Can you Drive a Car with a Transmission Fluid Leak?

There are some car issues that warrant a tow truck, is a transmission fluid leak one of them? To be short, not necessarily, but it is dependent on a few things. If the vehicle has been leaking transmission fluid for some time or has a very heavy leak, operating the vehicle could cause immediate damage. If you notice a drip in the driveway and take care of the issue soon, you can likely make the trek to the auto shop without incident. In any case, it's best to consult with a reputable transmission shop. Here's what you need to know about transmission fluid leaks.

Location of Transmission Fluid Leak
Transmission fluid provides the lubrication necessary to keep the transmission operating smoothly. A leak can occur from a number of places if a gap is formed. The most common areas are the pan gasket or transmission seals.

Time is of the Essence
As long as you get to the shop soon, you shouldn't have much to worry about in terms of needing major transmission repair. A slow drip isn't going to cause immediate damage, but if you continue to rack up miles on the car without giving the leak any attention, you're sure to run into bigger issues.

How a Transmission Leak Occurs
Transmission fluid leaks are fairly common as miles add up, and routine transmission service can usually remedy them. Here's how leaks commonly form.

Wear and tear - The most common cause of transmission fluid leaks is high mileage. The best way to beat this is by never skipping scheduled transmission service.

Punctured pan - The transmission pan can become punctured by road debris or accidents. A damaged pan needs to be replaced immediately.

Damaged line - If a transmission fluid line is bent or dented a leak could occur.

Failed seals - The transmission pan gasket or other transmission seals are liable to fail with age. Failed gaskets are commonly found to be the cause of many fluid leaks.

So while you can drive a car with a transmission fluid leak, you shouldn't, at least any farther than the transmission repair shop. If you need transmission fluid leak repair in Centennial Colorado and surrounding areas, we provide full service transmission repair for all makes and models. Give us a call today at (303) 710-2719 to learn more or to schedule an appointment for superior transmission repair in Colorado.