Believe it or not, your driving habits play a huge role in keeping your car’s transmission and other essential systems healthy. If you’re invested in extending the life of your vehicle as much as possible, it’s important to be comprehensive in your car care habits, including paying attention to how you drive and keeping up with regular car maintenance. When it comes to your car’s transmission, there are a few key habits you should keep in mind to help prevent major transmission repairs.
1. Be Mindful of How and When You Shift Gears
It’s no secret a healthy transmission is essential for smooth gear transitions. Likewise, proper habits when shifting gears will help keep your transmission healthier for longer. Whether you drive a manual or automatic transmission vehicle, go easy when shifting gears and your car will thank you.
Improper Shifting in and Out of Park Can Cause Extra Wear
In particular, pay attention to how and when you shift into and out of reverse. It’s common to shift in or out of reverse while your vehicle is still moving, but that can actually greatly increase the strain and wear put on your transmission. Instead, let your vehicle come to a full stop before shifting again.
2. Drive Gently When Summer Temperatures Skyrocket
If you’re struggling in the heat, your car may be, too. While a healthy cooling system can typically keep up with summer heat, maintaining a healthy operating temperature for the engine and transmission, overheating can become more likely the higher temperatures rise. Take it easy with habits that can be hard on your transmission to begin with and you’ll help avoid extra wear or overheating.
Extra-Hot Summer Temperatures Put Extra Strain on the Cooling System & Transmission
Alongside going easy on your vehicle, be sure you’re up to date on cooling system and transmission maintenance. If your vehicle is overdue for fresh coolant or a transmission fluid replacement service, you’re more at risk for problems due to heat, driving habits, and more.
3. Limit Aggressive Driving Habits, Especially in City Traffic
Your morning commute may not be your favorite time of day, but it may also be hard on your car’s transmission. The more stop-and-go traffic you do, the faster you’ll put wear on your transmission’s parts and require transmission maintenance or repairs. While it’s hard to avoid city driving and traffic in overall, it helps to go easy on your transmission as much as possible.
Bad Habits Around Both Acceleration and Braking Can Strain the Transmission
The more you rev or slam on the brakes, whether from traffic or simply aggressive driving habits, the more strain is put on parts in your car’s transmission. This comes partly from internal workings and partly from the pressure put on them as they shift with the force of your vehicle suddenly slowing. As much as possible, look ahead and brake or accelerate more gradually.
4. Avoid Towing Heavy Loads, Especially Above Your Car’s Capacity
Not all drivers can completely avoid towing heavy loads and that’s okay. However, avoid it when possible and understand that you should schedule transmission maintenance services more frequently to avoid damage and wear. It’s also important to avoid towing more than your vehicle is built to handle, no matter what type of vehicle you drive.
Consult Your Owner’s Manual for Guidance on What Your Vehicle Can Handle
Most importantly, stick with your car manufacturer’s recommendations for how much weight your vehicle can handle. Your owner’s manual should include this information and you can consult your mechanic as to how you may need to alter your car maintenance schedule.
5. Keep Up with Regular Transmission Maintenance Services
Last but not least, no matter what type of driving you typically do, it’s important to keep up with regular transmission maintenance services. Most commonly, you’ll need a transmission fluid replacement service roughly every 60,000-100,000 miles, though that timeframe can shift based on your driving habits and environment.
Each Transmission Service Allows Your Mechanic to Inspect for Growing Problems
Aside from the importance of healthy transmission fluid, regular transmission maintenance services allow your mechanic the chance to inspect your car’s transmission for any other growing problems. This means they can be taken care of before they cause more serious problems for your transmission and vehicle overall.
For the Best Transmission Repair in Tallahassee, Visit Your Local AAMCO
Keep your car’s transmission as healthy as possible – for as long as possible. While your driving habits help prevent excess wear, regular transmission maintenance and proactive transmission repairs are just as important to transmission health and the lifespan of your vehicle overall. Visit your local AAMCO Tallahassee transmission shop and our mechanics will help keep a healthy transmission and save you money in the long run.