Car care: learn about automatic transmission

Do you know how to properly maintain your car care?

Besides being the choice of many people for comfort, automatic transmissions have become a valuable alternative within the purchase offering in high-performance options.

They are offered as the only option in many cars sports because the most modern ones shift gears faster than a human.

However, they are much more complex than we think. And that is why there are some special precautions we must take with an automatic transmission.

Aiming to ensure its durability and correct operation, and then we will say which are the most important ones.

See below some tips on what should not be done to maintain car care.

Car care: Do not use neutral when the car is moving

It is a popular belief that selecting neutral can save a few liters of gas when going downhill.

However, this is completely incorrect, as modern gearboxes are capable of cutting fuel supply to the engine under these conditions.

Making the wheels spin the engine and not the other way around.

In addition, by shifting to neutral with the gear engaged, you lose some control over the car.

Therefore, if it were necessary to accelerate suddenly to avoid an obstacle, the driver's response would take longer.

Not only does it consume more fuel and damage the transmission, but it is also not safe.

Do not shift from gear to reverse or vice versa if the car is moving

A car's brakes are designed to slow the car down; the transmission's function is to change gears.

Failing to wait for the car to stop completely before shifting from 'D' to 'R' and vice versa puts a lot of stress on the transmission belt. Wearing it out prematurely and costing you money when it needs to be replaced.

Do not shift from park or neutral to drive while revving

It is also a common practice for some to start quickly by revving. While the lever is in neutral and suddenly shifting to gear as they would in a manual transmission.

Revving with the clutch pressed, the car in first gear, and releasing the clutch.

Automatic transmissions work differently and this should not be done in a car equipped with such a transmission. Because we wear out the transmission's turbine, and replacing it is neither economical nor easy.

You do not need to use neutral at a red light or in traffic jams

Do not shift to neutral every time you stop at a red light, because the pin that selects the gears will tend to wear out, causing the car to leave you stranded at some point.

The gearbox was designed to withstand the torque of the engine while the car is stopped.

In addition, idling is usually higher in neutral than in drive, so you will use more gas.

If it is a heavy traffic jam and the engine is turned off for more than 90 seconds. It is preferable to turn off the engine than to constantly shift from gear to neutral.

Do not put the lever in 'P' until the car is completely stopped

When you are in a hurry to get somewhere and get out of the car, wait for the car to stop completely before selecting park. Turn off the engine and get out of the car, otherwise you might break the transmission lock.

Many modern gearboxes do not allow this anyway, but be patient when getting out, plan your timing, and don't try it.

Do not let the car's weight fall on the gearbox, use the parking brake

When parking a car with an automatic transmission, use the parking brake, otherwise the entire weight of the car falls on the gearbox and wears it out. The correct procedure when parking should be as follows:

• Shift from drive or reverse (as applicable) to neutral while applying the foot brake
• Engage the parking brake
• Finally, release the pedal and then select 'P'

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