How To Extend The Life Of Your Transmission

Taking care of your vehicle’s transmission can help you avoid costly repairs by maximizing its lifespan. Below is a practical transmission care guide with tips on how to make your transmission last longer.

Top Tips To Extend Transmission Life

We’ll start with 10 tips that can help to extend the life of your transmission, then we’ll answer your frequently asked transmission questions.

1. Check Transmission Fluid Regularly

One of the simplest transmission maintenance tips is to keep an eye on your transmission fluid. This fluid can break down for various reasons – from rough driving to extreme environments. Best to keep an eye on it – here’s how:

• Use the dipstick while the engine is idling.
• Fluid should be bright red, clear, and sweet-smelling.
• If it’s dark or murky, get the fluid replaced
• If it is extremely dark or smells burnt, have your transmission checked immediately.

2. Always Use the Right Type of Transmission Fluid

Not all transmission fluids are the same. Check your owner’s manual for the recommended type of fluid. Using the wrong fluid can cause long-term damage and void warranties.

3. Service Your Cooling System

Your car’s radiator doesn’t just cool your engine; it often cools the transmission as well.

• An overheated or hot-running engine can cause overheating of your transmission fluid.
• Overheating is one of the top causes of transmission failure.

Make sure your cooling system is clean and functional to keep everything running smoothly. If your transmission has a separate cooler, get it checked with every fluid change.

4. Flush Transmission Fluid Regularly

Over time, the transmission fluid breaks down and becomes less effective.

• Transmission fluid change frequency depends on how often and how hard you drive. Towing and regular hard use will mean more frequent changes.
• As a general rule, have it flushed every 60,000 miles by a professional to keep things running smoothly.

5. Change The Transmission Filter Too Or Valve Body (If Applicable)

Some automatic transmissions have a filter that needs regular attention. As filters break down they allow ever-larger contaminants to pass through. Check your owner’s manual or consult a mechanic to see if your transmission has a filter. If it does, replace it every time you flush the fluid.

Another effective upgrade that can prolong transmission life is swapping out the valve body. This critical hydraulic system directs oil to the converter, clutch packs, and other key components, and it’s often the root of many transmission issues. Installing an upgraded valve body can deliver snappier acceleration and smoother and faster gear shifts. Several Powertrain Products remanufactured transmissions offer an upgraded valve body.

6. Adopt Good Driving Habits

Avoiding harsh or aggressive driving styles can keep your transmission in good shape for far longer. High-stress driving tends to increase your average operating temperature (AOT), and prolonged high AOTs will take a toll. To help avoid this:

• Don’t slam the shifter into gears or shift harshly
• Avoid regular hard driving and full-bore starts
• Don’t shift from reverse to drive while the car is still rolling – this will put serious stress on your transmission.
• Don’t leave the vehicle in gear when stopped for longer than you would at a stoplight, put it into neutral and use the handbrake

7. Warm Up Your Car in Cold Weather

Yes, it’s tempting to drive off right away – but don’t! Give your car a few minutes to warm up, especially in winter. This allows the transmission fluid to circulate and protect key parts.

8. Avoid Driving Long Distances On A Mismatched Spare Tire

That tiny spare is meant to be temporary. Tires of different sizes rotate at different speeds. If you have a transversely mounted engine, and the spare is at the front, this causes excess wear in the transmission. This is ok for a few miles, but if it happens for too long, it can damage your transmission.

Torque multiplication factor (TMF) is important, and when you have tires of varying sizes on your vehicle, the different diameter causes a difference in wheel speed, impacting the differential and, indirectly, affecting the overall torque multiplication and delivery to the ground.

9. Avoid Heavy Towing (Unless Your Vehicle Is Built for It)

Regular towing can burn or oxidize your transmission fluid, especially in hot climates. Towing more than your vehicle is rated for will also damage your transmission and put serious strain on other mechanical components.

• Towing increases friction and accelerates transmission wear.
• If you must tow, use a vehicle rated for it – and check or replace your transmission fluids more frequently.

