Signs of Low Transmission Fluid Symptoms

Transmission fluid is no less than the lifeblood of the transmission system. It keeps all the components in the system, allowing them to run smoothly. Its absence can cause the parts to wear and tear beyond repair. The damage will be even worse in an automatic car because the automatic transmission fluid (ATF) doubles as an antifreeze to prevent the engine overheating. So, low transmission fluid symptoms are something that you should stay alert of.

What Does The Transmission Fluid Do?
Its main function is to lubricate the transmission system. The lubrication helps with transferring the engine power to the ground. The torque converter also uses the fluid to transfer rotation force from the engine to the transmission. The fluid also absorbs the heat created inside the system and dispenses it through the radiator.

Driving on low transmission fluid is extremely dangerous because it could lead to the transmission failure and other costly repairs. You should know what happens if your transmission fluid is low and take actions immediately when the symptoms occur.

Low Transmission Fluid Symptoms
Transmission fluid does not need to be changed during the entire lifespan of a vehicle. However, depending on the car you are driving, you may require to flush it a few times or change after every 50,000 miles. The low level of fluid could be the result of it leaking through a cracked or worn out component. In that case, you have to fix the damaged part and refill the fluid.

How to tell if transmission fluid is low? Watch out for these low transmission fluid symptoms:

1. Trouble Shifting Gears
Dirt or gunk in the fluid is the primary reason for having a sluggish response from the transmission. No matter whether you drive a manual or automatic, the oil in the gearbox has to be clean, free of any dirt residue so that it can flow inside the parts without any snag.

Dirty oil will draw a too slow response from the gear shifting. Low manual transmission fluid symptoms will make the changing of gears extremely difficult.

2. Erratic Shifts
Erratic shifts cause the shifting of gear to happen too late or too soon. It is one of the signs of low transmission fluid automatic cars. You could be sure of the problem if there is an accompanying banging sound. The hydraulic pressure has to be precise and work smoothly for changing the gears in an automatic transmission. Lack of fluid will disrupt the rhythm of the shifting’s timing.

3. Surging Transmission
The condition causes a vehicle to lurch forward before falling backward during regular driving operation. The inadequate force from the fluid is the only reason for such surging movements.

4. Delayed Gear Engagement
The gear stick will produce a delayed response when you move it to the ‘Drive’ or ‘Reverse’ mode. Low level of fluid means low pressure in the transmission, which cause the delay in the gear change. The response time is around 2 to 3 seconds, which is enough to tell you that there is something wrong with the transmission fluid.

5. Gear Slippage
Low transmission fluid symptoms also include the slipping of the engaged gear. It does not let the gear to say in the mode you have selected. If the fluid level is right, the culprit must be the residue buildup that impedes the fluid to flow freely.

6. Transmission Becomes Overheated
One most important function of the fluid is to keep the transmission temperature to the normal level. When there is not enough fluid to lubricate the components, there will be a huge amount of friction, leading to the production of excessive heat. In fact, you will experience an overheated transmission in case of delayed shifts, gear slippage, power loss, burning smells, or other related problems.

When you face any symptoms of low transmission fluid, pull off the car immediately to allow the components to blow off the steam. When the temperature is back to normal, try to drive to a servicing shop. Call a towing service if the symptoms continue. Remember that the transmission system will suffer serious damage in case the temperature arises over 240°F.

How To Check The Transmission Fluid?
If your car starts showing any of these low transmission fluid symptoms, you should check the fluid level to be sure. Use a dipstick to see if the fluid level matches to the one mentioned in the owner’s manual.

You should also look for any color or odor change because bad fluid also leads to plenty of transmission issues. Do the dipstick testing at least once in a month and do a fuel change if the color turns brown or black, or the liquid exudes a burning smell.

If the oil level is lower than what it should be, take the car to a garage to find out the source of the trouble – either a leak or a damaged component. The dipstick will actually ensure that whether the problem is with the fluid level or not.