Can You Tow An Automatic Car? A Simple Guide

Towing a car can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not familiar with the type of car you have. If you own an automatic car, you might be wondering whether it’s possible to tow it and what precautions you need to take. The short answer is yes, you can tow an automatic car, but there are some things you need to keep in mind to avoid damaging your vehicle.

The first thing you need to know is that you cannot tow an automatic car with all four wheels on the ground. Doing so can damage the transmission and other parts of the car. Instead, you need to lift the driven wheels off the ground. The driven wheels are the ones that receive power from the engine, so if your car is front-wheel drive, you need to lift the front wheels, and if it’s rear-wheel drive, you need to lift the rear wheels.

Understanding Automatic Cars

What is an Automatic Car?

An automatic car is a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission system that can change gears automatically as the car moves. Unlike manual cars, which require the driver to shift gears manually, automatic cars do not have a clutch pedal. Instead, they have two pedals: the brake and the accelerator. The driver only needs to press the accelerator pedal to move the car, and the transmission system automatically shifts gears as needed.

How Does an Automatic Car Work?

An automatic car’s transmission system consists of several components, including a torque converter, planetary gear set, and hydraulic system. The torque converter is responsible for transmitting power from the engine to the transmission. The planetary gear set is responsible for changing gears automatically, while the hydraulic system controls the gear changes.

When the driver presses the accelerator pedal, the torque converter transmits power from the engine to the transmission. The planetary gear set then selects the appropriate gear ratio based on the car’s speed and load. The hydraulic system then engages the selected gear, and the car moves forward.

To stop the car, the driver only needs to press the brake pedal. The hydraulic system disengages the gears and applies the brakes, bringing the car to a stop.

Towing an Automatic Car

Can You Tow an Automatic Car?

Yes, you can tow an automatic car, but it must be done correctly to avoid damage to the vehicle. Unlike manual transmission cars, you cannot tow an automatic car by attaching a tow rope to the back of another vehicle and pulling it along. Towing an automatic car in this way will cause damage to the transmission system.

When is it Safe to Tow an Automatic Car?

It is safe to tow an automatic car only when the driven axle or axles are lifted off the road. The driven axle is the one that is powered by the engine. For front-wheel-drive cars, the driven axle is at the front, while for rear-wheel-drive cars, it is at the back. For all-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive cars, both axles need to be lifted off the road.

How to Tow an Automatic Car Safely

To tow an automatic car safely, you need to use a car hauling trailer. This method is the best and safest way to tow an automatic car. All four wheels of the towed vehicle will sit on the trailer, and you can drive the car up onto the trailer and secure it with straps and/or chains.

If you don’t have access to a car hauling trailer, you can use a tow dolly. A tow dolly is a small, two-wheeled trailer that lifts the front wheels of the car off the ground. This method is suitable for front-wheel-drive cars.

When using a tow dolly, you need to ensure that the car is secured to the dolly using straps and/or chains. You also need to make sure that the dolly is attached to the towing vehicle correctly.

It is important to note that you should not tow an automatic car with the drive wheels on the ground, even if you put the transmission in neutral. Towing an automatic car with the drive wheels on the ground can cause serious damage to the transmission system.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is possible to tow an automatic car, but it must be done with caution and following specific guidelines. Automatic cars require special attention when towing because the transmission system is designed to work when the engine is running. If the transmission is not lubricated, it can cause severe damage to the engine.

When towing an automatic car, it is essential to lift the driven axle off the road, so the wheels do not turn. This means that you cannot tow an automatic car by attaching it to a tow rope and pulling it behind another vehicle. If the car is front-wheel drive, the driven axle is at the front, and if it is rear-wheel drive, it is at the back. A four-wheel or all-wheel-drive car has two driven axles, and both must be lifted off the ground.

It is also important to note that automatic cars should not be towed or pushed while in neutral with the drive wheels on the ground. This can cause the gears to run without lubrication, which can damage the engine. Therefore, it is recommended to use a flatbed tow truck to safely tow an automatic car.

In summary, towing an automatic car requires specific precautions to avoid damaging the engine. By following the guidelines mentioned above, it is possible to tow an automatic car safely.

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