--- title: Towing, Summer Heat and Your Transmission url: https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/towing-heat-and-your-transmission/ business: A-1 Transmission (A-1 Transmission Inc) address: 670 East Grove Street, Reno, NV 89502 phone: (775) 829-1333 hours: Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, closed Saturday and Sunday type: Transmission shop and auto repair shop in Reno, Nevada, since 1968; walk-ins welcome during business hours, appointments suggested --- - [Home](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/) - [Transmission guides](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/) - Towing, summer heat and your transmission # Towing, summer heat and your transmission Transmission overheating is mostly a towing and heat problem: pulling a trailer or climbing a long grade in summer makes the fluid hotter, and hot fluid breaks down faster. Reno's average July high is 93.9 F, and the roads out of the valley climb quickly, so the habits in this guide matter here. [Call (775) 829-1333](tel:+17758291333) [Get directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=A-1+Transmission+Inc,+670+East+Grove+Street,+Reno,+NV+89502&destination_place_id=ChIJZfhkfH4_mYARqc7eV_uhOws)[What is it doing?](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/#checker) 1968 In business since [4.6 ★ 112 Google reviews](https://maps.google.com/maps?cid=809418658926218921) ATRA Member shop M-F 7:30 am to 5:30 pm Anyone towing a boat to Tahoe, a camper to the Sierra or a horse trailer up a grade is asking the transmission to do heavy work in the hottest part of the year. Here is what happens and what to do about it. ## At a glance - Heat is the main enemy of fluid and clutches - NOAA normals: Reno July average high 93.9 F, August 92.1 F - Mount Rose Highway tops out at 8,911 feet - Check the fluid and the cooler before the season, not after ## What does heat do to a transmission? Automatic transmission fluid carries heat from the clutches and converter out to a cooler. As it gets hotter it ages faster. Severe driving such as towing calls for shorter fluid intervals than normal driving. The torque converter is the biggest source of heat, particularly when the engine pulls against a heavy load at low speed. Engineering sources list overheating as a leading cause of converter and stator failure. The [overheating page](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/overheating/) describes the warning signs. ## How hot and how high is Reno? NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Reno-Tahoe International Airport put the average July high at 93.9 F and August at 92.1 F. Reno sits at roughly 4,500 feet above sea level, and the grades go up from there. State Route 431, the Mount Rose Highway between Reno and Incline Village, reaches 8,911 feet at its summit. State Route 341, the Geiger Grade, climbs toward Virginia City, and I-80 heads west toward Truckee, about 28 miles away. A long climb with a trailer on a 95 F day is about as demanding as local driving gets. ## What habits reduce the risk? - Know your vehicle's rated towing capacity and stay under it; the number is in the owner's manual - Follow the severe-service fluid schedule if you tow regularly (see the [interval guide](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/transmission-fluid-change-interval/)) - Check that the transmission cooler, lines and fan are in good condition before summer - Use the tow or haul mode if your vehicle has one - Slow down on long climbs and let the engine work in its range instead of lugging - Stop and let it cool if a temperature warning appears ## What should I watch for on the road? A temperature gauge or light for the transmission, a burning smell, shifts that become harsh or slip, or a smell of hot oil after you stop are all reasons to pull over, set the brake and let it cool before continuing. Read the [torque converter guide](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/torque-converter-explained/) for why the converter runs hot. Road conditions on the passes are posted at nvroads.com. ## What if the vehicle is a truck or motorhome? Heavy loads are the reason these vehicles have larger transmissions, but they also spend more of their lives near the limit. The [trucks page](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/vehicles/trucks/) and the [RV and motorhome page](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/vehicles/rvs-and-motorhomes/) cover what is different for each. If the fluid is dark and smells burnt, the vehicle should be looked at before the next trip. ### Sources - [U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/land-based-station/us-climate-normals) - [Nevada State Route 431, Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada_State_Route_431) - [Torque converter, Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torque_converter) - [Automatic transmission fluid, Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_transmission_fluid) Keep reading ## Related pages [Transmission overheating Transmission overheating means the fluid has run hotter than the transmission was built to handle, most often from towing, long climbs.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/overheating/)[What a torque converter does A torque converter is a fluid coupling that sits between the engine and an automatic transmission and lets the engine keep running while the vehicle is stopped in gear.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/torque-converter-explained/)[How often to change transmission fluid How often to change transmission fluid is set by your vehicle's maker and printed in the owner's manual, and it is shorter if you tow, haul.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/transmission-fluid-change-interval/)[Pickup trucks A-1 Transmission works on pickup truck transmissions, clutches and transfer cases, automatic and standard, foreign and domestic.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/vehicles/trucks/)[RVs and motorhomes A-1 Transmission repairs RV and motorhome transmissions at its Reno shop, which has been in business since 1968.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/vehicles/rvs-and-motorhomes/)[Transmission fluid service Transmission fluid service replaces the worn fluid that cools, lubricates and operates your transmission.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/transmission-fluid-service/) Guides ## More guides - [Cold mornings and slow shifts](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/cold-mornings-and-shifting/) - [Getting a car that won't move to the shop](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/getting-a-car-that-wont-move-to-the-shop/) - [Independent transmission shop, dealer or chain?](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/independent-shop-vs-dealer-vs-chain/) - [What ATRA membership means](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/what-is-atra/) - [What is a CVT?](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/what-is-a-cvt/) - [How an automatic transmission works](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/how-a-transmission-works/) - [What a torque converter does](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/torque-converter-explained/) - [Rebuild or replace a transmission?](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/rebuild-vs-replace/) - [What affects the cost of transmission work](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/transmission-repair-cost-factors/) - [How long a transmission rebuild takes](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/how-long-a-rebuild-takes/) - [Transmission guides](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/) Answers ## Questions drivers ask Still have a question? Call [(775) 829-1333](tel:+17758291333) during shop hours. More answers are on the [questions page](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/faq/). ### How hot is too hot for transmission fluid? The limit varies by fluid and vehicle. Many vehicles have a gauge or warning for it; follow the manual. ### Does an extra cooler help? For heavy towing it can. Ask a mechanic what suits your vehicle. ### Should I tow in the afternoon heat? Early or late in the day is easier on the vehicle when you can choose. ### Who can check my vehicle before a trip? Call (775) 829-1333 and ask the shop what to bring it in for. ## Not shifting right? 670 East Grove Street, Reno, NV 89502 Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm [What to tell us when you call](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/call/) [(775) 829-1333](tel:+17758291333)