Summer vacation season is almost upon us, and if you’re like many Americans, you’ll likely be using your vehicle to tow a trailer, boat, or popup camper at least once during the vacation season. Whether you’re taking your speedboat to the launch or pulling a heavy camper up a mountain, heavier than usual workloads can put added strain on your car’s transmission.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the ways heavy hauling can damage your transmission. Then we’ll look at a few simple things you can do to keep your vehicle operating at peak performance.

Heavy Loads Can Spell Transmission Troubles

You may not know it but your vehicle likely has a manufacturer’s recommended maximum towing and hauling capacity. That’s the amount of weight your car or truck can safely tow or haul. But sometimes, even when you stay within the manufacturer’s guidelines, you can be putting unneeded stress and wear on your transmission—stress that can shorten your transmission’s life and sap your vehicle of workload capacity.

The biggest enemy of automatic transmissions is heat. Temperatures in excess of 175ºF can begin to break down your vehicle’s transmission fluid causing it to lose the vital viscosity (slipperiness) it needs to keep all your transmission’s moving parts operating friction-free. Heavy hauling, however can rapidly increase your transmission temperature and can degrade your transmission fluid. If your fluid is compromised, your transmission has to work harder and handle more heat than it should—all of which can spell diminished fuel efficiency, rough or clunky gear shifting, and even mechanical failure.

Tips for Saving Wear and Tear on Your Transmission

We all want our vehicles to operate at their best, especially when we rely on them for so much. And let’s face it, nobody wants to spend their hard-earned vacation time dealing with car troubles. So here are a few things you can do to keep your transmission healthy.

• Replace the transmission fluid regularly.
  Your vehicle’s transmission is a complex array of moving parts that rely on sufficient lubrication to function as they should. Fresh transmission fluid reduces friction and prevents transmission overheating, both of which heat can shorten the life of your transmission. Fluid that is old, contaminated by dirt and grit, or exposed to excessive heat can lose viscosity, which can increase friction, reduce efficiency, and generate unwanted heat. Refreshing your transmission fluid regularly can help you drive trouble-free, whatever you’re hauling.

• Get a preseason transmission checkup. We all know the importance of regular auto maintenance. Changing the oil and fluids, maintaining proper tire pressure, and ensuring that your lights and signals are working are all part of basic auto upkeep. But did you know that your transmission can benefit from a checkup too? A transmission specialist can examine and test your car’s transmission for signs of damage or wear, and can recommend what repairs might be needed now or in the future. Most important, they can ensure that your car’s transmission is ready for the heavy demands of the summer travel season!

• Invest in an aftermarket transmission cooling system. Truck and SUV brands often brag about their vehicles’ towing capacity. But heavy hauling can put unwanted stress on your transmission, generating heat that can degrade transmission fluid, shorten your transmission’s life, and impede vehicle performance. An aftermarket transmission cooling system can ensure that your vehicle’s transmission stays cool, no matter what you’re hauling, or how steep a grade you have to climb. Plus, you’ll have a gauge that tells you the transmission temp at all times!

At Main Line Transmissions, our experienced technicians are transmission experts equipped with the latest diagnostic and repair tools. Before you pack a single bag for that big summer trip, come see us. We’ll give your transmission a thorough exam, alert you to any “must fix” issues, and offer tips on keeping your vehicle operating at peak performance.

Drop by or schedule an appointment to see how Main Line Transmissions can help make your summer driving season saferand more enjoyable!