Your vehicle’s transmission system transfers the torque generated by the engine to your vehicle’s wheels, thus driving it. The transmission fluid plays a critical role in that process for both manual and automatic transmission vehicles.
The fluid needs to change because it gets degraded over time by either heat or collecting debris. Debris, in this case, may include metal shavings from gears, gunk, and other impurities. When degraded, the oil loses its viscosity and ability to cool the system, making its role less effective.
If yours is a manual transmission vehicle, you will find it harder to shift gears when the transmission fluid is debased. The driving experience will be less smooth with degraded fluid, even with automatic transmission vehicles.
Signs You Need to Change Your Car’s Transmission Fluid
The following are some of the indications that your transmission fluid needs changing.
Dirty Transmission Fluid
Pure transmission fluid is clear or pinkish. You can examine the purity of your fluid using the dipstick. Check for color and consistency; intensely red or brown oil means it is dirty, and you need to change it.
Furthermore, you can also touch some oil and feel it between your index finger and thumb; it should be smooth and slippery. Change it if it is rough, as that indicates the presence of metal shavings, rust, or other debris.
Grinding Noises
A properly functioning transmission system should be smooth and silent. Grinding noises during transmission mean you don’t have enough transmission fluid, or the fluid is adulterated.
The noise is occasioned by parts of the system grinding together as you change gears since the lubricant is ineffective. Besides, such noise may be caused by debris in the fluid coming into contact with parts of the transmission system. Noises are a clear indication that you need to replace the fluid.
Slipping Gears
Dirty transmission fluid does not flow easily through the system. Poor flow leads to reduced hydraulic power, which in turn, there isn’t enough pressure to keep the gear in place. You will notice this effect when gears slip continuously. This is a problem for both manual and automatic transmissions.
Difficulties Reversing
Adulterated fluid is one of several possible causes of difficulties in reversing. Check the oil using the dipstick to determine if it is the cause. Change it if you confirm it is dirty, and you will regain your ability to reverse the car.
Overheating Engine
Transmission fluid may fail to flow through the cooling tank due to impurities. The uncooled fluid will keep getting hotter and will transfer heat to the engine as it runs through it. The friction from having degraded oil in the system may further increase the heat. You may even get a whiff of a burning smell from the engine.
Delayed in Acceleration
You can tell your transmission oil is dirty if there is an unusual delay between shifting and acceleration in your manual vehicle. The vehicle will take a little longer to accelerate than usual, even after you step on the pedal.
Surging
This is when the vehicle suddenly lunges forward. It means that there is an obstruction in the flow of transmission fluid, which is often caused by debris.
Oil Leaks
Small puddles of oil under the car show that you have an oil leak. There are various reasons for leaks to occur, but dirty transmission fluid is a common one. Degraded oil doesn’t flow easily and is likely to leak if it stops at a joint or cracks in the transmission system.
How to manually Check if your Transmission Fluid needs to be changed?
Take the following steps.
From your vehicle operator’s manual, establish if you can check the oil with the engine off or running. To get an accurate reading, park the car on a flat surface. The next step is to identify the dipstick for transmission oil. It is usually brightly colored.
You should then remove the dipstick and wipe it before reinserting it. The oil should be between low and high levels. You will need to refill if the fluid is too low and change it if it is bright red or brown. Transmission oil should be light pink or clear.
Why is it Necessary to Change the Fluid?
Regular transmission oil changes are necessary because they enable the vehicle to move smoothly. Power transmission to the vehicle’s wheels largely depends on transmission fluid quality.
What Happens if I don’t change my transmission fluid?
Failure to change your transmission oil will cause your vehicle’s transmission to deteriorate progressively. The situation may worsen to the point where the car becomes unusable. The sustained effects of the contaminated transmission fluid on the transmission system may necessitate the purchase of repair parts.
Conclusion
It is difficult to miss the signs as your car demands a change of transmission oil. It will make strange noises, lunge, have difficulty reversing, overheat, experience oil leaks, etc. You should check your oil manually for cleanliness to ascertain that it is indeed the cause of some of the symptoms. Get a quote for when transmission fluid change