Transmission leaks, while they may be a fairly common car problem, are incredibly important to fix as soon as possible. If you have a car leaking transmission fluid, you should first check that the liquid is actually transmission fluid, as a correct diagnosis of your problem is the first step toward solving it. Park your car on a level surface after running the engine for a bit. Transmission fluid usually has a red color (or brown, if it’s dirty and ready to be change). It should be oily to the touch and smells much like petroleum.
Why it matters
Transmission fluid is a critically important fluid for your car’s transmission. It not only cools and lubricates the transmission, but also helps transfer the power from the engine to the transmission. Without this fluid, there would be insufficient pressure to fully operate the transmission, which would cause overheating—an extremely expensive damage to your transmission.
How to Fix it
Now that you know it is a transmission leak, you should then proceed depending on the severity of the leak. If the leak is minor (just a few drops on the ground), you can use a high-quality bottle of stop-leak. Make sure that the stop-leak is appropriate for your make and model, as they can differ significantly. Add the contents of the stop leak into your car’s transmission dip stick tube to return the transmission fluid to the correct level.
If it’s a major leak (more than a few drops), then you should take your car to get serviced at a dealership or an auto-repair/transmission repair center. While a bottle of stop-leak may temporarily help your transmission leak, you’ll ultimately need to bring in your car to get repaired (the sooner the better). Fortunately, TalkLocal can help you in this case. TalkLocal can help you find a high quality auto repair center in just minutes, so you don’t have to worry about finding a quality mechanic to repair your car. You’ll be back on the road in no time!
What a great looking car! I wonder how much it costs to keep it looking and running so nice. I have an older car, I love it, but it can be a pain to keep up. Its been falling a part lately. I think it might be time to turn it over to the junk yard. What do you think? Or should I take it to a transmission repair in Calgary? (http://www.nationaltransmission.ca/about_us.htm)
You could always get a quote on the repairs you need. Any reputable auto shop should be able to give you a written estimate for required repairs, though they may ask to give your car a full diagnostic test before they make any formal repair recommendations.