10. Get a Regular Transmission Inspection

And finally, get your transmission checked regularly. Have a specialist look for leaks, fluid color changes, and odd shifting behavior. It should be done along with your fluid change and is one of the best ways to protect your car’s transmission.

How Do I Know If My Transmission is Failing?

If your transmission is exhibiting the following symptoms it may be time for a replacement unit:

Slipping Gears: Engine revs increase but vehicle doesn’t accelerate as expected.

Delayed or Rough Shifting: Hesitation or hard “clunk” sounds when shifting between gears (especially from Park to Drive or Reverse). Sometimes the vehicle may hesitate or refuse to move when in gear.

Unusual Noises: Grinding, whining, humming, or clunking noises from under the car. Whining may increase with engine RPM and may come from worn gears or fluid problems.

 Leaking Transmission Fluid: Bright red, brown, or dark fluid pooling underneath the vehicle. This may be accompanied by a burning smell if the transmission has overheated.

 Warning Lights: A “Check Engine” or transmission-specific warning lights may illuminate. Modern vehicles may log transmission fault codes that can be checked with an OBD Scanner.

Where Should I Buy A Replacement Transmission?

If your transmission needs to be replaced, always choose a reputable supplier. At Powertrain Products, we go beyond basic remanufacturing; we follow a thorough, precision-driven process that corrects known factory problems, making our transmissions better than new.

Our exhaustive remanufacturing process ensures that every transmission that leaves our premises will perform beyond your expectations:

• Every transmission is disassembled, inspected, and triple-cleaned. All threads are chased, and new bushings are fitted throughout.
• Our most experienced technicians rebuild and inspect each valve body, testing it on our C.A.R.S. system, which simulates real-world driving conditions to ensure perfect performance.
• Every transmission receives all-new O-rings, gaskets, and seals during reassembly. Finally, every unit undergoes an intensive spin and load testing on our custom dyno machines.

How Much Does A Replacement Transmission Cost?

Pricing varies based on the vehicle and transmission type. Below you’ll find a comprehensive Transmission Resources table listing several of our online transmission resources. Follow the links there to learn more about specific GM, Ford, and Dodge/RAM transmissions and their pricing.

Many of the prices listed include the core charge waiver. To benefit from this, you need to send us your old core using the provided shipping container (we pay the shipping charge) within 15 days of delivery. Core charges vary according to transmission type.

Our remanufactured transmissions come with a 3-year standard warranty, unless you’re using your remanufactured transmission for a 1-ton and up application. In this case, our 18 month, 50k mile Commercial Warranty will be applied to your purchase instead.

Will A Replacement Transmission Come With A Warranty?

Our remanufactured transmissions come with a 3-year (or 18 month commercial as mentioned above) warranty as standard. You can also choose to add on one of our extended warranty option to suit your needs:

• 5-year Extended Warranty Coverage
• 7-year Extended Warranty Coverage
• Pure Care No Fault Coverage

Can I Repair A Transmission Myself?

Transmissions have hundreds of moving parts, and precision is critical. One misstep can cause more damage. It is almost always best to leave transmission repair to the professionals.

Repairing a transmission yourself is only practical if you have advanced mechanical skills, the right tools, and a well-equipped workspace. Even then, it’s a complex and time-consuming job.

Powertrain Products Transmission Resources

Powertrain Products Fully Remanufactured Transmissions

Proper driving habits and regular maintenance are key to prolonging the life of your transmission. However, if you need a replacement transmission, Powertrain Products stocks a full range of comprehensively remanufactured transmissions for a wide range of vehicles.

To ensure you get the right replacement part, use your vehicle’s VIN number or Transmission Tag Number. Our transmissions:

• Have available warranty protections up to seven years, one million miles
• Come with high-quality parts – we machine and use new parts and meet or exceed OE specifications
• Are better than OEM – upgrades and recalibrations for enhanced performance and longevity

We’re also the nation’s leading supplier of engines, differentials, and transfer cases. Call us at 888-842-0023 or contact us online for more information.