You may love living in Phoenix, but you might not enjoy driving around in blazing summer heat. Should you have a problem with your transmission, during any time of the year, Sun Devil Auto is here to help. We’re also here to educate you on what causes transmission wear and what you can do to make your transmission last as long as possible.
The Heat of the Matter
The hot climate in the Southwest is hard on your vehicle’s transmission, but the extremely hot weather conditions found in Phoenix can be especially brutal on your vehicle. If you’re unable to take advantage of the cooler early morning and evening temperatures, you may have no choice but to drive during the hotter hours of the day. The reason summer temperatures are so tough on auto transmissions is that they raise the temperature of your transmission fluid.
If you’re stuck in stop-and-go traffic during the summer, the combination can be even harder on your transmission. Constantly having to brake and accelerate leads to premature wear on your already overheated transmission. Plan your routes carefully and take care of as many of your errands at the same time as possible.
Additional Factors That Cause Premature Transmission Wear
Besides heat and heavy traffic, additional factors that wear on your transmission and could cause it to overheat include:
- Heavy towing
- The overall size of your vehicle
- Low transmission fluid levels
- Ineffective or burnt fluid
If your vehicle ever feels off while you’re driving, or if you notice any odd smells, we encourage you to let one of our ASE Certified technicians take a look at your automobile. With 20 locations throughout the Valley, there’s always automotive service close to home.
Preventing Your Transmission From Overheating
Now that you know more about what can lead to a transmission overheating, it’s also important to know what you can do to help prevent overheating. It’s best that you have your fluids checked with every oil change to ensure there isn’t any burning or fluid loss. As a good rule of thumb, you should have your fluid changed every 30,000 to 50,000 miles.
Schedule an Appointment Today
If you can’t remember the last time you had your transmission and transmission fluid levels checked, there’s no time like the present. At Sun Devil Auto, we pride ourselves on the fact that we offer the quality of service normally found in a dealership, but at a more affordable cost.
