Tucson Transmission Shop: How To Extend the Life of Your Transmission

Take Care of Your Transmission at BRAKEmax

Many drivers often think of oil changes and tire rotations when it comes to preventative maintenance. However, your transmission is a vital component of your car, and can completely disable it if it fails or begins to have issues. We feature a team of expert mechanics who perform quality transmission repair and transmission maintenance services.

As a leading transmission shop in Tucson, Arizona, we see drivers who experience transmission failure on a regular basis. Many of these drivers are shocked to hear that transmission failure could have been prevented with a few key maintenance tips. Allow us to share a few of these with you, and find out how you can prevent costly transmission failure and maximize your time with your vehicle.

For all of your vehicle's maintenance and repair needs, schedule service at BRAKEmax, and trust our transmission shop in Tucson, AZ, and your vehicle in the hands of professionals.

Why Transmission Service Is Vital

Your transmission is responsible for sending torque from your engine to your wheels. Many different gears inside your transmission send torque to your wheels at different ratios. Because these gears are constantly rotating at high speeds and handling large amounts of power from your engine, your transmission can get quite hot — which is why it is filled with transmission fluid.

Much like engine oil, your transmission fluid is responsible for lubricating and cooling the many moving parts inside your transmission. This fluid will also help to clean your transmission to ensure that dirt, grime, and sludge do not interfere with the gears and their operation.

Although this fluid does a fantastic job at protecting internal parts, this fluid will eventually need to be changed. In fact, performing a transmission fluid flush is one of the best ways to prevent transmission failure.

Ways To Prevent Transmission Failure

Transmission Fluid Service 

As we just mentioned, a transmission fluid flush is one of the most important services you can perform on your vehicle to prevent transmission failure. A routine transmission fluid flush will promote the optimal operation and minimize the need for transmission repair.

How Often Should These Services Be Done?

The type of transmission your vehicle uses will vary depending on the make, model, and year of your vehicle. Many modern transmissions have as many as nine or ten speeds, while some older vehicles feature transmissions that use only three or four gears. Additionally, depending on your vehicle's configuration, your transmission may need to send power to either the front, rear or all four wheels. 

Because various transmissions are designed to handle different demands and styles of driving, each one features different service intervals. We recommend you check your owner's manual to discover your vehicle's needs. 

Although your owner’s manual may say otherwise, our transmission shop in Tucson recommends performing a transmission fluid exchange every 60,000 miles. We offer this recommendation because your owner’s manual provides a general maintenance guide for average climate, operating, and driving conditions. 

Because we live in a desert climate here in Tucson, our vehicles are exposed to more intense heat than vehicles that operate in cooler climates. The intense heat that we experience can age your fluid faster and shorten its life span. 

Though your vehicle’s owner's manual may say that your vehicle needs a transmission flush every 60,000-100,000 miles, we recommend getting this service performed sooner rather than later. 

Transmission Fluid Flush Versus Exchange 

Many drivers hear the words “transmission flush” and “transmission fluid exchange” and believe they are the same service. However, these services do not provide the same level of protection.

Transmission Fluid Flush 

A transmission fluid flush involves one of our ASE-certified mechanics hooking a machine up to your transmission to pump new fluid into the system. As this new fluid is being pumped into your system, the old fluid is simultaneously being pumped out. This process helps loosen dirt deposits, while completely flushing your system of the old fluid. A transmission fluid flush offers the best protection for your transmission and promotes the cleanest internal components.

Transmission Fluid Exchange

A transmission fluid exchange, also called a transmission fluid change, opens the drain plug of your transmission and lets the old fluid drain out of the bottom. When the flow of dirty fluid stops, the drain plug is then reinstalled, and your transmission is filled with fresh, new fluid.

In case you're wondering which service is better for your vehicle, our transmission shop in Tucson recommends a fluid flush instead of a fluid exchange. Because your transmission has many nooks and crannies, including many pockets for dirty fluid to get trapped, simply opening the drain plug will not completely drain the system.

Coolant and Radiator Service 

Another important way to promote transmission longevity is maintaining your vehicle's cooling system well. In many cases, transmission damage often occurs when an engine overheats. This is because your transmission fluid is cooled in or around your radiator. Problems with your radiator or cooling system often cause your transmission to overheat. 

While we will still recommend that you check with your owner's manual to determine your vehicle's service needs for your cooling system, we recommend a coolant flush every two to three years.

Driving Tips To Extend Your Transmission’s Life

In addition to transmission service, there are a few driving tips that we can offer to help minimize your need for transmission repair:

• Drive smoothly.
• Avoid heavy acceleration.
• Check your transmission fluid before and after towing.
• Use Tow/Haul mode when towing, if equipped.
• Use lower gears when your transmission is “gear hunting.”
• Come to a complete stop before you shift between reverse and drive. 
• Avoid heavy braking when possible.

Schedule an Appointment at BRAKEmax

Our transmission shop in Tucson, AZ, is here to help you with all of your vehicle’s automotive needs. Whether you need trustworthy transmission maintenance services or you need affordable transmission repair, our transmission shop is here to help maximize your time with your vehicle.

Our mechanics are all ASE-certified and perform maintenance and repairs on all makes and models of vehicles. We even offer money-saving service coupons so that you can enjoy trustworthy service at an affordable price.

Schedule an appointment with BRAKEmax today, and rest assured that your vehicle is in the hands of professionals.