Category: Automotive

Tips For Making Your Transmission Last Longer

Your transmission is one of the key components of your car, truck or SUV.  It is the system that transfers energy from the engine and makes it possible for the wheels to turn and your vehicle to operate in the correct gear. Your transmission is also one of the most expensive parts of the vehicle. The average new car transmission can cost between $1,800 and $3,400. Even a rebuilt transmission is likely to set you back more than $1,000. It just makes good economic sense to do all you can to make your transmission last as long as possible. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to maximize the lifespan of your transmission.

What you can do to make your transmission last?

1. Check your transmission fluid regularly. This may seem obvious, but how many of us really do this. (When was the last time you checked your fluid levels?) If you have your oil changed regularly, the technician will often check your transmission fluid but, If you change your own oil, you may not have checked your transmission fluid for even longer. Experts recommend that you check your transmission fluid level in the reservoir every two to four weeks.
2. Have your transmission serviced according to your manual’s guidelines. Like your oil, your transmission fluid and fluid filter need to be totally changed periodically. For new cars, this is usually every two years of 40,000 to 50,000 miles. For older cars, you should have this done every 18 months or 20,000 to 30,000 miles.
3. Modify your driving style. “Jack rabbit” starts and fast stops can take their toll on your transmission. So can constantly accelerating and decelerating. Better to adopt an even speed or use your cruise control on the highway to avoid wear and tear on your transmission.
4. Consider investing in a transmission cooler. Heat is the number one threat to your transmission’s health. It damages the seals, the metal surfaces and the electronic components. A good transmission cooler can dramatically lower the temperature in the gear box and help your transmission to last two to three times longer.

 

Know Your Vehicle and Transmission

Reading your owner’s manual is the first step you should take. You should know the ins and outs of your vehicle, including how it should be maintained and serviced. This could impact how often you change fluids and whether flushes may be recommended.

Change Fluids at Regular Intervals

Your manual will tell you how often to change oil and transmission fluids. New vehicles may not need changes for a long time, but used cars with lots of miles on them may need them more frequently.

 

Stop Riding Your Brakes

Riding your brakes is a bad habit in general, but it can be especially bad for the health of your transmission. Learn to pay attention to have often you do apply your brakes and make a mental note to begin retraining yourself to only do so when it’s really needed.

Shift After a Full Stop

When you are shifting from drive to reverse -and vice versa – make sure that you come to a full stop before doing so. Continually failing to do so can weaken your transmission over time, reducing its useful life and putting it in greater danger of failure.

Think Before You Tow

Unless you have a heavier duty vehicle that was designed to be up to the task think very carefully before you hitch anything up to the tow bar. The added weight of another car, a camper or even a heavily laden moving trailer can cause all kinds of problems for your transmission.

Don’t Ignore the Signs of Transmission Trouble

Strange smells, grinding gears, odd sounds and little drops of red (and occasionally green) fluid on the garage floor can all mean that your transmission is in a bit of trouble. If you notice any of these things don’t delay a trip to your mechanic to get things properly checked out, as a little care at the first sign of transmission trouble can save you – and your vehicle – a lot of hassle and expensive further down the line.

 

Advice on How to Make Your Transmission Last Longer!

Are you starting to notice jerking and stalling when your car shifts gears? Periodic transmission service is required to ensure that your vehicle will run smoothly and efficiently, with all components properly lubricated and in good working condition. A general inspection and replacement of the transmission fluid, filter and gasket will reveal minor transmission problems that can be fixed along the way.

Here are some expert tips on how to make your transmission last longer:

• Replace Pan Gasket — The pan gasket (located around the rim of the transmission pan) can get worn and cracked, leading to transmission fluid leaks. The gasket can be replaced quite easily and is relatively inexpensive. If the current gasket is reusable (of high quality and not damaged), it may be possible to simply clean it off and then put it back.
• Cleaning and Removal of Grime — All parts should be wiped free of any of the sludge or debris that collects over time. This includes the transmission pan, gasket, sealing surface, transmission case, and any fluid that may have dripped onto the exhaust system during the cleaning.
• Replace Transmission Filter — Clogged or dirty transmission filters will cause undue stress and wear on a transmission. It’s important to replace this filter, a relatively easy and inexpensive fix.
• Transmission Fluid — If there is significant buildup of sludge or grime, if you notice a burnt smell, if the color of the existing fluid is too dark and has lost its effectiveness, or if your vehicle is overdue for transmission maintenance, a flush of the transmission system may be recommended so that you are operating your vehicle with clean transmission fluid.

Remember: A full transmission service should be performed every 30,000 miles, or every couple of years, whichever comes first.

