Warmth is without doubt one of the largest threats to your automobile’s drivetrain. I am not speaking the common warmth an engine makes when it is operating, right here. No, I am speaking extreme, piston-melting, gear-seizing warmth brought on by lubricant loss or some sort of catastrophic mechanical failure. It isn’t simply engines that may overheat and destroy themselves: Transmissions are additionally weak to warmth harm, what with all of the spinning gears and rods and different mechanical gewgaws in there.
Now, we all know {that a} automobile’s engine sometimes runs between 160 and 180 levels by Fahrenheit’s thermometer, with an higher protected vary over 200 levels. What a few transmission, although? How scorching does a usually working transmission normally run? How excessive is its operational protected vary?
Normally, the protected warmth vary for a automobile’s transmission is roughly the identical because the protected warmth vary of its engine — between 175 and 225 levels Fahrenheit. Something greater than that and also you’re harm to the transmission’s internals. How scorching is just too scorching, although, and what occurs (heaven forfend) when a transmission overheats?
Gotta run for shelter, gotta run for shade
A transmission can overheat for a similar causes that an engine overheats, and the most typical trigger is poor upkeep. When was the final time you checked your transmission fluid? Heck, when was the final time you even considered it? Trans fluid breaks down and wears out over time, which makes it much less efficient at each lubricating and cooling. Driving in scorching environments or in cease and go visitors (or each) may also overheat a gearbox. Towing is one other potential explanation for transmission overheating, together with carrying excessively heavy masses.
An overheating transmission will slip, bang, make bizarre noises, hesitate, and odor terrible. In case your automobile reveals any of these behaviors pull over ASAP and verify your transmission fluid. If the fluid is low, discolored, or smells burned, let the automobile quiet down a bit after which get it to the store directly. If you happen to’re fortunate, you may simply want a transmission flush and a few contemporary fluid to repair the issue.
If you wish to maintain your transmission from overheating, your finest guess is a transmission cooler, which is sort of a tiny radiator simply on your gearbox. Numerous automobiles include them, particularly high-performance automobiles or towing rigs, however you’ll be able to normally get one from the aftermarket and have it put in if that wasn’t the case. Aside from that, be sure you maintain your automobile upkeep updated and take a look at to not stress your transmission out an excessive amount of, and you need to be free from transmission overheating issues.