Transmission is one of the critical components of a vehicle, and its function is to move the vehicle forward by transferring power from the engine to the wheels.
It is common knowledge that vehicle engines overheat. However, overheating is not limited to engines alone. In fact, an overheated transmission can wreck and ruin your car. If you overheat your vehicle’s transmission, it’ll not only briefly affect your vehicle’s ability to run, it can also lead to complete decimation of the transmission, which may need a total overhaul.
While on transit, your transmission can overheat, leaving you wondering how to cool down transmission fast. Knowing the basics of cooling down a hot transmission is an invaluable skill that will protect your vehicle and ultimately save you some money.
How to cool down transmission fast
Hot transmission is often caused by transmission fluid issues like low fluid levels, leaks, and dirty fluid permeating the system.
One of the hot transmission fluid symptoms is the transmission warning lights. If you observe this, stop driving immediately. You may wonder how long to wait for transmission to cool down? it takes transmission around 30 minutes for it to cool down.
A proven simple fix is the use of transmission fluid additive on a regular basis. These fluid additives contain coolants specially designed to reduce the temperature of your transmission, especially when it is under pressure from stop-and-go traffic, driving on steep roads, or hauling extra weight. As a last resort, we recommend you tow your vehicle to a local transmission repair shop.
As a preventive measure, you should check your vehicle’s transmission fluid at least once a month to spot issues such as a low fluid level or dirty/burned fluid. This will allow you to fix these early warning signs before they cause serious transmission problems that can damage or destroy your transmission.
Here we will highlight further transmission problems and Their solutions.
FAQs
Q: How do you stop transmission from overheating?
Many erroneously posit manufacturer errors or defective parts as the major cause of transmission failure, but experts say the heat is the major culprit. Approximately, heat amounts to 90% of all automatic transmission failures.
To stop transmission from overheating, drivers should undergo a preventive maintenance routine to check for, and change dirty, sapped, and burned fluids. Similarly, adding an external coolant and frequently replacing the transmission fluid is highly recommended for drivers in tropical regions and heavy-duty vehicles.
Q: What does it mean when your transmission is hot?
Earlier, we established that heat is the major source of transmission failure. Now, let’s get into the mechanics of hot transmission.
When your transmission is hot, you may have a low transmission fluid, which ultimately results in excessive wear and tear.
Transmission fluids wear out over time and can also be contaminated with dirt and grit.
But, It’s important to note that clutches, transmission bands, and unpredictable gear shifts because of bad transmission solenoids can also cause your transmission to overheat.
Q: Can you drive with a hot transmission?
The answer is a straightforward NO!
This is because your vehicle’s standard transmission temperature revolves around 175 and 200 degrees Celsius. The optimal condition is at or below 175°C.
The transmission warning light specifies a 250-degree rise in fluid temperature when the transmission warning light is on. This is when the vehicle fluid breaks down, with a reduction in the gearbox’s lifespan as a multiplying effect.
At this point, if you keep driving, the rising temperature will maintain an upward trajectory. It’ll be a calamity if it crosses the 270 degrees mark, at which point, the fluid will completely disintegrate, and the transmission will incur catastrophic damages.
Q: What temp is too hot for transmission?
”What temperature is too hot for transmission fluid” is a common question most drivers ask. A vehicle transmission running 20 degrees higher than normal will have its transmission life cut in half.
Transmission operating temperatures normally fluctuate between 175 to 200 degrees, while the fluid inside ranges between 185 and 194 degrees Fahrenheit. So, as we stated earlier, anything above this will lead to catastrophe, with imminent doom looming for every 20-degree increase.
Q: Why does a transmission slip when hot?
There are several reasons your transmission slip when hot, but the most common cause is a low transmission fluid level.
When the fluid level is low, it deprives the transmission of sufficient hydraulic pressure to engage your vehicle’s gears. This often results in friction between components, causing overheating.
Other reasons include defective solenoid, damaged transmission bands, clutch issues, and transmission fluid leak.
Q: Why does my transmission shift hard when hot?
Your vehicle’s transmission shifts hard when hot because the components often malfunction or get damaged under high heat levels.
A vehicle’s transmission relies on fluids to maintain some much-needed coolness. However, leakage of the fluid will create additional heat and pressure. This may cause the thickening of the fluids, at which point it loses its lubricating properties, culminating in a hard transmission.
Other causes may include faulty gears, damaged master cylinder, and damaged hub sleeve.
Q: Can a bad torque converter cause overheating?
Yes. A bad torque converter can damage the transmission and cause overheating.
The torque converter, between the transmission and the engine’s flexplate, is a key component of a vehicle that must work properly to ensure a smooth ride.
When your torque converter is not working, your car will have problems. Bad torque converters often lead to friction, overheating, damage, and transmission fluid degradation, and the persistence of these problems can cause additional damages to transmission.
Final Words
Transmission is one of the key components of a vehicle that functions to move the vehicle forward by transferring power from the engine to the wheels. Your transmission can overheat, often caused by transmission fluid issues such as a low fluid level, leak, or dirty fluid permeating the system.
We’ve thoroughly covered how to cool down transmission fast. Hence, If you experience a transmission overheating, slow down, or stop the vehicle. Wait for about 30 minutes before continuing. Constantly checking and changing the transmission fluid is a preventive measure to stop transmission from overheating.
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