Transmission fluid leaks can be a pain to diagnose when there is a definite leak. But let’s get straight to the point, can transmission fluid get low without a leak?
A leak is the only cause of low or dropping transmission fluid levels. Transmission fluid has nowhere to go. It goes through no combustion process; it does not burn inside the gearbox and does not evaporate. This only leads to finding out where the leak has come from. Sorry, this may not be the news you were hoping for. Don’t be disheartened yet, as some transmission leaks can be rectified with little effort or cost.
Where can transmission fluid leak from?
There can be a few causes of leaking transmission fluid and the places to check:
-gearbox/transmission pan gasket
-leaking drain plug
-cracked or broken gearbox casing
-leaking drive shaft seals
-damaged or rusty transmission pan
-leaky transmission fluid lines
Gearbox/transmission pan gasket
The transmission pan gasket will deteriorate over time. It can be pretty simple to replace but does require completely removing the pan to replace the gasket.
Leaking drain plug
This could even be as simple as the drain plug is loose and require retorquing to the correct setting. You or the mechanic who last had this undone may not have tighten this correctly.
Cracked or broken gearbox casing
A crack in the gearbox housing would only usually happen in an impact. This could happen by driving over debris on the road.
Leaking drive shaft seals
Each driveshaft attached to the gearbox has its own seal; these can perish and deteriorate over time. The other cause for a leaking drive shaft seal can be the result of other repairs to the vehicle, such as CV gator replacement.
The damaged or rusty transmission pan
A rusty transmission pan needs no explanation, especially on older vehicles. Damage will occur from impact; the transmission is well protected in an engine bay but still can come into contact with foreign objects.
Leaky transmission fluid lines
Some transmission setups have lines that come from the gearbox to the radiator to cool the transmission fluid, mainly in high-performance vehicles but worth checking that your car doesn’t have this system.
The point to note when you find a transmission fluid leak is to stop driving the car and seek repair. Driving low on transmission fluid could cause damage to other components that wouldn’t have necessarily needed replacing.
How to check for a transmission fluid leak?
Checking a transmission fluid leak is relatively straightforward, and you may be able to quickly diagnose the issue by looking under the vehicle. If the transmission fluid level is low, it’s best not to worry immediately.
Do you know when it was last changed? Can you confirm it was at its maximum when it was last changed or topped up? In this instance, it would be a good idea to fill the fluid level to the maximum and keep checking it over the next few days. If the level indicates it is dropping, that will confirm the leak.
Get down on your hands and knees and stick your head underneath. The transmission pan may be visible, and you may be able to diagnose the issue quickly. It may require the use of a ramp to get right underneath the vehicle and check all of the auxiliaries to the transmission.
How to check and top up the transmission fluid
Topping up the transmission fluid is simple but can be complicated by other parts of the engine bay. Some may need to be removed to get to the filling point.
- Park the vehicle on a flat level surface; the car will need to be warm, but ideally, not on; your vehicle user manual will confirm if it needs to run or not.
- Locate the dipstick at the top or on the side of the transmission; it will usually be smaller than the engine oil dipstick.
- Remove the dipstick and clean with a rag, and replace for a few seconds.
- Carefully remove the dipstick and hold it horizontally but angled with the tip; the fluid level should be easily visible.
- If a top-up is required, your user manual will confirm the correct transmission fluid and the location of the filling point.
- Top up Fluid. Some transmission fluid bottles have a large spout to simplify filling. If they don’t get yourself a spout that fits, top up in small amounts at a time, give the fluid
a minute to settle. - Recheck the level. Repeat the filling process if necessary.
Repairing a transmission fluid leak
There are thickening agents to seal transmission fluid leaks, but these will only work on minor gasket leaks and hairline cracks in the casing. These sealant fluids are only temporary fixes; minor leaks become more significant over a few months.
Unfortunately, most transmission fluid leaks will require the replacement of a component to fix the issue. This may mean the transmission must be removed from the vehicle to repair it, so a qualified mechanic should only carry it out.
Bottom Line
It may disappoint you that the answer to whether transmission fluid can be low without a leak is pretty much no. The only reason it would be low without a leak is human error. It is normal to find minor issues like this on older vehicles, but that doesn’t make them any less critical. A leaky transmission needs urgent attention, but before you panic, it is best to confirm the leak by refilling and checking the level.
