What will happen if I drive without transmission fluid?
Your car is filled with fluids that work in conjunction with each other to keep your vehicle running smoothly. Failing to properly maintain these fluids will cause you to run into problems down the road. Transmission fluid is one of these essential fluids. What happens if you drive without transmission fluid? Take a look below to find out!
What does the transmission fluid do?
Just like the other fluids in your vehicle, the transmission fluid will need to be replaced at some point (this process is known as a transmission flush). However, unlike oil changes which need to happen much more frequently, you can usually postpone transmission flushes anywhere from 50,000 miles to 100,000 miles – or even 150,000 miles in some cases. The transmission fluid serves as both a lubricant and a hydraulic fluid assisting in gear shifting and cooling the transmission.
The frequency of transmission flushes depends on what kind of driving you’re doing. Just like oil quality, the lifespan of your transmission fluid can be affected by the way you drive and stressful weather conditions. Low-quality transmission fluid – or driving without transmission fluid altogether – can cause a number of problems such as transmission failure, gear slipping, a hard time shifting, and a few more issues. You’ll be able to tell that the fluid is going bad if it looks darker than usual or if you’re hearing a grinding noise while you’re driving.
If you suspect it may be time for a transmission flush, bring your vehicle in to the maintenance team here at Hall Mazda. We can let you know if it’s a transmission flush you need or some other form of maintenance. Our highly-skilled maintenance team can help you get your car back into top-notch shape. Get in touch with us today!
Transmission fluid is what keeps the gears of the transmission system moving smoothly. It allows your speed machine to shift with ease. When transmission fluid goes low, it can cause damage. Various identifiable symptoms are there from which you can guess your vehicle is suffering from low transmission fluid. If you begin to have complications such as delay when getting into gear, then you have to take it as a transmission issue. A brown colored transmission fluid is a clear indicator of the problem. Well, in that case, you should hire a car mechanic and refill the transmission fluid in order to restore your vehicle’s serviceability.
Transmission fluid is nothing but an additive which reduces friction among different components of the transmission. however, such additives have an expiry date and should be replaced with suitable substitutes after certain time interval as recommended in the owners manual. Skipping the replacement of transmission fluid has a negative influence on the performance of the transmission and even could bring the transmission to a halt in the middle of nowhere. So, a person should inspect the condition of different types of additives used in the vehicle.
That’s the information I was looking for. One of my friend was debating with me claiming that transmission fluid is permanent. Thanks for sharing this.