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At first, driving a car with an automatic transmission may seem simpler compared to a manual transmission, in fact the controls of this type of gearbox are intuitive and useful in different situations, such as traffic where you stop and start again after a few seconds, or even on an uphill road. But even if it may seem like a basic type of transmission, there are some things you need to know.
That is why we are going to look at and analyze the 8 most common mistakes you could make with a car equipped with an automatic transmission.
NUMBER 8: SHIFTING INTO REVERSE WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING
If you are moving with your car, make sure to come to a complete stop before shifting from Drive to Reverse or vice versa. Why? First of all, it wears out your transmission, because you are actually using the gear shift to stop the car instead of your brakes. The car will stop, but you will end up wearing out the transmission band. The transmission band is in a hard-to-reach position, making its repair and replacement expensive and time-consuming compared to the brakes, which are easily accessible and easy to service.
NUMBER 7: LEAVING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WHILE GOING DOWNHILL
As also mentioned for the manual transmission, it is not advantageous in terms of energy. First of all, you lose full control, since you cannot accelerate the car in neutral, you cannot use engine braking and you can only slow it down using the brakes. Modern automatic cars are smart enough to reduce fuel supply while driving downhill, thus preventing the need to coast and providing greater fuel efficiency just like their manual counterparts.
NUMBER 6: CONSTANTLY KEEPING THE FUEL TANK LOW
Many people drive their car with the fuel tank almost empty, most of the time because there are no gas stations nearby or because they are short on cash, but frequently driving without fuel can cost you much more in the long run, especially if you have an automatic transmission. The biggest problem is the car’s fuel pump. Prolonged use of the vehicle on reserve could damage the pump, since the dust and sediments at the bottom of the tank are put into circulation.
NUMBER 5: SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL AT A RED LIGHT
Unlike what happens with a manual transmission, with an automatic transmission, when you stop at a red light, you must remain in gear. Many people think that keeping the transmission in gear while pressing the brake wastes fuel and causes unnecessary wear on the transmission. In reality, the actual engine wear and fuel loss are minimal! Instead, it is the simple act of disengaging and re-engaging, by shifting into and out of neutral, that adds wear to the various parts involved.
That is why we are going to look at and analyze the 8 most common mistakes you could make with a car equipped with an automatic transmission.
NUMBER 8: SHIFTING INTO REVERSE WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING
If you are moving with your car, make sure to come to a complete stop before shifting from Drive to Reverse or vice versa. Why? First of all, it wears out your transmission, because you are actually using the gear shift to stop the car instead of your brakes. The car will stop, but you will end up wearing out the transmission band. The transmission band is in a hard-to-reach position, making its repair and replacement expensive and time-consuming compared to the brakes, which are easily accessible and easy to service.
NUMBER 7: LEAVING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WHILE GOING DOWNHILL
As also mentioned for the manual transmission, it is not advantageous in terms of energy. First of all, you lose full control, since you cannot accelerate the car in neutral, you cannot use engine braking and you can only slow it down using the brakes. Modern automatic cars are smart enough to reduce fuel supply while driving downhill, thus preventing the need to coast and providing greater fuel efficiency just like their manual counterparts.
NUMBER 6: CONSTANTLY KEEPING THE FUEL TANK LOW
Many people drive their car with the fuel tank almost empty, most of the time because there are no gas stations nearby or because they are short on cash, but frequently driving without fuel can cost you much more in the long run, especially if you have an automatic transmission. The biggest problem is the car’s fuel pump. Prolonged use of the vehicle on reserve could damage the pump, since the dust and sediments at the bottom of the tank are put into circulation.
NUMBER 5: SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL AT A RED LIGHT
Unlike what happens with a manual transmission, with an automatic transmission, when you stop at a red light, you must remain in gear. Many people think that keeping the transmission in gear while pressing the brake wastes fuel and causes unnecessary wear on the transmission. In reality, the actual engine wear and fuel loss are minimal! Instead, it is the simple act of disengaging and re-engaging, by shifting into and out of neutral, that adds wear to the various parts involved.
NUMBER 4: ENGAGING PARK BEFORE THE CAR HAS STOPPED
The parking mode is used when leaving the car parked. However, many make some mistakes when using this position. Among the most common errors is certainly the fact that people shift into P before the car has completely stopped. If you happen to activate parking mode when the car is still moving, you could easily shear or even break the parking pawl, which would require expensive repairs.
