Steps for Protecting Your Gearbox From Unnecessary Repairs
Getting your gearbox or any part of your car's transmission fixed can be costly and time-consuming, yet many car owners cause unnecessary repairs because they don't protect the gearbox or the transmission as they should. They may have driving habits that put unnecessary wear and tear on the gearbox or may overlook some simple maintenance steps that would otherwise prolong the life of the car's transmission. Note a few steps you might take to protect your car's gearbox and transmission from unnecessary repairs.
1. Don't use the transmission for brakes
When you need to slow your car, don't use the transmission instead of the brakes by downshifting. This puts wear and tear on the engine as it slows its speed in the lower gear, but it also puts excess wear on the transmission. Anytime you change gears in your car, the chains and gears of the transmission need to change and they suffer wear. Changing gears unnecessarily and especially at high speeds can cause unnecessary wear on those parts so that they need repair and replacing sooner than they should. Use the brakes rather than downshifting to slow your vehicle except when absolutely necessary in emergency situations.
2. Add spray guards
Moisture getting into the gearbox can cause premature failure, as this can prevent the gears from moving as freely as they should and also cause slippage. If exposure to water spray is unavoidable when on the road, use spray guards such as deflectors, mud flaps, and the like in order to protect the gearbox and all the other parts of the transmission. It's also good to invest in high-quality seals for the gearbox as these will protect the mechanisms in the transmission from excess moisture.
3. Avoid stress with overweight uphill towing
Forcing your car to tow something beyond its capacity means the transmission needs to support that added weight, and especially so when going uphill. This excess work produces heat, and heat means corrosion and damage to all your car's parts including the transmission. Lighten the load according to what your car's owner's manual says it can handle by way of uphill towing so you don't damage the transmission or gearbox.
4. Use synthetics
Synthetic fluids don't tend to break down as easily as biological fluids, which is why they can be a better choice for your car. Switch to a synthetic transmission fluid the next time you need to fill up or have the transmission drained, and this can offer more protection for the gearbox and all transmission parts.
For more information, talk to a company like Shute Engineering.