What are the Symptoms of Low Transmission Fluid?
First of all, you may be wondering, what is transmission fluid? The purpose of transmission fluid is to lubricate all the surfaces and components to prevent excessive friction and overheating. It also serves as a viscous fluid that transmits power from the engine to the transmission. Typically, transmission fluid could remain in your vehicle for its entire lifespan without changing it, although some mechanics will tell you that you should change it every 50,000 miles.
Over time, however, transmissions can develop leaks due to worn out or damaged components and the level of fluid can become dangerously low. What are the symptoms of low transmission fluid:
- Delayed Shifting. The gear change cannot be activated immediately if there isn’t enough pressure.
- Difficulty Shifting. If there is a lot of dirt or residue in the transmission fluid, the gears will either change too fast or too slow. Other symptoms include abrupt up/down shifts, unusually high RPMs before a shift, erratic shifting, or a grinding sound coming from the transmission.
- Slipping gears. You may change gear, but then it seems to fall back out of that gear. The friction material on the clutches and transmission bands are no longer able to securely engage a gear.
- Transmission Overheats. In an automatic, the transmission fluid keeps the transmission unit from overheating. You may notice a burning smell or smokiness along with loss of power. Pull over immediately and let everything cool down. If the temperature goes over 240°F, there could be damage inside the transmission unit.
The first thing to try is to top-off the transmission fluid. If the above symptoms persist, it’s very likely that you are facing a costly transmission repair.
Tip to Remember: Check the transmission fluid on a regular basis, about once a month. However, if you put drive a lot of miles or tow heavy loads, check it at least every two weeks.
Wondering what are the symptoms of low transmission fluid? Contact our ASE Certified technicians today at Elk River Tire & Auto for more information about transmission repair and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop in Elk River, MN proudly serves residents in the areas of Zimmerman, and Otsego, Minnesota.
First of all, you may be wondering, what is transmission fluid? The purpose of transmission fluid is to lubricate all the surfaces and components to prevent excessive friction and overheating. It also serves as a viscous fluid that transmits power from the engine to the transmission. Typically, transmission fluid could remain in your vehicle for its entire lifespan without changing it, although some mechanics will tell you that you should change it every 50,000 miles.
Over time, however, transmissions can develop leaks due to worn out or damaged components and the level of fluid can become dangerously low. What are the symptoms of low transmission fluid:
- Delayed Shifting. The gear change cannot be activated immediately if there isn’t enough pressure.
- Difficulty Shifting. If there is a lot of dirt or residue in the transmission fluid, the gears will either change too fast or too slow. Other symptoms include abrupt up/down shifts, unusually high RPMs before a shift, erratic shifting, or a grinding sound coming from the transmission.
- Slipping gears. You may change gear, but then it seems to fall back out of that gear. The friction material on the clutches and transmission bands are no longer able to securely engage a gear.
- Transmission Overheats. In an automatic, the transmission fluid keeps the transmission unit from overheating. You may notice a burning smell or smokiness along with loss of power. Pull over immediately and let everything cool down. If the temperature goes over 240°F, there could be damage inside the transmission unit.
The first thing to try is to top-off the transmission fluid. If the above symptoms persist, it’s very likely that you are facing a costly transmission repair.
Tip to Remember: Check the transmission fluid on a regular basis, about once a month. However, if you put drive a lot of miles or tow heavy loads, check it at least every two weeks.
Wondering what are the symptoms of low transmission fluid? Contact our ASE Certified technicians today at Elk River Tire & Auto for more information about transmission repair and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop in Elk River, MN proudly serves residents in the areas of Zimmerman, and Otsego, Minnesota.
