All There Is To Know About The Dos & Don’ts Of The Automatic Transmission

Automatic transmissions are a blessing, especially for beginners. They’re easy, fast, not nerve-wracking and have made day-to-day driving much more relaxing.

Plus, with the majority of new cars produced nowadays coming with an automatic transmission, a lot of misconceptions have popped up and as easy as it may seem, many drivers have been found guilty of using them incorrectly.

Therefore, to eliminate all queries, CariCarz has listed down the 5 Dos and 5 Don’ts for drivers to consider when owning a car with an automatic transmission.

In no particular order, first on the list is the don’t, as don’t coast going downhill. One might argue that putting the gearbox into ‘Neutral’ when going downhill saves you fuel. However, that’s not entirely correct. 

This is because modern cars cut fuel to the engine on their own. Thus, coasting downhill in ‘Neutral’ won’t save you any gas, and by doing so, it actually takes some of the control away from you.

Second, don’t put your car in the ‘Neutral’ gear at a traffic light or when stopping during bumper-to-bumper traffic.

The fact of the matter is, you don’t need to put your car into ‘Neutral’ when stopping for a short period of time. Because putting your vehicle into motion actually puts more stress on your gearbox, so keeping it in ‘Drive’ while in traffic is nothing.

Whereas shifting the transmission from ‘Neutral’ to ‘Drive’ repeatedly may not necessarily cause wear on your gearbox, but it can wear out the shifter bushings and pins. This is something one can consider if the vehicle’s wear and tear factor is the primary concern. 

However, if the concern is about fuel economy, then it shouldn’t be an issue either. As not only do the revs rise when you put the car into ‘Neutral’ instead of keeping it in ‘Drive’, newer gearboxes actually cut drive to the engine on their own to lower emission.

Albeit, if you’re planning on stopping for a long period of time, and want to shift to ‘Neutral’, then it’s fine as long as the handbrakes are engaged.

Coming in third is, don’t change the gears while your car is not stationary. Meaning, before shifting the gears from ‘Drive’ to ‘Reverse’ or vice-versa, make sure that the vehicle comes to a complete stop. 

Failure to do so may weaken or strip the transmission gears and could lead to serious damage. This also holds true for shifting in and out of ‘Park’, at which by doing so can break the locking pin that keeps your transmission from running.

Number four on the list is, don’t drive on a spare tire for too long. Many cars come equipped with a temporary-type spare tire, driving on them for an extended period of time will cause damage to your suspension and also put unnecessary strain on your transmission.

Fifth on the don’t counter is, don’t overload the vehicle. This is because heavy loads can cause overheating, and towing or carrying heavy loads can cause premature wear and tear on your transmission.

Plus, if there is ever a need to tow, make sure your vehicle is up to the task by checking the owner’s manual for its maximum towing and payload capacity. Better yet, use tow trucks or vehicles specifically designed for towing.

Now about the dos. Number one, do gradually build your speed up instead of a sudden jolt. For instance, launching your vehicle by revving your engine while still in ‘Neutral’ and then jamming it into ‘Drive’ would be a sure-fire way to cause wear-and-tear, especially to the transmission band.

Next, do check the transmission fluid regularly. This is to ensure the fluid level is sufficient as the absence of it would be an indicator for potential problems. 

Also, by doing so, you can identify if there’s any leakage early on and can prevent more damage that may lead to expensive repairs. As a note, the fluid quality should be a bright red colour, clear and is sweet smelling.

Eighth, do use the correct type of transmission fluid. When it’s time to top up the transmission fluid, always use the right type. 

There are several types of transmission fluid available in the market, so be sure to purchase the appropriate one for your transmission type. That said, if you are unsure, it’s always best to consult the owner’s manual for the ideal type.

After that is, do regular inspection and tune-ups for your transmission annually or according to the set servicing time.

Doing a diagnostic check on your car’s engine and transmission is like getting your annual physical examination check-up done. This is to ensure the well-being of your car’s overall health. By doing so, any small problem or issue can be rectified early before it gets too costly to repair.

Last but not least is, do let your car warm up first before you drive. Usually, drivers would just get in the seat, start the engine, put the car in ‘Drive’ and pull off. 

By doing this, it is like you starting a sprint without warming up your legs. Be sure to always allow your engine a few minutes to warm up before you begin to drive, especially during cold weather.

To wrap it up, applying these dos and don’ts should help you increase the lifespan of your automatic transmission and don’t forget to keep your annual overall maintenance up to date.