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Can you flat tow an automatic car?
The fellas and I are heading up for a week-long trip in the Rocky Mountains. We’re heading up in my RV, but we’re thinking of towing a car along just in case we need to make a quick run into town to grab essentials, like food, water, games, etc. My question is, can you flat tow an automatic car?
Jason Tushinski · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
You should never flat tow a vehicle with automatic transmission, because you can seriously damage the engine.
Why? Because cars with automatic transmissions use an engine-powered pump to lubricate its components. When you flat tow a vehicle with automatic transmission, the gears are running but without the lubrication they need, leading to serious engine damage.
If you really need your car on your trip, we suggest towing it up with a flat-bed hauler to ensure no wheels touch the ground. If, however, you can get the automatic transmission disconnected, or drive shaft disconnect, you’ll be able to flat tow an automatic. However, you aren’t able to do this with most automatic vehicles, so you’ll need to carefully read your owner’s manual to see if it’s an option.
Best course of action? Leave your automatic car at home or tow it on a trailer or dolly.
Protect your automatic (or manual, for that matter) car with a robust
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