Transmission Fluid Leaks: Causes and Fixes
Leaks are never good. Doesn’t matter what it is. The sooner you get the leak fixed, the better!
That’s definitely true with transmission fluid leaks. A transmission leak is one of the worst leaks you can have with your car causing a hefty auto repair bill.
That’s because your transmission fluid serves a lot of automotive purposes such as lubricating mechanical parts, cooling, preventing oxidation, maintaining fluid pressure, preventing rust, and conditioning the gasket.
But the primary function is lubrication. Without it, your vehicle won’t function properly, if at all.
How Do You Know If You Have A Transmission Fluid Leak?
There are some half dozen fluids that keep your car running such as power steering fluid, engine oil, brake oil, and coolant. So how do you know the leak you have is with your transmission?
For starters, transmission fluid is usually either pink or red in color. As it circulates in your car, truck, or SUV, that color changes due to dust, dirt, and debris that gets mixed in with it.
If transmission fluid hasn’t been changed in a long time, it can look brown or black. However, some antifreezes are pink in color, so this is not a foolproof way to identify the leak, but it does narrow down the list of suspects.
If you’re still not sure even with a color check, test the consistency and the smell. Because transmission fluid is a lubricant, it will feel slippery to the touch and the texture will be oily.
Additionally, transmission fluid has a petroleum smell to it. If it hasn’t been changed in some time, the fluid will smell burnt.
Another way to check is by the location of the leak. Your vehicle’s transmission runs from the center of the vehicle to the front end. So if there’s a puddle in the middle of where the car sits, there’s a good chance that it’s your transmission fluid.
Another Big Clue of A Transmission Fluid Leak
A puddle under your car isn’t the only clue, but how your car drives is! For manual transmissions, shifting will become harder, even stuck. For automatics, the signs are more subtle because you are not manually shifting gears.
However, when you do move your car into a different gear, you’ll notice a vibration and that your transmission is working harder to make the gear shift change. Both of these scenarios occur when transmission fluid is low.
You might also find that your vehicle doesn’t start as quickly as it once did. If you’re completely out of transmission fluid, you won’t be able to shift at all.
Causes of Transmission Fluid Leaks (And Fixes)
There are several causes of transmission fluid leaks. We’ve listed the top offenders here as well as how to fix them.
Bad Transmission Gasket or Pan
The number one suspect of a transmission fluid leak is your fuel pan gasket which houses your transmission fluid. Vehicles with automatic transmission have this.
With time, the seal between the transmission and the pan can deteriorate, corrode, crack, wear off, fall apart, or even dissolve. When that happens, you’ll see a leak when the vehicle is parked.
Some vehicles use a seal instead of a gasket. But even these will wear thin over time and cause leaks. In either case, you’ll need to get the component replaced.
Cracked or Corroded Transmission Pan
Gaskets aren’t the only component that can leak. So can your transmission pan which holds the transmission fluid. As it ages, the pan can develop cracks or tiny holes causing the fluid to seep.
Another cause of a transmission pan leak is the sudden impact of a sharp object. When that happens, the best course of action is to replace the pan. For safety reasons, salvaging is not an option.
Transmission Drain Plug Leak
Not a common problem with automatic transmissions, a transmission drain plug leak is fairly common with manual transmissions. Sealed with an O-ring, the drain plug is used to drain transmission fluid.
When you change the fluid, replace the seal. If you don’t, and you use the old seal, it will wear off. It’s a best practice to change the seal every time you change the transmission fluid. The good news is you only need to replace the O-ring.
Damage to Fluid Lines
Fluid lines, common in vehicles with automatic transmissions, are usually made of steel which makes them prone to rust. Rusting can cause cracking, create holes, or even cause lines to snap.
Since fluid lines run to the transmission cooler, they are vital to the health of your car. Come into our service department and have our Chevy certified technicians confirm that it is a fluid line leak. We can then replace it.
Clogged Pipes
If the transmission fluid hasn’t been changed in a while, it will accumulate dirt and debris. That, in turn, can cause circulation disruption leading to clogged pipes.
Follow the instructions in your owner’s manual as to whether you flush or replace the fluid.
A Man-Made Cause: Bent Transmission Pan
If you try to replace transmission fluid yourself but have a hard time removing the sealant, you can bend the pan. That’s because steel transmission pans are generally weak; they bend easily.
Once the pan is bent, it will not create a seal around it. Without a seal, gaps are created causing fluids to escape. Replacing the pan is the best option.
Be Proactive: Prevent Transmission Fluid Leaks
Prevention is always the best way to avoid costly auto repair! That’s why it’s best to check all fluid levels routinely and maintain them. This won’t prevent transmission fluid leaks but if you are vigilant with checking it, you can uncover low levels.
Low levels are an indicator of a leak. Check regularly!
Change fluid levels at the intervals recommended in your owner’s manual. Staying proactive and replacing fluid regularly helps you to keep a healthier, long-lasting vehicle.
Joe Bowman Auto Plaza is a Harrisonburg, VA car dealer that sells Chevrolet and GM vehicles, along with quality Carfax preowned vehicles. Stop by or shop online!
