One of the most complicated parts of any automobile power drive is the transmission system. The transmission system is basically an intricate system that includes a series of gears that operate in pairs to increase or decrease the torque as well as RPM. As you can imagine, these gears have to be in constant mesh to successfully deliver the power to the driving shaft. Therefore, there is a lot of friction between the gears as well as within the driving and driven shafts. Today, we are going to tell you everything you need to know about transmission fluid and how to maintain it in your car. In this guide, we will cover a lot of important topics such as transmission fluids, the importance of transmission fluid, and the maintenance of transmission fluid. We will also tell you how to distinguish between regular oil and transmission fluid so make sure you don’t miss that out.
About Transmission Fluid
Before we move forward, let us try to understand what transmission fluid is and where it is used. The transmission fluid is a completely different compound compared to engine oil or lubricants. To be precise, transmission fluid can mostly be found in vehicles that feature an automatic transmission system. Still, there are a few manufacturers that utilize transmission fluid in manual transmission systems as well. The transmission fluid is basically introduced between the moving parts to avoid unnecessary friction and maintain uniform power transmission. As for an automatic transmission system, the transmission fluid also provides additional actuation force as fluid is basically incompressible. This hydraulic actuation force enhances the performance of the system and further improves the overall efficiency of the power drive.
Importance of Transmission Fluid
The transmission fluid is quite an important part of the power transmission system. It would not be wrong to say that the system would fail completely if there is no transmission fluid or even a lesser amount of fluid compared to what’s needed. Thus, the transmission fluid must be properly checked from time to time. Here are some important functions of transmission fluid that make it an essential part of every power vehicle transmission system.
1. Maintains Uniform Power Transfer
As we mentioned earlier, the transmission fluid maintains a uniform power delivery which is important to maintain the efficiency of the power drive. In automatic transmission systems, the torque converter heavily relies upon the automatic transmission fluid to maintain a proper hydraulic circuit. The transmission fluid introduces an equivalent rotational force on the gears which covers up for the power loss caused by friction.
2. Keeps Temperatures Under Control
One of the important properties of transmission fluid is its high melting and boiling point. With that, the fluid can withstand high-temperature levels without changing its physical or chemical properties. As you may already know, friction between metal parts generates heat which weakens certain areas of the part, causing wear and tears. The transmission fluid avoids that by absorbing the heat and expelling it to the radiator of your car. Due to this, the overall temperature levels of the transmission system always stay under control, improving its lifespan all the while avoiding any physical damage to the gears or any other moving parts.
3. Reduces Friction in Moving Parts
Overall, the transmission fluid introduces a smooth operation of the great transmission mechanism once it has been introduced in the system. As we mentioned earlier, it reduces the frictions levels and also brings down the temperature levels. This allows the system to perform at an optimal level, offering you the best efficiency.
Signs of Low Transmission Fluid
However, the transmission fluid does not offer the ideal performance forever. In fact, the fluid slowly loses its chemical properties and starts causing problems. In a lot of cases, the performance decrease is caused by the decreased volume of fluid available in the transmission system. There can be many reasons behind the gradual reduction of transmission fluid. Mainly, it can be caused by evaporation of the fluid caused by overheating of the system. There can also be a leakage in your transmission system which drastically reduces the volume of transmission fluid in your system. Here are some early warnings that will give you an idea about the low level of transmission fluid in your system.
1. Overheating of Transmission System
As we have seen earlier, the transmission fluid maintains a steady temperature level in your gearbox. Thus, if the temperature levels are suddenly getting higher than usual, it can be caused by the loss of transmission fluid. And due to the overheating, the remaining fluid starts to vapourize at a faster rate, further causing a reduction in transmission fluid levels. If the temperature levels in your transmission systems rise above the design limit, you might be looking at permanent damage in the system. Here’s how you can assess the damage caused by increased temperature levels in your transmission system.
2. Problems in Gear Shifting
Lack of transmission fluid also causes difficulty in gear shifting. While you are shifting gears, the active pair of gears changes, causing the change in gear ratio that has an effect on resultant torque and RPM. With the transmission fluid active within the gears, the gears slide away swiftly, allowing you to smoothly change gears. If there is a lack of transmission fluid, the gear drive will certainly feel harder than usual. The problem can also appear in automatic gear transmission systems as well if there is not enough transmission fluid in the system. In such a case, you will notice a sudden drop in the car’s acceleration which is a result of non-uniform gear shifting.
