In Arizona, extreme temperatures combined with stop-and-go traffic and factors such as towing, mountainous terrain, and dusty conditions can cause transmission temperatures to rise and fluid and components to wear out quickly. Therefore, attention must be paid to cooling systems, leak checks, and the manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations so that minor problems do not turn into large repair jobs.
Driving conditions in Arizona can be detrimental to your transmission and negatively affect its performance. Transmissions get damaged by overheating, especially on heavy-duty roads, when stuck in heavy traffic or off-roading to some extent.
Extreme Heat & Transmission Fluid
The automatic transmission fluid has an array of essential functions. Among them, it lubricates the various gears and bearings, makes hydraulic pressure, helps transfer heat from the engine components, and takes care of friction concerning the bands and clutch. Furthermore, the AAA believes that the transmission fluid should not only provide adequate protection of the internal parts but also has to comply with the vehicle manufacturer.
The age and heat of the fluid break it down, causing it to lose its lubricating properties. This breakdown causes varnish to clog the system and also makes shifts erratic, causes slipping, and leads to failure. AAA points out heat deterioration as one of the reasons for your transmission problems.
Hot summer temperatures are in Arizona, and fluid levels along with the cooling system should be monitored accordingly. As AAA advises, it is important to maintain proper transmission fluid levels and other important fluids to operate a vehicle properly.
It is not a requirement that all vehicles in Arizona be subject to regular transmission service. If a driver regularly operates under extreme conditions, he must check the owner’s manual to determine the severe service schedule.
Stop-and-Go Metropolitan Driving
Vehicle transmissions can undergo continuous acceleration, shifting at low speeds, braking and idling periods in urban traffic in places such as Phoenix, Tucson or any other city. This may cause heat in the automatic transmission since the torque converter and the clutch assembly frequently engage and disengage power.
Airflow through the radiator and transmission cooler might not be as good in traffic as it is under highway conditions. Although the cooling fan offsets this loss, any defects in the system, such as a poor fan, obstruction of the cooler, lack of fluid, etc., may contribute to higher temperatures.
Towing & Mountain Grades
Drivers in Arizona often tow their boats, utility trailers, RVs, and off-road vehicles. Towing adds weight that the transmission must be able to shift and that can produce excess heat, especially when starting or driving uphill.
The long slopes in northern and eastern Arizona create extra challenges for vehicles such as trucks, SUVs and those with heavy loads. This is especially true of the downhill slopes where drivers might engage low gear to help them slow down. With engine braking, it is important to follow manufacturers’ instructions, but the transmission needs to cope with the high loads and the many gear changes.
According to AAA, many factors can cause wear and tear in your transmission that classify it as extreme.
Dust & Debris
The dust from Arizona typically does not reach a closed transmission directly, however, dirt and bugs can collect in its air conditioning condenser, radiator and external transmission cooler, as well as other debris, disrupting the heat exchange and airflow process. When used off-road, the transmission also suffers damage to its cooler hoses, connections and seals.
It is important to regularly clean the cooling components and check for reddish-brown fluids around the cooler lines, seals, and under the vehicle. A leak can be indicated by the continuous loss of fluid and should not be treated by simply refilling the fluid. Regular maintenance should be performed according to the normal or severe schedule using the correct type of fluids recommended by the manufacturer. Keeping these preventive measures in place prevents the Arizona climate and the demands placed on the car from allowing small cooling problems to develop into expensive transmission repairs.
