It’s a sight no one wants to see: a puddle of clear, red fluid under your vehicle. Not only are transmission fluid leaks unsightly, but they can also be quite costly. Although a transmission rebuild in Minneapolis may follow the discovery of such a leak, that’s not always the case.
Diagnosing the Leak
If you can find the transmission on the vehicle’s underside, it will probably be easy to spot the leak. However, determining the cause of the leak may be difficult, and leaks don’t always originate near where you’re seeing fluid. To find the leak’s source, you’ll need to clean the underside of the vehicle and add dye to the system before driving for a few miles. If you don’t know how to do it, contact a transmission specialist for help.
Preventing Costly Transmission Repairs, Rebuilds, and Replacements
Although a leaking transmission is something no one wants to see, taking care of such problems early on may help you save hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Running your transmission out of fluid is an easy way to cause severe internal damage that brings about the need for a costly transmission rebuild in Minneapolis.
How to Minimize the Chances of a Transmission Fluid Leak
Though it’s not always possible to prevent transmission fluid leaks, here are a few ways to lessen the risk.
- Regularly check your car’s transmission fluid level
- If there’s a potential leak, have it inspected right away
- Periodically flush the system to eliminate debris or dirt that works its way in
Your local transmission expert may have additional recommendations depending on your vehicle’s type and your driving habits.
What Not to Do
Just as there are ways to reduce the risk of a leak, there are also ways to damage your transmission. Here are the most common ways:
- Continuing to drive with low transmission fluid
- Using commercially available ‘stop leak’ products, as they’ll cause swollen seals and other damaging issues
The most serious mistake you can make is to not seek help at the first sign of a problem. If your transmission is leaking or you need a transmission rebuild in Minneapolis, call a local expert.
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