Transmission Leak Inspection
What is a transmission, and why might it leak?
The transmission is responsible for receiving power from the engine, and sending that power to the driveshaft or axles so that your car goes the speed you want. An automatic transmission adjusts on its own to driving demands, and keeps the engine running in an optimum range for a given speed.
The transmission oil pan gasket is the most common source of a leak, but fluid may also escape from loose seals, damaged transmission lines or a cracked or punctured pan.
How does a transmission work?
Automatic transmissions use the force supplied by the engine to pump pressurized automatic transmission fluid through many components. As the pressure increases or decreases, different clutches or bands will get activated, and these determine which gear your car is in. The higher the gear, the easier it will be for your car to go faster.
There are several systems that can leak oil. Each fluid tends to be a different color, which can help to identify the leaking system.
Engine oil tends to be brown or black. It can be an amber color if it's new oil
Power steering fluid can be many colors: clear, brown, green or red
Automatic transmission fluid is reddish in color
Engine coolant is green, red, orange, or clear. It has a watery consistency different from oil
What are the symptoms related to a transmission leak?
If your transmission is leaking, it will typically result in an oil puddle on the pavement under your car. Automatic transmission fluid is typically colored red or green. You should take your vehicle in for a transmission inspection as soon as you notice a leak. If you don't see it in time or ignore it, you may eventually notice the engine revving when you're not accelerating the vehicle — this is called transmission slipping, and can happen when your car is low on transmission fluid.