In this article you may find some simple tips how to prevent your automatic transmission from damage and keep it in a good shape. It doesn’t require too much of your efforts – just periodical checking and regular maintenance.

What can damage your automatic transmission

Most of the transmission troubles start from overheating.
Under heavy load, such as towing a heavy trailer, rocking the vehicle from the snow, having continuous stop and go traffic in hot weather, racing, etc. the transmission overheats. At higher temperatures the transmission fluid burns, losing its lubricating qualities and becomes oxidized leaving deposits all over inside the transmission. Exposed to the heat the rubber seals and gaskets inside the transmission become hardened causing leaks. The metal parts warp and lose their strength. All this, sooner or later, results in transmission failure. For example, a friend of mine burned the transmission when he was spinning the wheels too hard trying to free his shiny Audi from the snow on the next day after he bought it!
However, overheating is not the only reason – sometimes transmission breaks down because of poor design, due to lack of maintenance or after being rebuilt by inexperienced technician. Few other reasons: harsh driving, too low or too high transmission fluid level or wrong transmission fluid type – a person I know added gear oil into the automatic transmission… guess, what happen? – the transmission died after 40 minutes of driving!

How to prevent the transmission from damage

- Regularly check your parking space for leaks. Doesn’t matter, is it the engine oil leak, power steering fluid or transmission fluid; if you discover any, get it fixed before it caused something serious.

- Once in a while check the transmission fluid level and condition. Not all cars however have the automatic transmission dipstick, in some cars, for example, in late Volkswagen models, the transmission fluid can only be checked by the dealer. Consult with your owner’s manual for details. If the transmission fluid level is too low, there is a leak somewhere that needs to be fixed.

- Change the fluid as often as it said in your owner’s manual or when it becomes too dark (rather brown than red) or dirty.  (Rule of thumb – NORMAL highway driving 30,000 miles, ABOVE NORMAL – Pulling a trailer or rough dirty conditions 20,000 miles)

Also, keep in mind that an automatic transmission can not be drained completely – there is always some transmission fluid left inside the transmission (the torque converter, in the valve body, etc.) which means you only can change about %60 of the fluid at once. This is one more reason to change it more often.
- Use only the same type of the transmission fluid as specified in the owner’s manual or on the dipstick. Some vehicles (e.g Dodge Caravan) are very sensitive to fluid type

- Never shift to the Reverse or Parking until the car comes to a complete stop.

- Never shift from the Parking mode when engine rpm is higher than normal idle.

- Always hold a brakes down when shifting from Parking.

- The automatic transmission can be damaged if towing with the drive wheels on the road.

Always use a dolly or place powered wheels on the towing platform (if the vehicle is front wheel drive – tow it from the front leaving rear wheels on the road.