Blog Post

How to Extend the Life of Your Vehicle's Transmission

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  • 28 Nov, 2017
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Whether you drive a manual or automatic vehicle, the transmission is one of the most important components of the engine. Your car's transmission is responsible for allowing your vehicle to switch gears as you accelerate or slow down your driving. The transmission is important and allows your vehicle to run more efficiently without putting a strain on the engine to operate.


The transmission is also one of the most expensive parts of your car to repair or replace. Most of the cost of repairing your transmission doesn't actually go toward replacement parts - which are pricey enough on their own (new or used) - but the labor performed by your mechanic. To keep your vehicle in excellent running condition, you want to take care of your current transmission. Here are tips that can help you get the most out of your car's transmission.

Operate Your Vehicle Appropriately

The less strain you put on your vehicle's transmission, the longer it will operate for you. If you drive a manual car, use your brakes to slow down rather than your gear shift. If you drive an automatic car, come to a complete stop before accelerating again. Both of these actions can help prevent abuse of your transmission so it can last longer.

Service Your Transmission Regularly

Did you know that you are supposed to have your transmission serviced every 30,000 miles? A lot of people fail to have this basic service done, but taking care of your transmission by having your mechanic check its fluids and components can help prevent expensive issues in the long run. Talk to your mechanic about having your transmission and other components of your engine inspected on a regular basis to catch small issues before they become costly problems.

Check Your Transmission Fluid

Just like you can burn up your engine by ignoring its oil levels, you can destroy a transmission by not checking or changing its fluids. Check your transmission fluids regularly and have the fluid drained and replaced every few years or 30,000 miles. It's a wise idea to have the fluids drained when you are having your transmission professionally inspected by your mechanic.

Make Small Repairs as Needed

If your vehicle is having trouble down-shifting or accelerating (lurching or halting), leaking transmission fluid or experiencing other problems, see your mechanic right away. The longer you ignore potential transmission issues, the more severe and expensive they can become. A quick inspection by your mechanic can diagnose smaller issues so they can be repaired, thus extending the life of your transmission.


There's no way to truly tell how long your vehicle's transmission will continue operating safely. The way you drive, how often you have your transmission serviced and other factors all play a role in its longevity. However, you can help make it last as long as possible by driving more cautiously, checking your fluids often and referring to your mechanic for assistance.

Your car operates much more safely when you have a reliable transmission. Our team of mechanics at Peninsula Transmission are skilled in repairing and replacing transmissions. Call us today for an estimate on your repairs or to have your transmission inspected.

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