5 Symptoms of Burnt Transmission Oil
Transmission fluid is a special lubricant that keeps the moving parts of your vehicle’s transmission working smoothly. There are different types of transmission fluid, especially for automatic and manual transmissions.
Automatic transmissions need oil to not only lubricate the components, but also to cool them and move power from the engine to the transmission. When the transmission fluid gets old or there is no longer enough of it to function properly, it will burn.
There may be a problem with the gearbox itself, which will require an overhaul or replacement. However, in most cases, you will only need to replace the transmission fluid with new oil that is appropriate for your vehicle’s transmission.
What causes gear oil to burn? The most common cause of transmission fluid burning is an overheated transmission. A transmission can overheat for a variety of reasons.
Persistent high load
A common cause is excessive stress on the gearbox. If you drive a lot on steep hills, tow heavy loads, or take your car to a race track, you run the risk of your transmission overheating.
Low Transmission Oil Level
Another cause of transmission overheating is a low transmission oil level. Gear oil not only fills the valve body, but also lubricates the internal gear parts.
Driving your vehicle with a chronically low oil level increases the risk of your transmission overheating. Therefore, check your oil level and top off your transmission oil if necessary.
Bad Solenoid
A solenoid is a mechanical component controlled by an electrical signal. There are many solenoids in the valve body that regulate the flow of transmission fluid.
If a solenoid fails, it can cause a loss of oil supply to certain locations in the transmission, which can lead to excessive heat and wear.
Main Symptoms of Bad Transmission Fluid
Continuing to drive your vehicle with bad or burnt transmission fluid will eventually damage your transmission, if it hasn’t already.
To increase your chances of saving your engine, you need to recognize the symptoms of burnt transmission fluid so you can address them as soon as possible.
1) Burning Smell
One of the first symptoms you’ll notice is a burning smell in your car coming from your transmission fluid. This burning smell is caused by the extra friction created by your gears, causing them to overheat and burn.
As a result, the burning smell gets stronger the longer it lasts. This is certainly not normal for gear oil. Gear oil should smell sweet and not burnt.
2) Oil Leaks
When oil leaks from your transmission, the remaining oil burns more vigorously because there isn’t enough oil to properly lubricate the transmission components.
3) Gear Change Problems
Your transmission allows you to change gears. If your transmission fluid burns, you’ll experience more hesitation when changing gears. Even worse, it may change gears on its own while you’re driving.
You may not be able to change gears at all. Either way, you should have your car inspected by a professional right away. The fluid may be burned or very low on fluid.
4) Smoke
If the transmission fluid gets very hot, it may also smoke. This is a clear warning sign that something is wrong and you should get it checked out immediately. Do not drive any further.
5) Overheated Transmission
An overheated transmission can cause all these symptoms. It may put your vehicle into limp mode to protect the components and turn on the check engine light. These temperature values vary from gearbox to gearbox, but below are some examples that show the increasing severity of damage:
When temperatures reach approximately 220°F, paint may form on the metal parts of the transmission. When temperatures reach 240°F, there is a risk of rubber seals hardening.
At 260°F, the transmission may slip. This may render the device powerless for a while, at least until it cools down. If the transmission cools down to 295°F, the entire transmission may fail and require rebuilding or replacement.
How to Repair Burnt Transmission Fluid
The solution for burnt transmission fluid is very simple.
Do you have a transmission that has more than 150,000 miles on it and still uses the original fluid? Many repair shops recommend draining and refilling the transmission fluid rather than flushing it. In some cases, flushing an old transmission can cause slippage issues in a perfectly functional transmission. For best results, consult a technician at your local workshop.