Transmission & Drivetrain

When it comes to looking after the transmission in your car, you really can’t afford to make any mistakes. You might think that it would be hard to make any errors, but there are a handful of performance transmission mistakes that people make frequently. Today, we are going to be discussing five of the most common mistakes that people make, and how you can make sure to avoid them.

Poor Cooling System Maintenance

We are all guilty of having allowed our vehicles to overheat at one point or another. Usually this comes from something as simple as forgetting to check the cooling system or not regularly maintaining the radiator. These little things are the things that will eventually lead to your car overheating.

This is a problem because your transmission will actually have been designed with a maximum operating temperature. Anything above that temperature will directly reduce the overall lifespan of your transmission. You can avoid this entirely by making sure that your cooling system is properly checked on a regular basis because your car will then be unlikely to overheat.

DIY Transmission Work and Repairs

If you have a transmission that does not seem to be performing well and/or one that seems to leak regularly, then you may have noticed all of the OTC additives that are readily available. These claim to improve the overall performance of your transmission and stop any unpleasant leaks. What they fail to mention is the fact that they can also shorten the lifespan of your transmission.

This is because the chemicals that are present in the majority of the products that can be found on the market have the ability to make older rubber seals warp. This can then lead to severe damage inside of your transmission. You can avoid this problem by checking your owner’s manual. Inside of it, you should be able to find a specific list of additives and transmission fluids that are recommended by the manufacturer. Do not use anything that is not on the list.

Neglected Transmission Service

One of the most important things that you have to remember is the fact that your transmission needs to be tuned on a periodic basis. If your transmission is not tuned, then a mixture of dirt and different contaminants will begin to build up inside of the transmission, causing it to run rather sluggishly and develop a multitude of other problems.

Unfortunately, that would just be the start of a very slippery slope. Your transmission would eventually fail completely. It is also worth noting that when you can see signs of transmission problems, it usually means that it is probably already too late to prevent any lasting damage. Make sure that you get your transmission serviced every few years to avoid these problems. You should also make sure that you know how to inspect your own transmission – since it’s a monthly best practice.

Use of Wrong ATF Type

It is really important to make sure that you are choosing the right automatic transmission fluid (ATF) to use – because specific transmissions actually require specific types of fluid. Using the correct ATF ensures that a transmission is capable of operating at a healthy, optimal performance level. As a high-performance automatic transmission owner, your number one priority is to ALWAYS make sure that the correct ATF is being used on your vehicle.

Different types of fluid are known to have different levels of viscosity and a number of unique additives that are only present in certain types. Using the wrong ATF can actually cause erratic hydraulic pressure that will reduce the lifespan of your performance transmission; in fact, there’s a seemingly endless list of potential damages that can arise from using the wrong ATF.

Irregular Fluid Level Checks

You might be imagining that your fluid levels are incapable of ever really affecting your transmission. Unfortunately, that is simply not true. When fluid levels are low it can cause your transmission to deteriorate quite rapidly because the fluid is directly responsible for protecting the inner workings of the transmission. It keeps everything cool and lubricated.

To avoid this situation, you have to make sure that your transmission fluid levels are at exactly the right point at all times. You should also make sure that you replace any dirty fluid as soon as you notice it. Your transmission should never have to work harder to compensate for a lack of fluid.

You also have to remember that many transmission problems cannot be dealt with professionally because they are ignored. If you do notice anything unusual about your own, then you should go straight for professional help to make sure that any advanced issues are addressed before they become a problem. Making sure that you get your transmission repaired quickly will prevent any unnecessary damage from occurring.

This year’s annual SEMA Show recently wrapped up in Las Vegas, drawing industry veterans and car fanatics alike to see all the latest and hottest auto products in one place. It’s the place to be if you’re a gearhead, and this year was no exception.

About SEMA Shows

The SEMA Show is a convention where top names in the industry come to show off their latest products. As well as this, there’s plenty to see and do. There are workshops, educational seminars, product demonstrations and networking opportunities.

