20 Aug Tips & Tricks to Keep Your MINI Transmission Healthy in Boca Raton
Driving a MINI is a fun experience. They are compact, performance-driven vehicles that have a unique interior and exterior. MINIs may look small on the outside, but their interiors tell a different story. There are many different models of the MINI that range from compact to almost a small SUV. It can be hard to tell their real size just by looking at it, but that is all part of the fun.
Ensuring that your MINI stays at its optimal performance level is one of your jobs as a car owner. One part that should be monitored constantly is the transmission. Just like other parts of your MINI, the transmission is absolutely necessary for the vehicle to run. Below you will find tips on how to keep a healthy transmission in your MINI. Follow these tips to maintain the overall function of your MINI.
Check the Fluid Levels
The best way to maintain the health of the transmission is by checking the fluid levels. This is a simple, yet effective way to extend the life of your MINI. Transmission fluid acts as both an oil and a hydraulic fluid.
The oil part of the transmission fluid is the lubricant and the hydraulic fluid serves to facilitate smoother gear shifts. These mixed together is what makes up the transmission fluid. With the proper amount of fluid, you are less likely to have issues with the transmission of your MINI.
If you are driving with low transmission fluid, damage can occur to the gears and other parts of the transmission. So when you have your engine oil changed, have the mechanic take a look at the transmission fluid as well.
If you find oil accumulating underneath your MINI, then this is a sign that there is a transmission leak. This means that no matter how closely you watch the transmission fluid level, it won’t matter because it is leaking out through a crack or a hole somewhere in the system.
When you closely monitor the levels, you are able to pinpoint when a leak may be happening and can take your MINI in to be inspected.
Pay Attention to the Gear
This tip applies to both manual and automatic transmissions. If you have a manual transmission, you need to pay close attention to the gear that you are driving in. For example, if you are at a consistent speed of 45mph, then you should not be in first gear.
The first gear is for lower speeds, so your MINI is working too hard at 45mph in the first gear. This means that the transmission is working harder than it should. Thus, causing the parts to experience greater wear and tear than it should.
In regards to an automatic transmission, depending on the model of your MINI, you may have a normal “drive” mode that is generally recommended or a “drive” mode that is more specialized toward performance. Both work for automatic vehicles, but one is used for everyday driving and the other is for sport mode only. When owning a Mini, you need to make sure you know how to pick a good mechanic for your vehicle.
Before you drive away from your home in the morning, make sure that your MINI is in the recommended mode. This will help to prevent accelerated wear and tear.
Give your MINI a chance to warm up
The last helpful tip that you should implement is giving your MINI time to warm up before you drive off. This is true for cold and warm weather.
If the transmission fluid has been sitting through a cold night, it is not healthy to just drive away without giving your MINI time to warm up. The cold transmission fluid can have negative effects throughout the entire transmission system. It is even possible for the transmission fluid to become cold when the weather is warm. So to keep your MINI with a healthy transmission, let it idle for a few minutes before you drive away to start your day.
Maintaining the Transmission in your MINI
Even with these tips, you may still need 
to bring your MINI in for servicing. The best place to go for your transmission is Shores Automotive. We are easy to get to from the areas of Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Highland Beach, Lighthouse Point, and Deerfield Beach, FL. You can easily schedule an appointment with us so we can work together to keep your MINI’s transmission healthy.