Get your car ready for summer vacation

Now that summer is upon us, it’s probably certain that you will be wanting to take the car out for a short drive (or even a road trip!) on the long, warm weekends ahead. Proper preparation and checks on your vehicle’s transmission will go a long way to smoother running and reduced car repair costs in the future. Special care and consideration can help your Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Lexus, Infinity, Subaru, Scion or Mazda transmission continue running smoothly.

There are some important tips to consider regarding your import transmission, though, when preparing to head out on the open road. With summertime comes more heat. That means significantly more temperature inside the crankcase than during other months. Longer road trips will also increase the heat of your transmission due to longer running times and greater use of transmission fluid. You will want to check your vehicle owner’s manual to determine what type of transmission fluid to use, and when your particular import vehicle is due for servicing.

In order to find the right time to replace your transmission fluid, you will want to check for the cleanliness of the fluid you already have in the transmission. Fluid should be clean and run smoothly. Dirty fluid will fry your transmission and can lead to the premature death of your vehicle on the side of the road… which is not a good place for summer vacation!

It is also a good idea to have the transmission completely flushed. This is a far better alternative to just draining the old transmission fluid out of your vehicle as it completely rids the transmission of any microscopic metal or other pollutants in the system.

Finally, check for leaks in the transmission by looking at the underside of your car. If you can see red-colored fluids leaking out of the crankcase or other part of the engine, it might be time to take your vehicle in for servicing.

It is always a good idea to have your vehicle’s transmission serviced by reputable shops that are qualified to do so. One of the shops offering service and advice to Portland and Clackamas-area owners of Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Lexus, Infinity, Subaru, Scion and Mazda vehicles is Portland Import Transmissions