Cars with automatic transmissions in winter: tips to prevent issues on slippery roads.

An automatic transmission is generally a convenient and useful feature, but there are situations where it demands specific knowledge and skills from the driver. Driving on slippery roads is one such scenario. How do you manage a car with an "automatic" when the wheels are on ice or packed snow?

For insights on using an automatic transmission on icy roads, read the article from RBC-Ukraine.

Materials from "AutoBild All-Wheel Drive" and Autocentre were used in preparing this article.

When driving a car with an automatic transmission, the driver cannot influence the operation of the components as they would with a manual transmission. This sometimes leads to a certain distrust of automation and concerns that the transmission might not perform correctly in challenging conditions.

In reality, modern "automatics" are quite intelligent, and their hesitation only occurs in specific instances. We will discuss these cases while reminding you that there are different types of automatics: traditional hydraulic mechanics, simple automated manual transmissions (AMT), advanced pre-selective automated transmissions (like DSG, PDK, SMG, EDC), and continuously variable transmissions (CVT).

"Automatics" in Winter

While our concerns about the intelligence of "automatics" are not entirely unfounded, most modern automatic transmissions do not fear winter challenges—provided the driver behaves appropriately.

- On a frosty morning. In cold weather, most automatic transmissions should be warmed up before driving—except for basic "robots," where this is not necessary. To do this, simply shift the selector into drive (or reverse) and hold the vehicle in place with the brakes for about half a minute. It's also advisable to drive in a restrained manner for the first few kilometers to minimize gear changes from the cold transmission;

- Starting Off. There’s no need to fear that a car with an automatic transmission will improperly start on a slippery road. In fact, most automatic transmissions provide a smoother take-off than the average driver. However, this does not apply to cheaper robotic transmissions, which often operate with jerks and delays. For more experienced drivers who still do not trust automation, it may be advisable to start from a standstill in adverse conditions using second gear. Many automatic transmissions and some CVTs allow this, but you will need to switch to manual mode (Manual, sometimes Sport) or, in older models, to Snow (снег) or W (winter);

- In Tension. This is the term drivers use for a driving mode where the car operates at low engine RPMs in a high gear. This is advisable on ice-covered or packed snow roads to avoid wheel spin and skidding. While not all, many automatic transmissions can achieve this—such as in manual mode or in Snow or W modes, which shift up at low RPMs;

-Engine Braking. Experienced drivers often reduce speed on slippery roads using this method, but unfortunately, it is not available for all automatic transmissions. First and foremost, continuously variable transmissions are not suited for engine braking, as are older models with torque converters. However, where there is a manual mode—hydraulic automatics, pre-selective, and regular "robots"—you should be able to manage.

-Wheel Spinning, but it's better to avoid it. Spinning the wheels can often be accidental, but drivers also use it intentionally to escape from a snowdrift or slippery area. Here, it's important to recognize that freeing a vehicle with an automatic transmission from such a trap is generally more challenging than with a manual transmission—especially when you need to rock the vehicle. In principle, a more experienced driver can often extricate themselves from such a situation, but that’s a topic for another discussion. The key takeaway is that careless spinning can quickly damage the automatic transmission.

In Brief

If this is your first winter with a car equipped with some form of "automatic," it would be beneficial to practice handling it in challenging conditions. Just like with a manual transmission, you should work on mastering the accelerator, selector, and brakes until it becomes second nature. Conduct your improvised training on a road or area free of people and other vehicles. And don't forget to take a shovel or a reliable assistant who can help you get out if the car gets stuck.

As a reminder, recently RBC-Ukraine discussed what you should not do with a car that has an automatic transmission.