If you work in the auto industry, it’s an opportunity to meet others in your field and get to know others. You can also take part in the workshops and seminars and come away with some new knowledge that you can take back home.

As you can see, this is why the show is just so popular and comes back year after year. There’s always something new and exciting to see. Attendees are guaranteed to come away with lots of new ideas themselves, and people at home are always anxiously awaiting news from the show itself.

2017 SEMA Show Highlights

This year’s SEMA Show was a success yet again – revealing a hefty load of exciting automotive industry news and events to look forward to in 2018. Here are our top favorite highlights from the 2017 SEMA Show.

1967 Chevrolet C10 Centennial Truck

Launched in 1960, the Chevy truck changed the way we see pickups forever. In 1967, the design was improved on by giving revised suspension to the now classic style. Of course, the 100th anniversary of Chevrolet’s celebratory truck was honored at this year’s SEMA Show – and rightfully so!

“One hundred years and 85 million trucks later, Chevrolet trucks continue to inspire, support and reward through hard work and recreation,” said Sandor Piszar, Chevrolet Trucks marketing director. “We are celebrating this historic milestone with the customers who have trusted Chevy Trucks for generations.”

BMW M3 30 Years American Edition

In another celebration, BMW celebrated 30 years of the M3 being sold in the United States. Take THAT, Europe! To better show off the hard work of the BMW Designworks team, the BMW M3 30 Years American Edition shined and sparkled on displayed for SEMA Show-goers all weekend long. This model will be restricted to a single production unit.

Maxlider Four Horseman Ford Bronco

At the show this year, Ford confirmed that they’re bringing back the infamous Ford Bronco. One customizer though has beaten them to the punch, using a first generation Bronco to create a four door model, which has now been dubbed the Four Horseman Ford Bronco.

Gunther Werks 400R

Another custom job, this time Gunther Werks decided to turn their hand to the Porsche 911. Their model uses hardcore water cooled technology, much like the later Porsche 996 model did. The result was the very impressive Gunther Werks 400R.

Honda Civic Type R Crate Engine

There are many people who want to take advantage of the Honda Civic Type R engine, without having to drive the Honda Civic Type R. Well, their prayers have been answered, thanks to the reveal of the new Honda Civic Type R crate engine.

Mopar Hellcat V8 Crate Engine

For those who have been looking for Mopar engines in their cars, they now have a crate engine to call their own. This means no more chasing wreckers looking for engines, and no more scouring wrecking yards. The Hellcat V8 crate engine has everything you need, in one package. This was one of the most exciting pieces of news to come out of this year’s SEMA Show.

Plymouth Air Radial Truck by Colorado Auto & Parts

The Plymouth Air Radial Truck was one of the most curious exhibitions to take place at the 2017 SEMA Show. Created by Gary Corns of Colorado Auto & Parts, this model features a 1939 Plymouth pickup truck, combined with a seven cylinder Jacobs radial engine from a Cessna 195 plane. There’s been no word yet if this car can actually fly.

1972 AMC Javelin AMX by Ringbrothers

For the 90’s anniversary of Prestone this year, the Ringbrothers customized a 1972 AMC Javelin AMX. It was one of the most fascinating builds at the 2017 SEMA Show, especially as builds based on Javelins are so rare.

Toyota PriuSRT8

The second generation Prius was given a makeover that makes it look and feel almost recognizable. Given its supercharged Hellcat V8 engine, the Toyota PriuSRT8 is a concept that totally goes against the forces of Prius nature, as well as our idea of what a traditional Prius is, or should be!

1963 Wide-Body AMC Rambler Wagon by Suzy Bauter: “Flare Witch Project”

Known as the “Flare Witch Project“, this beauty was certainly our favorite custom build at this year’s SEMA Show. The name comes from the steel wide-body fender flares that were added, as a key visual enhancement.

There you have it! That’s just a small taste of what the 2017 SEMA Show debuted and highlighted. The event just wrapped up, and already, gearheads and auto fanatics are anticipating the 2018 SEMA Show – which promises to be even more exciting, with even more custom builds and new releases to debut. Until then, fellow car enthusiasts!