At Sac Valley Diesel in Sacramento, CA, we know that the key to keeping a transmission reliable and in shape is taking care to prevent an issue in the first place. Here, we’ll explore a condition that has a lot of potentials to cause your transmission harm; overheating.
For a manual transmission, there isn’t much to keep it cool. They are simple, reliable, and don’t require a lot of fluid pumping through intricate systems and through the radiator to stay cool. Manual transmissions are closed systems, and essentially are just a box full of gears and gear oil. As long as the fluid in your transmission is topped off, you don’t have much to worry about, and as long as you don’t have any leaks, there isn’t much maintenance you need to do. If you start to notice the shifter gets excessively warm, shifting becomes harder as the car warms up, or the transmission is extra noisy, definitely check the fluid level. Overheating expands parts, ruins synchro’s, destroys bearings, and wears everything out faster. Otherwise, maintain your gear oil as recommended, and enjoy the ride.
For automatic transmissions, keeping them cool is more difficult, and more important. Automatic transmissions rely on high-pressure fluid being pumped through the radiator to stay cool. The key to avoiding overheating your automatic is good maintenance. If your car runs hot, your transmission does too. Don’t neglect cooling issues and keep your coolant at the correct level. Make sure your transmission isn’t leaking, and your transmission fluid is at the right level. As long as your vehicle is well maintained, there won’t be anything to worry about.
If you are having transmission issues of any kind, don’t hesitate to have one of our expert mechanics take a look. At Sac Valley Diesel, our technicians are qualified, equipped, and trained to diagnose and service anything transmission related, no matter what type of car, truck, or SUV you drive. For all your maintenance and repair needs, call or come by anytime.
