Back to all

Smooth Shifting in Orland Park Illinois: Transmission Service

November 7, 2014



So you have some exciting plans for the Illinois weekend. You’re going to take some of your Orland Park, Illinois friends out on the boat for some water skiing. Of course, you’ve gotten the boat all ready. And you haven’t forgotten about your tow vehicle. You’ve gassed it up and even vacuumed it out. However, there is something even more essential than the cleanliness of the interior: you want to make sure that your SUV maintenance is up to date.

Think about it – heavy expressway traffic on the way out of Orland Park. There’s hilly terrain as you get to the lake. Some dirt roads – and it's going to be pretty hot in Orland Park this weekend. And all the time you’ll be towing around several thousand extra pounds. That all adds up a lot of severe strain on your engine, brakes and transmission.

Let’s just consider the transmission. It’s going to be working overtime, spending more time in lower gears. The internal transmission temperature is going to be much higher than normal. A fun little blast to the local Illinois lake for you is really severe duty for your transmission.

It’s essential to have enough transmission fluid. If it runs low, the transmission will run hotter and won’t have the protection it needs to cope with the added stress of towing. Transmission fluid breaks down and gets dirty over time. Whether you have an automatic or manual transmission, it's important for Orland Park auto owners to have it serviced by automotive professionals like the team at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Orland Park in Orland Park to make sure it runs efficiently.

An automatic transmission contains a maze of passages through which the fluid must pass to keep it shifting smoothly. Orland Park motorists who neglect regularly scheduled transmission service risk the passages clogging up and starting to have problems.

Orland Park drivers who neglect their transmission for too long will eventually experience pricey transmission failure. You really don’t want to pay for a major transmission repair.

This reminds us of how much of our driving around Orland Park, Illinois is under severe conditions. Towing or hauling a big load is obvious, but there are lots of other things that constitute severe driving conditions. Things like short trips, driving in very hot or very cold Illinois weather. Dusty roads and city driving around Orland Park, Illinois add to the strain. Basically, any driving that’s not at highway speeds or under ideal conditions.

While you have your vehicle in, ask for a trip inspection. Your service specialist at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Orland Park will check your belts and hoses and let you know if your brakes are in good shape.

Now, don’t forget the sunscreen.

More articles from Tuffy Orland Park

I NEED All Wheel Drive (Pros and Cons of AWD)

March 24, 2024

So winter has arrived and you don't feel confident in how your 2-wheel drive vehicle does in the snow and ice. You envy all those people with all-wheel-drive (AWD) and 4-wheel-drive (4WD) cars, trucks and SUVs. You start thinking, "I need one of those. I'll be able to go anywhere without any w... More

I Want a New Vehicle. Or Do I? (Vehicle Maintenance Payoffs)

March 17, 2024

Spring is a peak season for vehicle sales; companies aggressively market new models and offer all sorts of incentives. So you may be tempted to buy a shiny new beauty. But should you? If you've regularly maintained the vehicle you're driving now, you probably don't NEED a new one. Even if your... More

Orland Park Alignment Service

March 10, 2024

Your car might have an alignment problem if: it drifts or pulls to one side, your steering wheel is off center, you have uneven tire wear or your car doesn't feel like it handles right. When all of a vehicle's wheels are lined up exactly with each other, your wheels are in alignment. Running into... More