January is International Shift Awareness Month or ISAM. This month is being dedicated by GiveAShift.com in conjunction with Monster Transmission to raising awareness of an often neglected piece of equipment.

The automatic transmission was first invented in 1921 and Monster is paying a tribute. The invention of the automatic transmission allowed drivers a much easier driving experience by not having to manually shift the car. However, ISAM is also acknowledges all types of shifting, including manual transmissions. 

Monster tells us that every year 9 out of 10 transmission fail due to heat related issues. With proper maintenance most of these transmissions could have been saved, just like everything else on a vehicle. 

How do you save your transmission? Start by following maintenance procedures on it, such as replacing the fluid and filter. However the most basic maintenance of all should be done on a regular basis: checking the fluid level. If the transmission loses fluid  and runs low then you can easily burn up the transmission. 

While this video is a bit on the silly side, a great point has been driven home. Most people regularly maintenance their motors by changing the oil, plugs, belts, hoses, etc. But how many of you actually maintenance your transmission properly? You might check the fluid level, but this is something that should be done regularly. Not only can you see if the level is down, but you can also see how dirty the fluid is and if it smells burnt.

The other big maintenance item is to replace the fluid and filter to ensure a long lasting transmission. Make sure that you “GIVE A SHIFT!” and save your transmission!