Transmission fluid is crucial for keeping your car’s transmission running properly. Your car’s owner’s manual can give you detailed information about how often you should get transmission fluid flushed and refilled. But West Omaha Auto Service has information for you that can help you to recognize when you need to get your transmission fluid checked.
The Transmission Isn’t Functioning Well
When your car’s transmission isn’t working well, you’ll feel it as you are driving the car. You’ll experience slipping gears or clunky shifting that jolts you as you’re driving. All of this means that something is failing, and the most common culprit is your transmission fluid. Getting that inspected and possibly swapped out can be exactly what’s needed.
The Car Doesn’t Seem to Want to Accelerate
Another issue you’re likely to experience is that you press the gas, the engine revs, but the car just doesn’t seem to go. That means that your transmission isn’t shifting gears for one reason or another. In the case of transmission fluid, it’s not properly lubricating everything so that your transmission can grab that next gear. Sometimes this is an intermittent issue, which can be difficult because you might think that whatever is happening has resolved itself. That’s not how it works, though.
You’re Smelling Hot Transmission Fluid
When transmission fluid gets hot or starts to leak, you’ll know about it. Leaks are easy to spot, because they’ll show up as puddles under the back of your car. But when that fluid hits hot parts of the rear end, you’ll also start to smell it. It’ll be an unpleasant sweet burning smell, most likely accompanied by that puddle under the back end.
You’re Hearing Lots of Transmission Noises
Your car’s transmission has a lot of moving parts within it. That’s part of why transmission fluid is so very important. It lubricates all of those parts, reducing friction and keeping them moving smoothly. But if bearings are failing or gears are grinding, you’re going to hear sounds like whining, grinding, and clunking. None of those are sounds that are enjoyable, and they almost always accompany problems with accelerating and with changing gears.
If you’re not sure what exactly your transmission needs, we can help. Contact us today at West Omaha Auto Service in Omaha, NE. We’ll set up an appointment for you so we can inspect your car’s transmission, the transmission fluid, and anything else that’s giving you trouble.