If your car has been parked for several days, and, when you move it, you notice fresh drops or a puddle of fluid in your garage or on your driveway, you could be losing transmission fluid. Most cars have several different types of fluids, so it's important to try and determine where the leak is coming from.
One way to determine whether or not your car is leaking transmission fluid is to place some newspaper, a large sheet of aluminum foil, or a clean piece of cardboard under your car when it's parked for the night. If the drips and stains that you're seeing are reddish, pink, or light brown in color and appear to be coming more from the center of the car, it's often a sign that there's a problem with the car's transmission. Transmission fluid is slick like motor oil, and often smells like burnt petroleum, especially as it ages.
In most cases, the cause of the leak is due to:
- Leak in the transmission pan
- Damaged fluid lines or pan gasket
- Faulty torque converter
- Seals that are warped/worn out
If transmission fluid leaks when you're parked...
Once you've determined that the fluid stain is transmission fluid, you need to check the level in your engine. Consult the manufacturer's manual for instructions, but it's important to remember that, in order to get an accurate reading, your car needs to be parked and running.
It's crucial that you have your car looked at ASAP in order to find the cause of the problem because, the longer you wait, the more damage there will be to the transmission, and you could end up with a very costly repair bill.
Fixing a transmission leak needs to be done by mechanics that have extensive training and experience in servicing and repairing transmissions. In the San Diego area, the best transmission repair shop is Transmasters Transmissions and Auto Care. Located in Miramar, the ASE-certified mechanics at Transmasters are experts when it comes to diagnosing your car's transmission problem.
Our location has state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and an in-house automatic and manual transmission remanufacture facility. Our mechanics will be able to determine whether your transmission requires some repairs or whether the problem is more serious and involves rebuilding or replacing it.
Taking care of your car's transmission
Your car's transmission is a very complicated piece of machinery and is subject to wear and tear from the heat and friction that are generated by its moving parts. Part of your routine car care should include having the transmission fluid checked and replaced if it's getting old.
It's important to be aware of the type of transmission fluid to use in your car. You'll find this information in your owner's manual.
If you think that your transmission needs servicing, contact us or bring your car into our San Diego transmission repair shop.