what does it look like. It will be easier for them to repair the transmission. Before going to the transmission shop for the repair ask them about the warranty - the longer warranty they will give you, the better will be the repair.

 

[oneluckypops]

Dave ole buddy ole pal

I gotta ask, where did you get this article? There are alot of good points to it but there are also a few misconceptions. i will list a few of them for you.

1. Your local dealer is NOT always the best choice for transmission repairs. Alot of time's they do not staff ANY techs that are certified in all transmissions.

2. The article says that the "dealer" will have the best parts for your transmission. I STRONGLY disagree with this statement. There are times that the parts are dealer only but the aftermarket companies are IMO who develop the "fixes" for problematic transmissions.

3. It also says to change your fluid regularly as per what your manual suggest. IMO there should have been a few revisions to this aswell. For instance, If you purchase a used vehicle that has higher mileage and the fluid has never been changed then you should NOT change the fluid, I have seen more transmissions fail because of this then I have where it actually helped them. My reasoning for this is. When the fluid has alot of mileage on it it has been aged and burnt to some degree which makes it a little thicker, Ok not only has the fluid gotten thicker the seals in the transmission have worn to the point that the thicker fluid is needed to achieve proper pressures, if you run new fluid in an older transmission the fluid will leak by the seals and not have as much pressure which lets the clutch packs slip more.

4. If you live in a colder climate I would also suggest changing the fluid annually, and not when the weather start to warm up from the cold winter, but just the opposite change it before the weather starts changing to colder temperatures. The reason for this is. When you start the vehicle after it is cold then the fluid is thicker, which can cause the pump to starve for fluid because the older fluid can not circulate through the filter in enough volume to keep up with the pump.

5. Towing in OD is not reccomended just like the article says, However they left a few things out there aswell. It is not just the towing and it is not just the hills, it is the LOAD that you have on your transmission, If you have a heavy load in the back of your truck bed you should also turn the overdrive off.

6. It also says that alot of failures are due to non qualified people working on them, The biggest reason for this is NOT that they cant do it. Its because they do NOT have the special tools that it takes, more times then not they will fail because they cut a lip seal while installing a piston in a clutch pack, which could be prevented with the right tools, it could also caught before hand if they would air check there clutch packs.

7. Another reason they fail after a rebuild is because of heat, alot of people are not awarre to use a new converter or they are not aware to flush the lines and cooler with a flushing solvent, but NOT ALL coolers can be flushed and must be replaced.

dam I could go on and on, But maybe this will be enough to convince you.

 

[davbell22602]

Dave ole buddy ole pal

I gotta ask, where did you get this article? There are alot of good points to it but there are also a few misconceptions. i will list a few of them for you.

1. Your local dealer is NOT always the best choice for transmission repairs. Alot of time's they do not staff ANY techs that are certified in all transmissions.

2. The article says that the "dealer" will have the best parts for your transmission. I STRONGLY disagree with this statement. There are times that the parts are dealer only but the aftermarket companies are IMO who develop the "fixes" for problematic transmissions.

3. It also says to change your fluid regularly as per what your manual suggest. IMO there should have been a few revisions to this aswell. For instance, If you purchase a used vehicle that has higher mileage and the fluid has never been changed then you should NOT change the fluid, I have seen more transmissions fail because of this then I have where it actually helped them. My reasoning for this is. When the fluid has alot of mileage on it it has been aged and burnt to some degree which makes it a little thicker, Ok not only has the fluid gotten thicker the seals in the transmission have worn to the point that the thicker fluid is needed to achieve proper pressures, if you run new fluid in an older transmission the fluid will leak by the seals and not have as much pressure which lets the clutch packs slip more.

4. If you live in a colder climate I would also suggest changing the fluid annually, and not when the weather start to warm up from the cold winter, but just the opposite change it before the weather starts changing to colder temperatures. The reason for this is. When you start the vehicle after it is cold then the fluid is thicker, which can cause the pump to starve for fluid because the older fluid can not circulate through the filter in enough volume to keep up with the pump.

5. Towing in OD is not reccomended just like the article says, However they left a few things out there aswell. It is not just the towing and it is not just the hills, it is the LOAD that you have on your transmission, If you have a heavy load in the back of your truck bed you should also turn the overdrive off.

6. It also says that alot of failures are due to non qualified people working on them, The biggest reason for this is NOT that they cant do it. Its because they do NOT have the special tools that it takes, more times then not they will fail because they cut a lip seal while installing a piston in a clutch pack, which could be prevented with the right tools, it could also caught before hand if they would air check there clutch packs.

7. Another reason they fail after a rebuild is because of heat, alot of people are not awarre to use a new converter or they are not aware to flush the lines and cooler with a flushing solvent, but NOT ALL coolers can be flushed and must be replaced.

dam I could go on and on, But maybe this will be enough to convince you.

http://www.samarins.com/maintenance/transmain.html

 

[89Suburban]

Wow Dave. They are really busting your balls tonight.