Transmission fluid cools and lubricates the internal parts of your transmission. It keeps the gears of your vehicle shifting smoothly whenever you need them to. It’s in both automatic and manual transmissions. Typically, transmission fluid doesn’t need to be replaced that often, which is why some people don’t know the signs of low transmission fluid. Here are a few things to look for if you believe your Subaru may need new transmission fluid.
There’s a Delay When You Shift Gears
When your car is low on transmission fluid, it no longer has enough pressure to change gears quickly. This means you may find that it takes several seconds between shifting from drive into reverse. At other times, your vehicle may actually shift faster than normal. That’s still a sign of a problem. The smoothness may also be affected. Normally, your Subaru will smoothly shift from one gear to another. When the transmission fluid is low, it may suddenly slam into another gear, jerking you forward.
Your Transmission Slips
If you change gears only to find that your vehicle slips back out of gear, it needs more fluid before it overheats. Your transmission may shift up or down unexpectedly and erratically without the proper amount of transmission fluid. You may also notice that your vehicle experiences a sudden increase in RPMs right before it shifts gears. If these symptoms often occur, it may be a sign that your transmission has already been damaged by the lack of fluid.
You Can’t Shift Gears
If your transmission fluid is completely out, your vehicle simply will not shift gears at all. This likely means that in addition to running out of transmission fluid, damage has also been done to some of the parts that make up the transmission system. This can lead to permanent transmission failure. When that occurs, the transmission either has to be extensively repaired or completely replaced.
The Transmission Overheats
Finally, if your transmission completely overheats, you know it was very low or completely out of transmission fluid. If you have ignored the previous signs, this is the likely outcome. When a transmission overheats, you’ll see smoke coming out of the car’s hood and smell a burning smell. The vehicle also won’t shift correctly, if it will shift at all. You will want to immediately shut off the car and not drive it again until it has been checked out.
If you suspect your Subaru is low on transmission fluid, we can help. Contact us today to schedule a maintenance visit.