3. Visible Fluid Leakage
If you are noticing frequent fluid leakage from your car, it can be an indication of low transmission fluid in your system. When your car is parked, the fluid stabilizes at the lower portion of the transmission box. And if there is a cavity at the bottom, the fluid starts leaking due to internal pressure. Even though the fluid is comparatively more viscous than regular fluids, it still starts to leak. You can check that by simply observing the place where your car was parked for a long enough time. If you are finding spots or puddles of red or green liquid, it means the transmission fluid is leaking. And if the color is darker, it means that the fluid has already been overheated. This means that the fluid has been leaking for quite some time and now there is not enough transmission fluid left in your transmission system to maintain a stable performance.
4. Noisy Transmission
Almost all vehicles are designed to operate with minimum noise generation, especially the ones that feature an automatic transmission system. But, it certainly fails to do so if there is a lack of transmission fluid in the power drive. The noise is generated when components rub against each other. If there is enough transmission fluid between the components, the friction levels are low as are the noise levels. Absence of transmission fluid introduces large amounts of friction between the parts. As the gears are rotating, you will start noticing rhythmic beating sounds coming out of your transmission system. If the problem grows further, you will start hearing continuous clattering sounds from the system which represents an even decreased level of transmission levels.
5. System Indications
Almost all modern cars nowadays are equipped with built-in sensors which let you know the status of internal components as well as the working systems. As for the power drive, there is a dedicated “check engine” light provided in almost every single car. However, the check engine light represents a lot of problems, minor as well as major, caused in your engine. If you are finding the check engine light frequently displaying on your dashboard, you should check the transmission fluid levels right away. But, the engine lights also represent minor issues which might not be as harmful for your car. If you are only noticing the check engine light and not any of the other signs mentioned above, it might be indicated something else. One of the best things to do in such a case is to carry out a routine inspection of your engine as well as transmission system and get to the root cause of the problem right away.
Checking Transmission Fluid Levels
Now that you know the importance of transmission fluid and signs of low transmission fluid, let us tell you how to check the transmission fluid level manually. If you are noticing any or all of the signs in your car, you can check the transmission fluid levels right away and take the necessary steps based on the results. If the oil levels are within the safe limit, you won’t have to take any steps right away. However, if the fluid levels are below the design limit, it might be time to replace the fluid right away. To check the transmission fluid levels, all you need is a dipstick. You can find dipsticks at any official retailer of car accessories and get one for routine inspections. You can perform the dipstick inspection by yourself and check the results for a proper idea. All you have to do is insert the dipstick from the opening provided at the front and pull it out. The dipstick will have markings for full, medium, or low, indicating the current transmission fluid level in your system. Other than that, you can also get an idea about the available transmission fluid level by examining the color or smell of the fluid. If the color of the fluid has been darkened or produces a burnt smell, you should conclude that the transmission fluid levels in your car are quite low.
Transmission Fluid: Smell and Texture
If you have never examined the transmission fluid before, you might not know how it smells, looks, or feels. This fluid is a lot more viscous compared to generic lubricants, making it appear sticky and slippery. As for the smell, the transmission fluid is usually odorless by default, unless a certain brand decides to add the smell synthetically. The odor is generated naturally in the transmission fluid if it’s burned or heated at a very high temperature.
The lifespan of Transmission Fluid
The approximate lifespan of a transmission fluid varies from product to product. There are a few premium car models that are equipped with a transmission fluid that ensures a lifetime of usage. On the other hand, standard transmission fluid usually offers up to 100000 miles of usage before you will have to replace it. In any case, it is important to periodically check the status of transmission fluid and replace it if necessary. Even if the fluid is offering a lifetime of usage, it will not be able to perform if it has already leaked out of your transmission drive. You can also improve the lifespan of the transmission fluid by following routine maintenance procedures suggested by your car manufacturer.
Conclusion
It is very important to take proper care of your car, especially the crucial components such as the engine, clutch, accelerator, and transmission system. Even the slightest of problems in these systems can cause severe problems. And sometimes, you might find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere with a broken-down car. To avoid that, you will have to take care of these parameters and the included components such as the transmission fluid. In this guide, we have explained almost everything you need to know about the transmission fluid and how you can perform a simple maintenance procedure to check its status. If you are not sure about one or more points explained in our guide, you can reach out to us via the comment section and we will try to help you further. Comment * Name * Email * Website
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