Transmission fluid is just one of the seven vital automotive fluids every vehicle needs in order to operate safely and efficiently. If you suspect that your vehicle is losing transmission fluid through a leak, it is important that you catch the leak early on and resolve it right away.
Continue reading to learn how to identify the common signs of a transmission leak, plus how to make back cash if your transmission breaks down.
The Importance of Transmission Fluid
Transmission fluid is vital for both manual and automatic transmission vehicles. For vehicles with manual gearboxes, this commonly burgundy but sometimes green fluid is responsible for lubricating all of the internal bearings, gears, and moving parts of a car engine, which prevents unwanted friction and grinding.
In vehicles with automatic transmissions, or self-shifting transmissions, the transmission fluid works to keep all moving parts and bearings properly lubricated. It also generates and assists with hydraulic pressure and friction, which allow all of the internal parts to perform, and even helps keep the transmission cool.
Identifying a Transmission Fluid Leak
Transmission fluid should be changed every 30,000 miles ((50,000 kilometers). By keeping up on routine maintenance, you can avoid transmission fluid leaks and additional mechanical problems. If your vehicle is leaking a mystery liquid, and you think it might be transmission fluid, here are some of the signs to look for that may prove your suspicions to be true:
Color
If the fluid leaking from your vehicle is brown or red in color, it could very well be transmission fluid. Although some transmission fluid is green, the majority of transmission fluid on the market is read. Over time, it may become darker and appear browner in color. The only other automotive fluids that might be green or red are windshield wiper fluid and coolant, but both solutions are much thinner in comparison to transmission fluid, having a watery-like viscosity.
Smell
You may be able to identify the mystery liquid leaking from your vehicle through touch and smell. Transmission fluid has an oil like consistency and may smell a bit like petroleum. Sometimes prior transmission fluid can smell burnt, which indicates that it’s time for to be changed.
Location
Try to identify where the leak is coming from. Typically, transmission fluid leaks occur near the front or midsection of the vehicle. If the leak coming from your car is located more towards the back, it could be a different kind of leak entirely.
Acceleration Power
When driving your vehicle, if you notice that it’s taking longer to accelerate, or you are having difficulty shifting, it could be that your vehicles losing transmission fluid. Transmission slipping is another common indication that you may be low on transmission fluid.
Has your transmission given up for good, but the cost to replace it exceeds your car’s current market price? No problem! Sell your junk car in Louisville for cash on the spot to GC’s Junk Cars! We pay cash on the spot and provide free junk car removal service with our own in-house tow truck!
Related Posts:
Current Scrap Prices for Catalytic Converters
The Most Expensive Auto Repairs That Can Total Your Car
A DIY Guide for Car Radiator Flushing
