6 Driving Conditions That Could Be Damaging Your Transmission

In many cases, the way you drive your vehicle can lead to excess wear and tear on key systems like the engine, transmission, exhaust, brakes, suspension, wheels and tires. There may be situations you want to avoid, and there may be personal driving habits that you can adjust to help avoid unnecessary damage to your transmission. If you push it too hard, it may start giving you trouble. Your transmission might even fail completely if the internal damage is severe enough. Here are a few driving conditions that could be causing excess strain on your transmission:

1. Heavy Traffic

Stop-and-go traffic isn’t fun on any level, and it sure isn’t doing any favors for your transmission. Constantly stopping, going and shifting between drive gears will eventually add up to more wear and tear on your transmission. There may not be much you can do about this if you live in the city or a have a busy commute, but it is important to understand the stress that traffic puts on your vehicle.

2. Fast Shifting

Shifting too quickly from park to reverse to drive can affect your transmission over time. So can driving fast and accelerating/decelerating too quickly while driving. Smoother driving habits and more gradual shifting between gears will help protect your transmission system. This is true whether you drive an automatic, CVT or manual transmission vehicle.

3. Hills & Elevation

Driving up steep grades or extended driving at high elevation will definitely put more strain on your vehicle, especially the engine and transmission. Just as you struggle to breathe that thin mountain air, so too does your engine. That means it has to work harder and that ultimately causes the transmission to work harder. Again, you may not be able to avoid high elevations depending on where you live, but it is good to know how the thin air affects your vehicle. As for driving up steep grades, take those carefully and use lower gears when appropriate. This can help reduce how much stress you are putting on the transmission. Even driving smoother and slower on downhill grades will help protect your transmission.

4. Heavy Loads

If you drive a truck and are regularly carrying/towing heavy loads, just know that you are adding a lot of weight to your vehicle. It’s easy to understand how this could affect the engine and transmission. Make sure your vehicle is rated to handle any heavy load you are carrying and be extra careful while driving. This will help keep you safe on the road and minimize how much strain you are putting on the transmission and other mechanical systems.

5. Extreme Temperatures

Extreme hot or cold temperatures will also make your engine and transmission work harder. When it’s really cold out, give your vehicle time to warm up before pushing it too hard. When it’s hot out, keep an eye on your temperature gauges and do what you can to avoid an overheating transmission and/or engine. Make sure your vehicle’s cooling system is in good shape and your automotive fluids are clean and full.

6. Time & Mileage

The more miles you put on your vehicle, the more it will become susceptible to mechanical damage. Father time will always win. If you are driving a high-mileage vehicle or an older vehicle, just know that it requires extra care to keep the transmission running smoothly. Keep up with maintenance, check the transmission fluid regularly and get repairs done if any minor problems are detected.

These are a few factors that can lead to extra wear and tear on your vehicle and your transmission. Some situations may not be avoidable, but there are steps you can take to keep your transmission as healthy as possible.

For all your Central Valley transmission maintenance and repair needs, call Ralph’s Transmission in Modesto at 209.526.1909 or schedule your service appointment online. 

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