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Transmission
 The Effects of Heat On A Vehicle's Engine And Transmission |
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Summertime and the livin' is easy! Yes it might be for people, but what about vehicles? Let's explore what heat does to a car.
Today car manufacturers must build cars under strict controls defined by the EPA standards, which require better fuel efficiency and lower exhaust emissions. One significant way they have complied is by manufacturing engines with more aluminum, which is much lighter than the material of old -- cast iron. This lowers the vehicle's overall weight, thus decreasing fuel consumption. That's the good news. The bad news is that aluminum has a lower melting point than the cast iron, so it is not as forgiving when it comes to heat. The catch is that in order to achieve the low exhaust emissions required, the engine must run at high temperatures! Factor into the equation the high temperatures of summer with the possibility of a coolant leak and you have -- engine meltdown!!
Equation # 1:
Aluminum + high temperatures + coolant leak = ENGINE MELTDOWN!!
The transmission also operates under tremendous heat. Many of the internal parts are referred to as "soft parts." The soft parts inside the transmission are made up of the rubber seals and clutches (which are made of a soft friction material much like brake shoes and pads). The transmission oil is cooled by a transmission oil cooler located either in, or affixed to, the car's radiator. Overheat the transmission and ugly things start to happen. How does a transmission overheat? A couple of ways:
Neglecting scheduled services: The transmission should be serviced every 25-30 thousand miles (recommended intervals vary by manufacturer). Service means changing the transmission fluid and filter. The transmission develops wear material (which is normal, by the way) that is caught in the filter. As the filter fills with this material, the flow of fluid (or oil) slows down. This, in turn, causes the transmission to heat up, breaking down (viscosity breakdown) the fluid's ability to lubricate and cool. The overall effect is an increase in friction and heat, wearing out the transmission prematurely.
Overworking the transmission without adequate cooling ability: This happens quite often as well. How many times have you seen a car or truck pulling a boat larger than itself during the summer months -- with the outside temperature exceeding 90 degrees?BODY ENDS--ˇµPREV_NEXT BEGINS--ˇµ
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The Effects of Heat On A Vehicle's Engine And Transmission |
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