What Happens When Transmission Fluid Leaks Out

Warning Signs of Transmission Fluid Leaks

All You Need to Know About Transmission Fluid and its Importance

Transmission fluid is also known as transmission oil and is the lifeblood of your vehicle transmission. The reddish color makes it relatively easy to identify transmission fluid. The primary job of transmission fluid is to lubricate and protect the transmission components. It's essential to the health of your transmissions for your transmission fluid to be at the correct level.

How to Check and Maintain Transmission Fluid Levels

If you run out of transmission fluid, your vehicle can have several problems. If you run completely out of transmission fluid, your car likely will not drive it all. This is especially true in an automatic transmission car. One of the functions of transmission fluid in an automatic car is to lubricate parts in the transmission. You might be losing transmission fluid in your vehicle for several reasons. The first is a broken seal. Automatic transitions efficiently sustain hydraulic pressure over several different transmission seals. Over time, these seals get worn out and can crack. This often is a result of high temperature and exposure to heat. Suppose your car is having problems with valves. In that case, your mechanic will also want to check the sensors, transmission pan, drive shaft, shifting housing seal, speedometer input seal, and valve body. Another problem with your transmission, if you're losing transmission fluid, is that the drain plug in the transmission pan might be missing or damaged. This durable component is assaulted by road debris while you drive, but it will suffer from wear and tear over time. Another reason you're losing transmission fluid might be a cracked fluid line. Fluid lines are often made from aluminum or steel but are prone to damage due to high heat and road debris. Every now and then, you should check your transmission fluid levels and the overall condition of the transmission fluid. Your transmission fluid should be red and have a sweet smell. It would help if you had your transmission fluid flushed every 30,000 miles. This will allow a mechanic to top up the fluid level and ensure you use the kind of transmission fluid recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer.

Bring your car to the experts at Austin Pro Max

If you live in the Puget Sound area of Washington State, bring your vehicle to us at Austin's Pro Max for transmission service. Austin Pro Max's technicians are knowledgeable about manual and automatic transmissions. The mechanics at Austin's Pro Max recommend refilling and flushing your automatic transmission fluid once a year or every 15,000 miles. The fresh fluid lubricates parts and dissipates heat to keep your automatic transmission running well; the experts at Austin's Pro Max believe in manual transmissions that your transmission fluid should be flushed and refilled at 45,000 mi to prevent premature wear and costly repairs to your transmission. Call us today at one of our three Tacoma, Washington, area locations to begin your transmission repairs.