If you have red fluid all over the garage floor, you may have a power steering fluid or a coolant leak. This being said, we are going to talk about the transmission and this blog post because the transmission fluid is also red. If the leak is located underneath your automobile rather than the engine, the transmission is leaking. It is important to have this leak fixed right away to avoid damaging the transmission further.
Transmission Fluid Leak
A transmission fluid leak can come from a damaged transmission pan, a cracked pan gasket, a broken seal, or a cracked transmission hose. The red transmission fluid can also leak out of the torque converter. As we mentioned above, it is critical to have the leak fixed right away because the transmission fluid serves two purposes in the transmission.
First, the transmission fluid lubricates moving parts and removes dirt from them to keep them cool. Second, the transmission fluid is a hydraulic fluid so it can help the transmission shift the gears. If your transmission has a low level of fluid in it, it can become damaged as the moving parts wear against each other. The transmission will also struggle to shift the gears.
Resulting Malfunctions
Consequently, you may end up with an overheating transmission and grinding gears. This is a sign that the fluid level is too low and the moving parts are no longer protected. In addition, the gears are grinding because they are operating metal against metal without any protection. Unfortunately, this can wear down the gears prematurely and cause the need for a transmission overhaul.
In addition, you may start to notice other problems with the transmission. As we mentioned above, the transmission fluid helps a transmission shift through the gear cycle. If the fluid is low, you may end up with slipping gears or skipping gears. This can make driving your automobile nearly impossible, especially if the transmission becomes completely unresponsive.
The best way to avoid transmission fluid leaks is to keep up with the preventative maintenance for your automobile’s transmission. This means scheduling a service appointment with our shop every 30,000 miles so we can change the fluid and inspect the transmission. This helps your transmission last longer, and, more importantly, saves you money on expensive transmission repairs.
Call us today if you need to schedule a transmission service. Also, call us if you have a transmission fluid leak or are having problems with the transmission. We find and fix the problem.