Cold weather can take a toll on many different components of your vehicle—including its transmission. As temperatures continue to drop, it’s important to be aware of the ways in which chilly weather can impact your vehicle’s transmission. That way you can take measures to avoid potential issues, or at the very least, mentally prepare for them should they occur. To help you brace yourself and your vehicle for frigid temperatures, take a look at these common effects of cold weather on your transmission.
Contraction
One of the most common impacts of cold weather on a vehicle’s transmission is contraction. When temperatures drop, they cause the metal transmission components to contract. In other words, they shrink slightly. As a result of their change in size, various parts of the transmission may become loose. Because the parts won’t fit together properly anymore, there is an increased potential for leaks to develop. In addition, the moving parts of the transmission may wear down more quickly as a result of their contraction.
Changes in Viscosity
Another common effect of cold weather on a transmission is changes in its fluid viscosity. When cold temperatures emerge, they cause the transmission fluid to get thicker. Generally speaking, transmission fluid can maintain normal viscosity at operating temperatures that are between 150 and 220 degrees.
When the transmission is exposed to temperatures below zero degrees, however, the transmission fluid becomes too thick. As a result, the fluid cannot properly circulate throughout the transmission. The lack of circulation can have several negative impacts—from loss of hydraulic pressure which can inhibit gear changes, to lack of lubrication which can lead to premature wear and tear.
To help prevent your transmission fluid from thickening up as a result of cold weather, consider swapping out your regular fluid for synthetic fluid. Typically, synthetic fluid is less viscous in cold temperatures and will help your transmission maintain normal operation during the wintertime.
Water Damage
Water damage is a potentially catastrophic impact of cold weather on your transmission. Water causes enough damage inside of your transmission when temperatures are normal, as it can slowly dissolve the glue connecting various parts. In freezing temperatures, however, the impact of water in the transmission can be even more detrimental.
When water gets inside of the transmission and freezes, it will expand. As a result, the expanded water may cause various components of the transmission to crack and break. If cracks occur in the valve body or the transmission case, repairs will be extremely difficult and expensive, if not impossible. In most cases, a complete transmission replacement to the tune of several thousands of dollars will be necessary.
Shifting Issues
When temperatures decrease, the likelihood that you will experience shifting issues also increases. In cold weather, it is common to experience hard shifts. A hard shift refers to the instances when a transmission feels as though it is slamming into gear. Hard shifting is most commonly experienced when shifting between first and second gear. If a vehicle continuously undergoes hard shifts, the increased pressure that is placed on various components of the transmission will ultimately increase the risk of a total system failure. As such, it is important to get your vehicle checked out by a mechanic if you begin to experience hard shifts.
Delayed Overdrive
When temperatures dip significantly below safe operating temperatures, your transmission’s computer may delay the use of overdrive. Such a delay will likely occur until the proper operating temperature is reached.
In delaying the use of overdrive, the driver’s comfort and experience is reduced. However, there are far more serious consequences at stake as well. Because overdrive is not available, the transmission relies on its other forward gears to pick up the slack.
As a result, delaying overdrive places excess strain and pressure on the transmission’s other forward gears.
Quick Tips for Protecting Your Transmission From the Cold
To keep your transmission working smoothly despite the cold and reduce your chances of getting stranded on the side of the road in freezing temperatures, consider implementing some of these tips for protecting your transmission from the cold:
- Switching to Synthetic Transmission Fluid: As mentioned earlier, swapping out your regular transmission fluid with synthetic transmission fluid when driving in colder climates can help prevent changes in viscosity that could cause a host of problems.
- Letting Your Transmission Warm-Up: Instead of starting your car and immediately zooming out of the driveway, consider letting it idle for a moment. Giving your vehicle a chance to warm up before driving in the cold will reduce the amount of strain that is placed on the transmission and help avoid delayed overdrive.
- Slow Your Roll: In addition to giving your vehicle a minute or two to warm up, you should also consider driving slower in lower temperatures. Often, the various components of your transmission will operate more slowly in the cold. By reducing your driving speed, you can provide your transmission with a bit of extra time to change gears and reduce the amount of strain placed on the system.
- Park Your Vehicle in a Garage: If you have the option, it is highly advantageous to park your vehicle in a garage rather than out in the open and exposed to cold weather. A garage offers more protection from the elements such as cold wind, rain, and snow, and is generally much warmer than the outside air. As such, you can prevent your car from experiencing extremely frigid conditions and significantly reduce the negative effects of cold weather on your transmission by keeping your vehicle in the garage.
No matter how prepared you are or how many precautions you take, sometimes your vehicle’s transmission is just no match for Mother Nature’s cold shoulder. If your transmission ends up getting damaged or worn down as a result of chilly weather, Transparts Warehouse can help. We offer an extensive inventory stocked with standard and automatic transmission repair parts for a wide range of models. To find the replacement part you need to get your transmission working smoothly again, contact us or shop our online collection today.