Flashing By - A Blog For Car Devotees

Your car's gearbox is one of its most important and complex systems, and transmission fluid is the system's lifeblood. It's responsible for removing impurities, lubricating all seals and moving parts, and acting like a hydraulic fluid to keep things moving. Without enough transmission fluid, you won't be able to drive. If there's a leak, the fluid will usually drain away slowly and present one or more of the following five signs.

1. Delayed Engagement

Your car's gearbox needs transmission fluid to maintain enough pressure to make each gear change. If there's not enough fluid in the system, you could notice a significant delay when you try selecting a new gear. Instead of happening almost instantly, it may take two or three seconds longer than normal for the selected gear to engage.

2. Rough Shifting

Without the hydraulic pressure necessary to change gears, your vehicle may shift erratically and feel a lot rougher when you need to make a shift. Instead of engaging smoothly, the car may slam into gear. This isn't just bad for your driving experience, it can also do serious damage to the transmission system, so see a mechanic as soon as possible if shifting becomes rough.

3. Slipping Gears

When your vehicle is low on transmission fluid, the friction material covering your clutches and transmission bands may no longer be able to securely maintain a gear. Instead of staying in gear, your vehicle may randomly fall out of one and then randomly engage another. This is a serious issue since it shows that excessive wear has already occurred.

4. Smoke or Burning Smell

One role of transmission fluid is keeping your gearbox cool. This is a system that contains plenty of moving parts, so it can overheat very quickly when there isn't enough fluid. An overheated transmission can produce the burning smell or even visible smoke. If this happens, pull over immediately. High temperatures can cause plenty of internal damage, so you shouldn't keep driving under any circumstances.

5. Puddling Under the Vehicle

The most obvious sign transmission fluid is leaking is finding a puddle of it under your vehicle. However, you'll need to know how to identify it. Like anti-freeze and windshield wiper fluid, transmission fluid is red, though it may turn reddish-brown if you haven't changed it in a while. Unlike anti-freeze and windshield wiper fluid, transmission fluid is slick and oily, much like engine oil.

For more information, contact your local gearbox repairs service.