Most Common Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Transmission
Your transmission is one of the most essential and most complex components of your car. If your transmission malfunctions or stops working, transmission repair can be a major expense. However, what few people know is that most transmission troubles are directly caused by the driver rather than natural wear and tear. Here are some of the most common mistakes that drivers make that can ruin your car’s transmission.
#1. Running on Low Transmission Fluid
Transmission fluid is essential for the proper functioning of your automatic transmission. The fluid provides lubrication, hydraulic fluid pressure, and cools the transmission when it gets too hot. Without adequate fluid levels, your transmission can’t perform at peak capacity. The most common consequence of low fluid levels is the overheating of your transmission. A transmission that runs hot will have a drastically shorter lifespan than a transmission that is kept at cooler temperatures. Make sure to regularly check your fluid levels to ensure that you don’t have a fluid leak that needs to be plugged. If you do suspect a fluid leak, bring your car into Citywide Auto right away for transmission repair in order to minimize the damage to your vehicle.
#2. Using the Wrong Type of Transmission Fluid
Despite what some people believe, not all transmission fluid is the same. Specific transmissions require specific automatic transmission fluid in order to perform optimally. Using the wrong type of fluid can actually harm your transmission as much as running on low transmission fluid. Different types of fluid have varying levels of viscosity and additives. Using fluid that is meant for another type of transmission can result in erratic hydraulic pressure and improper cooling and lubricating properties. Whether you’re getting your car serviced or adding the fluid yourself, always make sure that it’s the correct type of fluid for your vehicle in order to avoid the need for transmission repair.
#3. Letting Your Transmission Overheat
It’s estimated that around 90 percent of all transmission failures are due to overheating. For about every 20 degrees that your transmission goes over the recommended temperature, its life gets cut in half. If you want to get the maximum lifespan out of your transmission, always ensure that it’s kept cool. If your transmission is running hot, try cleaning out and replacing the transmission fluid. If this fails to solve the problem, bring your vehicle into Citywide Auto Care for a full diagnostic. We can locate the problem and advise you on how to avoid overheating in the future.
#4. Not Servicing Your Transmission
The biggest mistake you can make with your automatic transmission is failing to service it regularly. Transmissions are durable, but they still benefit from regular tune-ups. Dirt and other contaminants can get into your transmission system and build up over time, resulting in a sluggish transmission. If you fail to have your transmission and its fluid periodically cleaned, this could ultimately result in transmission failure. It’s recommended that you have your transmission serviced every 30,000 to 60,000 miles, or every two to five years.
If you’re guilty of any of these transmission transgressions and you’re in need of transmission repair, stop by Citywide Auto Care today. We’ve taken care of Orange County residents since 2002, consistently providing high-quality service that you can trust. We’ll never try to upsell you or insist on services you don’t need. We treat our customers like family. To find out more about our transmission maintenance and repair services or to make an appointment, give us a call at (714) 633-4211 today.
