MotorGuru:
Automatic transmission is a torque multiplication device that is attached to your car's engine, which enables your car to shift gears automatically with little or no driver input. it is different from manual transmission in that there is no need for a pedal operated clutch. this makes your vehicle (if equipped with one ) to be very easy to drive especially in traffic jams. The ease it provides makes it very complex in its design and operation and if used incorrectly, can be easily damaged and can cost a lot of money( in some cases hundreds of thousands of Naira) to repair or replace.


The following are some key driving tips that will help keep your automatic transmission in good condition:

1.Only change from Drive to Reverse and vice versa at a complete standstill: Always ensure your vehicle comes to a complete stop before going from drive to reverse or vice versa. Shifting from reverse to drive, or vice-versa, while the car is still moving can cause increased stresses to the drive-train constant velocity joints which can lead to breakage/damage. This can also cause damage to the transmission wet clutches/ brake bands which can be a very expensive repair.so be patient and learn to use your brakes properly to stop your car.

2. Only shift to Park when you’ve come to a complete stop: You can damage or break the locking pin and the pawl mechanism that’s used to ensure your transmission is properly engaged in park. repairing this may be very costly.

3. [b]Don't put your gear in neutral in a holdup/ stoplight : Yes i know, you will say i need to save fuel, right? No it doesn't. Your RPM actually fluctuates and, in some cases, rises when you shift from Drive to Neutral. Not only does this not help you save fuel, but the fluctuation in RPM also stresses the bands and clutch plates in your transmission, which, over time, will wear them out.[/b]

4. Putting your car gear in 'L' when stuck in a muddy place: This is bad practice, as L means your car starts from gear 1, and gear 1 gives a high torque condition which will cause spinning of your driving wheels and in severe cases overheat your transmission (Heat is a major killer of automatic transmission!)In such situation , engage your transmission in '2' so that your car can start in(or immediately shift into)2nd gear and remain in that gear until you are out of the situation.

5. Launching your automatic car by revving in Neutral and shifting to Drive: Hmm. For the awon Jason Staham (Transporter) that will put their transmission in Neutral, hold down the accelerator, then shift to Drive. This is very bad practice as this subjects the clutches and bands in these cars' transmissions are placed under huge amounts of mechanical stress due to the abrupt mashing of a stationary clutch plate with an engine that has been revved too high. this over time will wear your transmission and may call for a rebuild/ replacement sooner than expected.

GAZZUZZ:


one sch of thought says it overheats the gearbox

MotorGuru:


Nice having you here sir

The thing is that most of these practices will result to your exact sentiment: overheating of your transmission. and nothing kills a transmission faster than that as it leads to accelerated ATF degradation (burnt fluid)

weyreypey:

You are very wrong! Keeping your gear engaged in traffic causes overheating of the transmission. Which no automatic transmission wants or needs.

olumzzz:

So are you saying we should always switch to Neutral while in traffic?

olumzzz:

So are you saying we should always switch to Neutral while in traffic?

weyreypey:

I always do so also while at a stop light. In fact I put it in park.

olumzzz:

But another school of thought kicks against that practice.
Moreover, i think the transmission fluid is cooled by the radiator so i do not envisage where it gets overheated.

olumzzz:

But another school of thought kicks against that practice.
Moreover, i think the transmission fluid is cooled by the radiator so i do not envisage where it gets overheated.

weyreypey:
Well I have had the privilege of burning several transmissions. And that is my advice.

olumzzz:

Lol.
So how about we look at the causes of your previous experiences, is it from prolonged engagements in traffic?