Burnouts, those exhilarating displays of tire smoke and tire-shredding power, are often associated with manual transmission cars. But what about those of us driving automatic transmissions? Can we still join the burnout party? The answer is a resounding yes! While it might require a slightly different approach, mastering burnouts in an automatic car is achievable. This guide will equip you with the knowledge and techniques to unleash the smoke monster within your automatic vehicle.
Understanding Automatic Transmission Burnouts
Automatic transmissions, unlike their manual counterparts, have a built-in torque converter that acts as a fluid coupling between the engine and the wheels. This coupling allows for smooth acceleration and gear shifts but introduces a unique challenge for burnouts. The torque converter, designed for smooth operation, can slip under high torque loads, making it harder to build up the necessary wheel spin for a classic burnout.
Techniques for Automatic Burnout Success
Don’t despair! With a few clever techniques, you can conquer the challenges of an automatic transmission and create a burnout that will turn heads. Here’s how⁚
1. Prepare Your Vehicle
- Choose a Safe Location⁚ Find a wide, open space with a smooth, hard surface. Safety is paramount!
- Engage Parking Brake⁚ Engage the parking brake to prevent the car from moving forward during the burnout.
- Warm Up Engine & Transmission⁚ A warm engine and transmission will operate more efficiently, making the burnout smoother.
- Select a Low Gear⁚ Shift the transmission into the lowest gear available (usually “1” or “L” for “Low”).
2. The “Footbrake” Technique
This is the most common method for automatic burnout success. Here’s how it works⁚
- Hold the Brake Pedal⁚ With the car in the low gear, firmly press the brake pedal.
- Rev the Engine⁚ Gradually increase engine RPMs to your desired level. Don’t go too high initially; you can always increase RPMs later.
- Release the Brake⁚ While maintaining the high RPMs, slowly release the brake pedal. The sudden transfer of power to the wheels will initiate the burnout.
- Control the Spin⁚ Use the accelerator pedal to control the amount of wheel spin. You can create a controlled burnout or let the tires smoke freely.
3. The “Steering Wheel” Technique
This technique is slightly more advanced and requires a bit of practice. Here’s how it works⁚
- Hold the Brake Pedal⁚ With the car in the low gear, firmly press the brake pedal.
- Rev the Engine⁚ Gradually increase engine RPMs to your desired level.
- Turn the Steering Wheel⁚ While maintaining the high RPMs, turn the steering wheel sharply in one direction. This will create a bias in the power transfer to the rear wheels, initiating the burnout.
- Control the Spin⁚ Use the accelerator pedal and steering wheel movements to control the amount of wheel spin and direction.
Important Considerations for Automatic Burnouts
- Transmission Health⁚ Performing frequent burnouts can put stress on your automatic transmission. Be mindful and don’t overdo it.
- Tire Wear⁚ Burnouts accelerate tire wear. Be prepared to replace tires sooner if you perform burnouts regularly.
- Safety First⁚ Always prioritize safety. Find a safe, controlled environment and ensure no obstacles or pedestrians are nearby.
Conclusion
Mastering burnouts in an automatic transmission car is a fun and exhilarating experience. By understanding the unique challenges and applying the right techniques, you can unleash the smoky power of your automatic vehicle. Remember to practice, stay safe, and enjoy the thrill of the burnout!