 

Differences Between Manual and Auto Transmission Repair

It’s important to know the differences in maintenance between automatic and manual transmissions if you are not familiar. In general, manual transmissions are a bit less expensive to repair, and they are built to last, with many people reporting a decade or more before the clutch needs to be replaced. Automatic transmissions also last a long time, but their fluid flushes and change-overs require more attention and occur more often, so they require more maintenance.

Fluid leaks are a common issue with automatic transmissions, but not so much with manual devices. This is because of the way that fluids become exposed or seals that can be compromised as a matter of course, when you are working with high-pressure systems that continuously operate.

If you are experiencing manual transmission problems and all your prior experience is with automatic transmissions, then you need to realize that it’s far more likely you will experience a slipping clutch or other symptoms from the list above rather than a large-scale fluid leak. That’s simply the nature of the design differences between the two.

Regular Maintenance and Manual Transmissions

If you are used to automatic transmissions, it can be tricky to understand how to read manual transmission signs of trouble; however, the guide above will help and so will taking your car in for regular maintenance. You might not need fluid flushes and changes for a manual vehicle’s transmission, but having your other fluid changes and preventative maintenance done on time means having a professional monitoring your car more often. Having the extra set of eyes can help to identify and diagnose any problems early on.

Top Causes of Tire Failure…and Manufacturer Defect isn’t one of them!

Nothing is more frustrating than a tire blow-out, or a tire problem requiring an unplanned, early replacement of a new tire. When this happens, we often think the tire wasn’t strong enough or there is some sort of defect in the tire. Manufacturing defect, poor quality or faulty materials are rarely the causes of tire failure.  99% of the time, the causes of tire failure leading to a blow-out or pre-mature tire replacement was completely avoidable with a little more care and attention during routine maintenance or while driving.

Causes of Tire Failure: Under-inflation

One of the main causes of tire failure is under-inflation. Tires that are under-inflated flex more in the sidewall. Excessive flexing causes them to heat up far beyond normal operating temperatures. This problem is compounded when driving at highway speeds during hot weather for long periods of time. When the tire gets excessively hot, the rubber begins to degrade, which if driven on long enough, leads to a rupture in the sidewall of the tire, or tread separation. The result is an immediate and rapid loss of air pressure, often accompanied by a loud bang as the tire explodes.

In addition to the sidewall splitting, the inner liner will usually have evidence that the tire was run at low air pressure before it exploded. When the tire has been removed from the wheel, look for small chunks of burnt looking rubber and dust that has come off the inner liner. If your tire looks like this, it is likely that tire manufacturers, and most extended tire warranty programs, will deny any claim for credit or free replacement.

 

Causes of Tire Failure: Rapid / Irregular wear due to Mechanical Issues

Misalignment or worn suspension parts are another primary reason a tire does not wear evenly. The tire will be completely worn on one side, or in one area of the tire, but perfectly good, with plenty of tread on the other parts of the tire.  The owner has no choice but to replace the tire. Even if only 10% of the tread is worn through, that area will be the weakest and the most susceptible to flats. This condition also contributes to poor traction and ride quality.

There are two tread wear patterns that indicate the type of mechanical problem. The most common is tire wear associated with wheel misalignment. In this situation, one or more of the wheel and tires are going down the road at an angle to the direction of travel, or with too much camber built into the wheel set up.  In either case, rubber ends up wearing faster on one side of the tire compared to the other as shown in the photograph on the right. This tire has worn to the cords on one side, but still has plenty of rubber on the opposite shoulder. If the vehicle was aligned correctly, this tire would have worn evenly across the tread, and stayed on the vehicle for another 30,000 or 40,000 miles.

The second wear pattern that indicates a mechanical problem with the suspension of the vehicle is shown below on the left.  Broken suspension parts, or worn out and loose bearings or bushings create a wobble in the wheel and tire. Over time the

wobble in the wheel and tire manifests itself in the tire tread rubber, either as cupping on the shoulder tread blocks or as diagonal stripes of wear across the surface of the tread.  These wear patterns indicate a serious suspension issue that needs to be addressed for safety reasons and for the sake of the tire tread-life.

While some tires may be slightly more resistant to irregular wear, overtime even the most expensive, premium tires will be replaced early compared to tires on a well maintained and correctly aligned vehicle. Any tire professional or service technician can identify wear patterns on a tire tread associated with mechanical issues. Similar to when tires are under-inflated, tires that exhibit these wear patterns will not be eligible for a free replacement or any sort of pro-rated credit towards a new tire.