That’s definitely true with transmission fluid leaks. A transmission leak is one of the worst leaks you can have with your car causing a hefty auto repair bill.
That’s because your transmission fluid serves a lot of automotive purposes such as lubricating mechanical parts, cooling, preventing oxidation, maintaining fluid pressure, preventing rust, and conditioning the gasket.
But the primary function is lubrication. Without it, your vehicle won’t function properly, if at all.
How Do You Know If You Have A Transmission Fluid Leak?
There are some half dozen fluids that keep your car running such as power steering fluid, engine oil, brake oil, and coolant. So how do you know the leak you have is with your transmission?
For starters, transmission fluid is usually either pink or red in color. As it circulates in your car, truck, or SUV, that color changes due to dust, dirt, and debris that gets mixed in with it.
If transmission fluid hasn’t been changed in a long time, it can look brown or black. However, some antifreezes are pink in color, so this is not a foolproof way to identify the leak, but it does narrow down the list of suspects.
If you’re still not sure even with a color check, test the consistency and the smell. Because transmission fluid is a lubricant, it will feel slippery to the touch and the texture will be oily.
Additionally, transmission fluid has a petroleum smell to it. If it hasn’t been changed in some time, the fluid will smell burnt.
Another way to check is by the location of the leak. Your vehicle’s transmission runs from the center of the vehicle to the front end. So if there’s a puddle in the middle of where the car sits, there’s a good chance that it’s your transmission fluid.
Another Big Clue of A Transmission Fluid Leak
A puddle under your car isn’t the only clue, but how your car drives is! For manual transmissions, shifting will become harder, even stuck. For automatics, the signs are more subtle because you are not manually shifting gears.
However, when you do move your car into a different gear, you’ll notice a vibration and that your transmission is working harder to make the gear shift change. Both of these scenarios occur when transmission fluid is low.
You might also find that your vehicle doesn’t start as quickly as it once did. If you’re completely out of transmission fluid, you won’t be able to shift at all.
Causes of Transmission Fluid Leaks (And Fixes)
There are several causes of transmission fluid leaks. We’ve listed the top offenders here as well as how to fix them.
Bad Transmission Gasket or Pan
The number one suspect of a transmission fluid leak is your fuel pan gasket which houses your transmission fluid. Vehicles with automatic transmission have this.
With time, the seal between the transmission and the pan can deteriorate, corrode, crack, wear off, fall apart, or even dissolve. When that happens, you’ll see a leak when the vehicle is parked.
Some vehicles use a seal instead of a gasket. But even these will wear thin over time and cause leaks. In either case, you’ll need to get the component replaced.
Cracked or Corroded Transmission Pan
Gaskets aren’t the only component that can leak. So can your transmission pan which holds the transmission fluid. As it ages, the pan can develop cracks or tiny holes causing the fluid to seep.
Another cause of a transmission pan leak is the sudden impact of a sharp object. When that happens, the best course of action is to replace the pan. For safety reasons, salvaging is not an option.
Transmission Drain Plug Leak
Not a common problem with automatic transmissions, a transmission drain plug leak is fairly common with manual transmissions. Sealed with an O-ring, the drain plug is used to drain transmission fluid.
When you change the fluid, replace the seal. If you don’t, and you use the old seal, it will wear off. It’s a best practice to change the seal every time you change the transmission fluid. The good news is you only need to replace the O-ring.
Damage to Fluid Lines
Fluid lines, common in vehicles with automatic transmissions, are usually made of steel which makes them prone to rust. Rusting can cause cracking, create holes, or even cause lines to snap.
Since fluid lines run to the transmission cooler, they are vital to the health of your car. Come into our service department and have our Chevy certified technicians confirm that it is a fluid line leak. We can then replace it.
Clogged Pipes
If the transmission fluid hasn’t been changed in a while, it will accumulate dirt and debris. That, in turn, can cause circulation disruption leading to clogged pipes.
Follow the instructions in your owner’s manual as to whether you flush or replace the fluid.
A Man-Made Cause: Bent Transmission Pan
If you try to replace transmission fluid yourself but have a hard time removing the sealant, you can bend the pan. That’s because steel transmission pans are generally weak; they bend easily.
Once the pan is bent, it will not create a seal around it. Without a seal, gaps are created causing fluids to escape. Replacing the pan is the best option.
Be Proactive: Prevent Transmission Fluid Leaks
Prevention is always the best way to avoid costly auto repair! That’s why it’s best to check all fluid levels routinely and maintain them. This won’t prevent transmission fluid leaks but if you are vigilant with checking it, you can uncover low levels.
Low levels are an indicator of a leak. Check regularly!
Change fluid levels at the intervals recommended in your owner’s manual. Staying proactive and replacing fluid regularly helps you to keep a healthier, long-lasting vehicle.
Joe Bowman Auto Plaza is a Harrisonburg, VA car dealer that sells Chevrolet and GM vehicles, along with quality Carfax preowned vehicles. Stop by or shop online!