NUMBER 3: STARTING AGGRESSIVELY
Many people like to start quickly at the traffic light, especially young people and especially with powerful cars. It is very enjoyable, but little by little this kills your transmission. The fast start methods are various, some more serious than others. The classic start, when you simply press the accelerator pedal all the way down, is the least destructive. In cases of necessity, it can even be done. The brake pedal start, when you keep the brake pedal pressed and at the same time also press the accelerator to increase engine RPM and gain more power, is of medium severity and largely depends on the number of revolutions you give the engine before releasing the brake. The neutral start, when you are initially in neutral and press the accelerator to increase the RPM, then once the desired RPM is reached you shift the transmission into drive mode. This method is the worst of all and must absolutely be avoided.
NUMBER 2: DELAYING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE
With an automatic transmission, more heat is produced. This means that more carbon will be generated, which will contaminate the transmission fluid. Over time, these contaminants will cause the fluid to thicken and stop doing its job effectively. Always follow the manufacturer’s specifications and do not miss the next service interval!
NUMBER 1: FREQUENTLY MOVING THE GEAR SELECTOR
As mentioned earlier, many people have the habit, every time they stop for a couple of seconds, of shifting into neutral or into park. Shifting into neutral is fine for a manual gearbox, but in no case is frequently moving the gear selector good for an automatic transmission. This is due to the very different structure between the various types of transmissions, so with the automatic one it is better to avoid this habit. Other drivers also like to shift into neutral even while driving. First of all, this behavior is very dangerous and should be avoided with any type of transmission. And secondly, on the automatic transmission it seriously damages several components. At the very moment of shifting into neutral, nothing serious happens. The worst moment is when you shift back into drive mode; at that instant you feel a slight jerk, and this is a sign of heavy strain, damage, and increased wear of many components of the transmission.
We have analyzed the most common mistakes that drivers make when driving a car with an automatic transmission, were you already aware of them? Have you heard of other driving habits that can damage the vehicle and in particular the transmission? Let us know below in the comments.
If this video was useful to you, let us know by leaving a like and a comment, you can also share it, and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.
The parking mode is used when leaving the car parked. However, many make some mistakes when using this position. Among the most common errors is certainly the fact that people shift into P before the car has completely stopped. If you happen to activate parking mode when the car is still moving, you could easily shear or even break the parking pawl, which would require expensive repairs.
NUMBER 3: STARTING AGGRESSIVELY
Many people like to start quickly at the traffic light, especially young people and especially with powerful cars. It is very enjoyable, but little by little this kills your transmission. The fast start methods are various, some more serious than others. The classic start, when you simply press the accelerator pedal all the way down, is the least destructive. In cases of necessity, it can even be done. The brake pedal start, when you keep the brake pedal pressed and at the same time also press the accelerator to increase engine RPM and gain more power, is of medium severity and largely depends on the number of revolutions you give the engine before releasing the brake. The neutral start, when you are initially in neutral and press the accelerator to increase the RPM, then once the desired RPM is reached you shift the transmission into drive mode. This method is the worst of all and must absolutely be avoided.
NUMBER 2: DELAYING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE
With an automatic transmission, more heat is produced. This means that more carbon will be generated, which will contaminate the transmission fluid. Over time, these contaminants will cause the fluid to thicken and stop doing its job effectively. Always follow the manufacturer’s specifications and do not miss the next service interval!
NUMBER 1: FREQUENTLY MOVING THE GEAR SELECTOR
As mentioned earlier, many people have the habit, every time they stop for a couple of seconds, of shifting into neutral or into park. Shifting into neutral is fine for a manual gearbox, but in no case is frequently moving the gear selector good for an automatic transmission. This is due to the very different structure between the various types of transmissions, so with the automatic one it is better to avoid this habit. Other drivers also like to shift into neutral even while driving. First of all, this behavior is very dangerous and should be avoided with any type of transmission. And secondly, on the automatic transmission it seriously damages several components. At the very moment of shifting into neutral, nothing serious happens. The worst moment is when you shift back into drive mode; at that instant you feel a slight jerk, and this is a sign of heavy strain, damage, and increased wear of many components of the transmission.
We have analyzed the most common mistakes that drivers make when driving a car with an automatic transmission, were you already aware of them? Have you heard of other driving habits that can damage the vehicle and in particular the transmission? Let us know below in the comments.
If this video was useful to you, let us know by leaving a like and a comment, you can also share it, and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.