If you drive a standard shift car, truck, or SUV, there’s a good chance you’ve heard this line from a know-it-all buddy in the passenger’s seat: “You know, it’s bad for the transmission when you leave your hand on the shifter.” But, does what your friend says have any merit? By The Book Diesel & Auto Repair in Albuquerque has the answers.
Actually...yes. The fact of the matter is, resting your hand on the shifter can dramatically accelerate the wear on your manual transmission. In fact, on many cars, you can actually hear the transmission begin to whine if you apply slight pressure to the shift lever. If you came here to win an argument, we hate to let you down. However, if you’re wondering what the science is behind it, you’ve come to the right place!
Essentially, there are forks inside your transmission which push the gears into place. These components are designed to contact each other only momentarily, during normal shifting. If you let your hand rest on the shifter, the components will lightly tough, causing unnecessary wear and heat accumulation...neither of which bodes well for your transmission. Over time, you can end up with broken transmission forks, worn-out surfaces, and sloppy gear shifts...none of which are optimal situations.
So there you have it; while it may be more comfortable to simply leave your hand on the shifter, and you might even look cooler doing it, the verdict is out; it isn’t worth the risk. Of course, you can keep this knowledge to yourself - your friend doesn’t need to know he or she was right all along.
If you’re experiencing shifter related issues, and for all of your other transmission repair and maintenance needs, our professional technicians have you covered. For the best transmission service shop in Albuquerque, call or stop by By The Book Diesel & Auto Repair today.
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