2 Common Transmission Leak Locations
The transmission in your car is responsible for allowing it to shift from gear to gear. Transmission fluid is essential in order to perform this task over and over without fail since it not only acts as a lubricant but also helps to keep the various components inside of your transmission from overheating.
Unfortunately, leaks are a common way in which the proper functioning of your transmission can be compromised. Without adequate fluid in the system, your transmission will eventually seize up and fail outright. To keep this from happening, it is thus vital to understand some frequent leak sources. This article will improve your automotive troubleshooting skills by discussing two of the most common leak points.
Seals
The transmission system in your car relies on a high degree of hydraulic pressure in order to supply fluid to all of its moving parts. Maintaining this pressure requires the integration of many different seals, which prevent pressure loss in places where one or more components come together. Unfortunately, these seals have a way of becoming damaged--cracked, degraded, or frayed--as time goes on. To a large extent, this is an inevitable process, thanks to the intense heat to which the seals are
As you can probably imagine, a compromised seal will allow transmission fluid to escape out of the system, ultimately manifesting as a leak. This can happen with any of the following seals:
- transmission pan gasket seal
- input/output shaft seal
- sensor seals
- plug seals
- speedometer input seal
- tail housing seal
A transmission repair professional will generally perform a thorough seal inspection when faced with a persistent leak.
Torque Converter
The torque converter is an especially important component that can be found in between the engine's flywheel and the transmission. It utilizes transmission fluid, as well as numerous internal turbines, in order to transform horsepower from the engine into hydraulic pressure. This hydraulic pressure, in turn, is essential in order for the transmission to operate.
Thanks to the fact that it handles large volumes of transmission fluid, the torque converter has a tendency to develop leaks as time goes on. Granted, the likelihood of this being the source of the leak is not quite as high as the seals, thanks to the fact that the torque converter is made of sturdy metal. Yet the torque converter utilizes numerous turbine blades and ball bearings. As these parts develop wear, they will often allow transmission fluid to escape from the system.
For more information on auto repair services, check out companies like Cambridge Collision & Auto Center!
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