The transmission of a car is a complex system that requires many different parts to function properly. The right amount of fluid will help keep everything running smoothly and prevent damage from occurring. Without it, you would have no way to shift gears or engage the clutch pedal.
Transmission fluid is an essential part of the transmission. It serves as a coolant, lubricant, and hydraulic fluid for your vehicle’s transmission and keeps everything running smoothly. The amount of transmission fluid in your car should be checked regularly, and the transmission should be flushed if there has been any damage or if it’s leaking too much fluid.
However, there may be times when a mechanic would recommend adding more fluid to the system as a preventative measure. This can help prevent future problems from arising but isn’t always necessary.
In this post, we’ll be looking at ways to check for too much transmission fluid, the symptoms, and what could possibly go wrong if you have excess transmission fluid in your vehicle.
Table of contents
How Much Transmission Fluid Does a Car Hold?
If the transmission fluid is too high on the dipstick, there is a risk of damage to your transmission. If it’s too low, there can be damage as well. The normal range is considered between 1/8th and 3/8ths of an inch below the full mark on the dipstick.
How to Check for Too Much Transmission Fluid
To check for too much transmission fluid, you’ll need a few tools. A dipstick is one tool you may want to use; if you don’t have one, find an old plastic spoon and cut the handle off of it. You can also use an automatic transmission fluid tester instead of checking the level with a dipstick.
If you’re using a dipstick, ensure that your car is not running when you want to check. Remove the fluid dipstick which is located near where the transmission and transaxle meet the engine rear.
Replace the dipstick and wipe clean before inserting back into its holder and make sure that it reads at least half full (but no more than maximum).
Symptoms of Too Much Transmission Fluid
1. Trouble Shifting Gears
If you are having trouble shifting gears, this could be a sign that your transmission fluid is too low. Checking your fluid level can be as simple as removing the transmission dipstick and seeing how much fluid is in there. If the level is below where it should be, add more transmission fluid until your vehicle shifts smoothly again.
Transmission fluid is necessary for the transmission to perform at its best. If too much fluid is added, this can cause problems in shifting gears. This can lead to the vehicle not being able to shift into gear and also cause damage to internal parts of your transmission.
2. High Fluid Level On Dipstick
If you see too much transmission fluid on the dipstick, there could be a leak in your car or problems with the transmission that needs to be addressed.
To accurately check for an increase in fluid levels, it’s best to do so when the car is at operating temperature (idle).
Check the fluid level when the car is cold and again when it’s warm. If there is a large difference between these two readings, then there is most likely a leak in your car.
3. Part Pitting
If you see any pitting on the inside of your transmission, it’s time to have it serviced. Pitting is when the metal of your transmission is worn down by friction, and in severe cases, it can cause parts to slip.
This can happen to various components in your transmission, including the rollers and gears. Be sure you get a thorough examination done to inspect this part if you see any signs of damage.
4. Slipping Transmission
Slipping transmission is one of the most common signs of a problem with your vehicle, and it can cause much more damage than you may realize. If you notice that your car is slipping when you accelerate or shift gears, chances are good that something needs to be replaced in the transmission.
Slipping is especially bad because it causes heat to build up in the transmission and can lead to serious problems like overheating or burning out clutches.
To fix this problem, check for leaks and other issues with the motor oil or transmission fluid levels before proceeding further into repairs. If either leaky seals or low fluid levels are found, only then should work begin on repairing any mechanical damage caused by slippage.
5. Odd Noises
If you hear a noise coming from your transmission, it’s possible that there is too much fluid in the pan. You might also find that your car is leaking transmission fluid or making odd noises when you drive. If so, we recommend having an inspection done as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your vehicle.
6. Engine Overheating
When your transmission overheats, it can be caused by a number of factors. One of the most common reasons is too much transmission fluid, which can cause the internal components to overheat and burn out.
If you believe that this is the cause of your problem, you might need to change the transmission fluid and ensure it is normal as soon as possible.
7. Leaking Fluid
One of the most common problems with a leaking transmission is excessive pressure buildup. This can happen when too much fluid is added to the system, which causes a higher level of hydrostatic pressure within the unit. The seals within it only have so much ability to handle that kind of stress, and when they reach their breaking point, it can lead to some of them cracking or failing completely. This in turn will cause you to start seeing leaks from your transmission.
One way this could happen is if you add too much oil during an oil change. Your car will still run fine for a little while after this happens because there’ll still be air in its lines. These lines will expand as more fluid moves through them, but eventually, you’ll notice drips coming from underneath your vehicle because one or more seal has failed due to overpressurization from adding too much fluid at once.
How to Fix Problems Caused by Too Much Transmission Fluid
If you’re experiencing a transmission fluid leak, there are a few steps to take in order to resolve the issue. First, use a drain pan (and proper protective gear) so that you don’t spill any of the corrosive liquid on yourself.
Remove the drain plug by turning it counterclockwise with your wrench and allowing all of the excess fluid to drain into your pan. Then make sure that your vehicle is level while you reinstall this part before driving a few miles in an effort to check for leaks again.
Can Too Much Transmission Fluid Cause Damage?
The answer is yes, too much transmission fluid can cause damage. The more fluid in your transmission, the less space there is for the gears to move around. And since those gears are constantly spinning at high speeds, it means that any extra fluid will be forced out of its place and into other parts of your car’s engine. This can cause some serious issues with performance and ultimately leave you paying for expensive repairs.
So how much is too much?
There isn’t an exact number because each vehicle has different specifications on its transmission capacity, you can do proper research by checking your vehicle’s websites, taking it to a mechanic, or checking with a trusted source before filling up so they can let you know exactly how much more than half full your car needs to be at all times.
Read: Problems After Using Cataclean
Conclusion
Too much transmission fluid is an issue that can be easily avoided. There are different symptoms like part pitting, engine overheating, high fluid level on the dipstick, leaking fluid, odd noises, slipping transmission, and trouble shifting gears that will alert you to this problem as soon as possible.
Make sure that you are not overfilling the transmission with fluid when topping it off. You should only fill it to the level of the dipstick mark.
Overfilling could cause issues like this and make your car go from bad to worse. Hence, you should check your car’s transmission fluid as often as possible to avoid issues.
