One of the costliest parts to replace on your vehicle is the transmission. Fortunately, this is also one of the easiest areas of your car to maintain. When you follow key transmission maintenance guidelines, it’s simple to avoid a costly repair or replacement. Below are a few tips from the experts at Friendly Transmission Service in High Point, NC, on how to look after your transmission and prolong its lifespan.

5 Transmission Maintenance Tips to Extend Its Life

1. Regularly Check Transmission Fluid

Usually, the first signs of transmission trouble will appear in the fluid. To catch these problems early on, get in the habit of inspecting the level and condition of your transmission fluid on a regular basis.

2. Learn to Shift From Reverse to Drive Correctly

Developing good driving habits is an excellent way to ensure your transmission has a long life. One of these habits should be to come to a complete stop before switching your car into drive or reverse. Changing gears beforehand will wear down your vehicle’s transmission and cause premature damage to essential components.

3. Avoid Spinning Your Wheels When Stuck

If you ever get stuck in snow or mud, don’t spin your wheels trying to get out. When you do this, it causes extra heat to build up in the car’s transmission, which can quickly do damage.

4. Set the Emergency Brake First

When you park in places where the emergency brake is necessary—like on a hill—always set the emergency brake before shifting into park. This will ensure the weight of the car is placed on the emergency brake instead of the parking pawl—a device fitted to automatic transmissions that causes them to lock up in the park position.

5. Adhere to Towing Limits

If you’re using your vehicle to tow another vehicle or trailer, you should never exceed its towing capacity. Going over this value will cause your transmission to get too hot and damage its fundamental parts. Even if the object being towed is under capacity, you still need to consider the terrain you will be driving on, as numerous hills or stop-and-go traffic can cause this number to rise.

Even transmissions that have been diligently taken care of will one day fail. If your car needs transmission maintenance, contact the experts at Friendly Transmission Service. Call them today at (336) 882-1164, or learn more about their transmission services by visiting their website.