 

Common Types of Dangerous Tire Defects

Tread or Belt Separation – Tread separation is actually the most common type of tire failure among steel-belted radials and can occur due to a defect in either the design or manufacture of the tire. There are many errors in the design or manufacturing process that can make a tire prone to belt separation. There are also many techniques – such as inserting wedges, cushions or safety belts – that tire manufacturers can employ to mitigate tread separation, but not all tire makers choose to take these basic safety measures. Tread failures or exposed belts can cause blowouts or loss of control of the vehicle, as well as rollover accidents, which can cause catastrophic injury or fatality to vehicle occupants.

Bead Failures – We all know it is important to keep our tires properly inflated and that underinflation can cause poor gas mileage or lead to a flat tire or blowout. But few people understand the dangers of over-inflation. Manufacturer recommendations for tire pressure apply to tires when they are brand-new and straight off the assembly line. After some period of road use, a tire filled to manufacturer recommendations may actually be overinflated. If the tire contains a defect in the bead wire, overfilling could cause the tire to explode, which can cause serious injury or even death.

Sidewall Failures – Also known as zipper failures due to the way the tire sidewall looks after it fails, a defect in the tire sidewall can cause the tire to explode while it is being inflated, again with the risk of serious injury or death to persons near the tire at the time.

 

COMMON TIRE PROBLEMS

Cracking and Bulging

The Diagnosis: This usually comes from hitting a pothole, curb, or debris. Under-inflation and over-inflation put tires at a greater risk of damage from impacts. Large cracks in the sidewall that runs along the rim are either impact-related or caused by chronic under-inflation. Numerous small cracks in the sidewall or tread blocks come from exposure to the elements and age. Rubber, much like your leather interior needs treating to prevent cracking, by using a tire and rubber protectant. Bulging is what looks like a pimple in the tire, most often in its sidewall. It happens when there’s an impact that causes internal damage, but the damage doesn’t show up until weeks or months later. With bulging, you’re looking at buying a replacement and the tire should be removed from service, regardless of the cost. Eventually, it will fail.

Cupping (Also Called Scalloping)

The Diagnosis: It happens when worn or damaged suspension components cause the tire to bounce as it travels, coming down harder on some spots of the tire than others. Bad shock absorbers are the usual cause, though anything that connects the wheel to the rest of the car could be a culprit. Be careful with your diagnosis, though. Even tire shops sometimes incorrectly identify feathering or heel-toe wear as cupping. A wheel that is out of balance may also cause cupping or bald spots to form, though there will be fewer hills and valleys than you’d see with cupping caused by a failed shock absorber.

Heel-Toe

It Looks Like: Feathering, only the ramps run front-to-back along the tire rather than side-to-side. The leading edge of the tread blocks will be worn smooth while the trailing edge will be sharp. The Diagnosis: “[It’s] definitely one of the most common conditions we see,” “Because it’s so common, a lot of people think it’s normal.” Heel-toe wear is typically a symptom of insufficient tire rotation intervals. So check your car’s maintenance schedule and make sure you keep up. Misalignment or worn or damaged suspension bushings, ball joints, and wheel bearings can also cause heel-toe wear.

Feathering

 

When Operators Fail in Inspection and Proper Maintenance

The majority of truck tire failures are preventable. Truck owners and operators are required by law to routinely inspect and properly maintain vehicle tires.

However, sometimes inspections are completed hastily or not at all, and maintenance, when performed, often fails to address the full scope of a problem. In these situations, important issues can be missed, and vehicles that aren’t fully safe are taken on the road. Failed inspections and maintenance often miss common, fixable problems, such as:

• Excessively worn tires. Tread depth violations were among the most cited during roadside inspections in 2015. Experts recommend replacing tires when they reach a 4/32-inch tread depth. Violations are issued for a depth of less than 2/32 inch.
• Improper tire inflation. Over- or under-inflated tires make it more difficult to safely drive a commercial vehicle. Under-inflation also increases the risk of tires overheating.
• Mismatched tires. In some cases, operators replace only one tire on an axle. Tires of a different size and/or wear affect the stability of a large truck. Different tires also place uneven pressure on the other wheels and mechanical parts, causing trucks to be more prone to rollovers and impacting a driver’s safe distance reaction time to avoid an accident.
• Overloaded tires. Tires are meant to bear certain weight. When a truck is overloaded, too much pressure is put on tires, increasing the chance of under-inflation, overheating, and blowouts.
• Bias and radial tires on the same axle. Experts do not recommend mixing bias and radial tires, because they have different structures. Therefore, they wear and handle differently. Mounting them together causes uneven wear and instability.