How Vehicle Owners Can Maintain Their Transmissions And Avoid Costly Repairs
The transmission is perhaps the most important part of your vehicle, besides the engine. It's extremely costly to repair as well. To save yourself from spending a fortune on repairs over the years, you need to maintain your transmission in the following ways.
Use Gears Appropriately
One common reason why vehicle owners experience transmission damage is because they don't use the gears appropriately. For example, they may forcefully switch gears and then put a lot of pressure on integral transmission components.
Don't do this. Always know how to use your vehicle's gears before driving. This shouldn't be hard if you have an automatic transmission. Just avoid switching gears while your vehicle moves. If you have a manual transmission, then you need to know how and when to shift. It may even be necessary to take courses that teach you how to use a manual transmission.
Add More Transmission Fluid
The fluid in your transmission reservoir is extremely important to keep at the appropriate levels, as it's what lubricates transmission parts and keeps them from overheating. Checking these transmission fluid levels is pretty easy.
Open up the hood and locate the transmission reservoir. It should be appropriately labeled for easy identification. Take the dipstick out and wipe it down with a dry rag. Then, put it down inside the tubing and take it out again. If the levels are below the 'full' line, be sure to add more fluid. Just make sure you use the same type as you did before for optimal performance.
Let Vehicle Warm Up
When you're in a hurry to run an errand or get to work, you may start your car and begin driving immediately. You need to get out of this habit because it can cause premature wear and tear on your transmission.
Once you get in your vehicle and turn over the key, allow it to run for several minutes. The transmission will then heat up and reach the proper operating temperature. You may need to prepare for this extra warm-up time so that you're not late to any of your destinations. It's particularly important to let your car warm up on colder days of the year.
No matter what type of vehicle you drive, the transmission should be a part that you spend a lot of time taking care of. This maintenance doesn't have to cause you a lot of stress either. Simply familiarize yourself with transmission maintenance and stay on top of it. Contact a transmission repair shop for more help.
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