Hot Stuff: Steps You Can Take to Keep Your Car's Transmission Cool

The transmission system is a key component of your car. Excess heat can damage the transmission on your vehicle. Below is a guide to some preventable measures which will help to prevent your car's transmission from overheating.

Common causes of overheating include:

• Overloading your vehicle
• Towing another vehicle
• Driving over steep terrain

And here are some preventative measures you can take.

Install a Higher Capacity Oil Pan

Oil helps to remove heat from the transmission system. Over time, the heat generated by the engine can burn away the transmission fluid in the oil pan, causing the level to become low. The oil pan in your car acts as a reservoir for the transmission fluid. By installing a higher capacity oil pan, you can store a larger amount of transmission fluid which will lower the chance that the oil levels will fall to critical levels, causing the system to overheat and fail.

Install a Transmission Cooler

Installing a transmission cooler can help to protect and extend the life of your car's transmission system. It acts as a secondary radiator in your vehicle which cools the transmission fluid before it enters the engine system. This additional cooling means that the fluid can remove heat from the transmission regardless of the level of strain the engine is under.

Install a Temperature Gauge

You should also consider purchasing a thermal sensor kit from an auto shop. These sensors can be attached to the transmission system. When the engine is running, the sensor will measure the temperature of the transmission fluid, displaying this information to you via a dashboard meter. This sensor will provide you will an early warning if your transmission begins to overheat, allowing you to take action before any serious damage occurs to your vehicle.

Add Additives to the Oil 

If you are concerned about your transmission overheating, you should also consider adding additives to the oil the oil pan. These additives, which are available from auto repair shops and motor servicing stores, increase the thermal performance of the transmission fluid and help to keep the system at the correct temperature.

Repairing a transmission system can be a time consuming and costly job. If you have any concerns about your car's transmission system, you should contact a qualified auto mechanic today. The mechanic will be able to inspect the system, carry out any repairs and recommend further steps you can take to protect your car's mechanical systems from overheating.