There are 6 low transmission fluid symptoms you shouldn't ignore

 

Your vehicle cannot operate as it should when you have low transmission fluid. This is so that friction is reduced, and components of the transmission system are kept from wearing out by transmission fluid that lubricates their surfaces and other parts.

The transmission fluid in your car is meant to last the entire time it is on the road without needing to be changed, but many mechanics will insist that you change it at least every 50,000 miles. Sometimes it's also advised to frequently flush the transmission fluid.

If you are unsure when you should carry out a transmission fluid replacement, search online for car garages in Reading and get in contact with a qualified mechanic who will be able to advise you further on this matter.

Similar to oil, low or faulty transmission fluid can seriously harm your car's transmission.

Find out if a transmission fluid-related issue caused a MOT test to fail in the past by Googling "check my MOT history" online.

You'll discover that almost all indications of low transmission fluid lead to a leak in the system. The very first thing you should do is confirm the transmission fluid level if any of the following symptoms appear.

Check the fluid's condition while you're at it. The colour of fresh transmission fluid should be crimson and nearly transparent. If it is brown or darker, you might be experiencing inside issues. See our chart of transmission fluid colours to learn what your fluid's colour indicates about its state.

It is preferable to leave the above procedures to the experts if you are not confident doing them. Look for garages in Reading online, then schedule an appointment for a qualified mechanic to investigate and repair the issue on your vehicle.

The following are some typical signs of low transmission fluid. If you don't top up or replace your fluid, you might eventually need to deal with an expensive repair:

1.      Transmission Fluid on The Floor - Although very obvious, transmission fluid on the floor is a sign of low transmission fluid that is occasionally neglected. If you notice a little puddle or a few spots of a red or brown fluid beneath your automobile, where the engine and transmission are situated, you probably have a transmission leak. Common reasons for this include a failing seal or gasket, a dislodged drain plug, or even damage to the gearbox pan itself. Get this issue rectified prior to arranging your next MOT testing service to avoid a possible MOT failure. Even if you decide to finally address a few tiny leaks, you can get by if you keep an eye on your transmission fluid level and top it off as required. For the majority of leaks, though, you should deal with the issue right away.

2.      Delayed Gear Change - If your car's transmission fluid level is low, you may experience a slight delay when changing gears into reverse or drive. This is necessary because an instantaneous gear change is impossible with low transmission fluid pressure. If the fluid level is low, it can take as long as two or three seconds to build up enough pressure for the gear change. A problem with the transmission valve body is another likely cause if you determine that the ATF level is sufficient. This symptom would appear if the transmission valve body was malfunctioning.

3.      Trouble Changing Gears - Both manual and automatic transmission cars need clean, able-to-flow transmission fluid inside of your transmission. Your transmission fluid will react very slowly and sluggishly if it is polluted by dirt or other debris. As soon as that begins to happen, your gear changing will result in the vehicle's gears changing either too quickly or too slowly as you are driving. It could be incredibly challenging to change gears on a frequent basis and you might not even be able to change into some gears if you are driving a car with a manual transmission.

4.      Strange Sounds When Using Gear - To the driver, a perfectly functioning transmission should be silent. However, if you begin to hear rattling sounds or a rhythmic hammering in gear and not in park or neutral, your vehicle may have a torque converter problem because the transmission fluid level is low. While changing gears, you might hear grinding or clattering, which could be another indication that there isn't enough transmission fluid in the system.

5.      Transmission overheats - The transmission requires a suitable supply of transmission fluid to maintain the proper operating temperature, just as a motor does, in order to lubricate all moving parts and maintain the proper operating temperature. Your gearbox may quickly start to overheat if there is insufficient transmission fluid because there is too much friction between the working parts. You might smell burning transmission fluid strongly, or you might even see smoke coming from the transmission. If you experience either of these while driving, stop your vehicle right once and let everything to cool down. You can suffer serious internal damage and require a full transmission rebuild if the temps get too high.

6.      Gears Slipping - Low transmission fluid could lower the hydraulic pressure in the system, causing transmission gear slippage. You won't be able to stay in the current gear you've chosen if there is insufficient hydraulic pressure. When you are driving and notice that the engine suddenly revs higher but the car isn't moving any faster, you have a gear slipping. This frequently indicates that the gear teeth have already sustained severe damage.