5 Causes of Transmission Fluid Leaks
A little pool of crimson fluid below your automobile suggests a transmission fluid leak, which is not a great sign. And unfortunately, it will leave stains on your garage floor, but more importantly, correcting the leak and refilling the transmission fluid will demand you dig dip into your pocket.
Please continue reading to understand the cause of transmission fluid leaks and if it is safe to drive with leaking transmission fluid.
- Bad Transmission Pan Gasket
The most common cause of an automatic transmission leak is a faulty fuel pan gasket, which should get replaced each time the transmission pan is put down on most car models. Regrettably, many people reinstall them. And this is a recipe for disaster, as leaks are likely to occur shortly. In addition, it is also common for transmission seals to deteriorate and start leaking as a result of transmission fluid slowly eating them.
- Cracked or Rusty Transmission Pan
A fractured transmission pan is another major cause of a leaky transmission. If you have an aluminum transmission pan, you’re more likely to experience a fractured transmission pan. A fractured pan occurs when you hit the transmission pan with an unbreakable item below the car while driving.
If your transmission pan is made of steel, rust will be a challenge. A rusty hole will appear quickly since the pans are made of thin material. If you see any rust on the pan, it’s perhaps time to get a new one.
- Leaking Transmission Pan Drain Plug
Although not all automatic transmissions have a drain plug, some do, and if yours does, it is most likely leaking. The drain plug typically has an O-ring sealing, which must be swapped after every fluid replacement.
When changing the fluid, most people forget to replace the O-ring sealing, which means you’ll have a leaky transmission after a short time.
- Input or Output Shaft Seals Leaking
Your oil pan gasket is the most likely to leak, but it’s not the only seal that stops your transmission fluid from seeping out. The input and output shaft seals are the other two most important seals. Additionally, they’re the second and third most likely sources of leaks, respectively.
They’re just a rubber seal around moving parts out in the weather. Minor fractures can appear in the rubber as it ages, and here is where transmission fluid begins to leak.
Although it is rare for these seals to blow up totally, cracks and tiny leaks are not unheard of. And failure to repair these seals as soon as they begin to leak might result in a full-blown blowout in the future.
- Clogged Transmission Ventilation
To prevent the transmission from overheating, most automatic transmissions include some form of open transmission ventilation. These transmission vents get blocked on some automobile models, causing transmission leaks to spread throughout the vehicle.
If you don’t see any ventilation hoses on the top of your transmission, let Ralph’s Transmission check it out. Since they are mounted on top of the transmission, it usually is hard to get to them.
If You Notice a Transmission Fluid Leak, Should You Drive Anyway?
If the transmission fluid level is good, a minor leak will not harm your transmission. However, it is best to fix the leak as soon as possible, though.
If you drive a vehicle, which has a transmission fluid leak, the more the fluid gets drained. You’ll eventually run out, and your transmission will fail. Nonetheless, if the leak is minor enough, it is possible to go to a nearby service station in time.
Wrapping Up
The next time you notice a pool of crimson liquid under your car, try to take a deep breath and contact us. Even though the leak could demand you dig deeper into your pockets, it’s much more likely to be a minor fix that won’t cost more than a few hundred dollars.
Although it’s something you don’t wish to be using your cash on, it’s not an apocalyptic occurrence since we’ve got your back!
