Lake Season Is Here — Is Your Truck Ready?
For a lot of Van Alstyne families, summer weekends mean one thing: hooking up the boat or camper and heading north on US-75 to Lake Texoma. It’s one of the best perks of living where we do. But that 30-minute haul in 100-degree heat is one of the toughest things you can ask of your vehicle, and no component feels it more than your transmission.
Why Towing and Heat Are a Rough Combination
Heat is the number one killer of automatic transmissions. Under normal driving, transmission fluid keeps everything cool and lubricated. Add a few thousand pounds of trailer on a scorching afternoon, and fluid temperatures can climb far beyond what the system was designed to handle. Overheated fluid breaks down, loses its protective qualities, and starts allowing wear on clutches and internal components. The damage builds slowly — until one day the transmission slips, shudders, or stops going into gear altogether.
Warning Signs to Take Seriously
If you notice delayed shifting, a shudder when accelerating, a burning smell after towing, or fluid that looks dark brown instead of bright red, don’t wait. These are early symptoms, and early is when transmission problems are still affordable to fix. A fluid service costs a fraction of what a rebuild does.
Protect Your Transmission Before the Next Trip
Before your next run to Texoma, let Kwik Kar of Van Alstyne check your transmission fluid condition, look for leaks, and make sure your cooling system is pulling its weight — because your radiator helps cool your transmission too. Our ASE-certified techs work on everything from half-ton pickups to heavy-duty tow rigs, and after-hours drop-off makes it easy to leave your truck with us between lake weekends. Call 903-290-1786 or come see us at 1015 W Van Alstyne Pkwy, and tow with confidence all summer long.