Transmission Fluid Leak: Diagnose Before Fluid Levels are Low

Your car’s transmission is vital to the operation of your vehicle. Without a transmission, the power the engine provides wouldn’t be able to reach your vehicle’s wheels, according to The Car Connection. To keep your car running optimally it is important to spot issues with your transmission. One of those issues is a transmission fluid leak. Here’s how to spot a transmission fluid leak.

How to Recognize a Transmission Fluid Leak

HowStuffWorks advises changing your vehicle’s transmission fluid every two years or 30,000 miles to keep your transmission in top shape. It is at these regular maintenance intervals that a transmission fluid leak can be diagnosed.

  • Transmission fluid is red to brownish in color If transmission fluid needs to be changed it will appear to be brownish in color, according to HowStuffWorks, but generally transmission fluid is red. Keep in mind, however, that antifreeze and windshield wiper fluid can also be red.
  • Transmission fluid has a particular consistency and smell Unlike antifreeze and windshield wiper fluid, transmission fluid is oily like engine oil and it smells like petroleum, according to HowStuffWorks. If you need new transmission fluid, the fluid will smell burnt.
  • Oily, red fluid present under the front, middle of your vehicle If you spot this type of fluid you more than likely have a transmission fluid leak.
  • Does your car have trouble starting? A car is still start operable if there is even a little transmission fluid left, however driving with low transmission fluid levels can damage the transmission. It’s best to have the car looked at my a mechanic, according to Simple Car Answers. If there is no transmission fluid in your vehicle, your car will be inoperable.
  • Car doesn’t speed up when RPMs increase If this is happening as you drive, then the transmission fluid levels are very low and a leak may be the cause.
  • Car slips out of gear A car slipping out of gear is another indication that transmission fluid levels are low and there may be a leak, according to Simple Car Answers.

A transmission fluid leak can lead to a burnt-up transmission if left untreated, according to Automotive Corporation. If you notice the signs early and adhere to regular maintenance, a transmission fluid leak can be caught early on.