My car is leaking brown fluid. I’m guessing it’s transmission fluid.
So recently I noticed a small dot where I park my car, so I decided to put a white piece of paper under my car and it came out brown but didn't smell like oil. The spot only came from on spot and it was in the center near the engine, close to the transmission pan, so my guess it's the gaskets have gone bad or what can it be?
My car has 64000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there. Typically, ATF or automatic transmission fluid is a dark red color, while engine oil tends to start light brown and gets darker as it ages. If the leak is coming from the center of the motor, it could be coming from the transmission seal or perhaps an oil filter gasket or oil line or fitting that is damaged. The best way to know for certain where the leak is coming from is to have a professional mobile mechanic from our team come to your location and complete an oil / fluid leak inspection. This will allow them to isolate the source of the leak and recommend the right repairs.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Dark brown fluid is a cause for concern. Dark brown fluid could be your brake fluid, differential oil, or motor oil. It could also be very old and dirty transmission fluid. If you have dark brown fluid leaking from your car, have the leak fixed and the fluid changed right away.
Transmission fluid leaks will usually be reddish brown in color with a thin viscosity (new fluid) or brown with a thicker viscosity (old fluid). These leaks will typically be found near your car`s middle section.
In many cases, leaking transmission fluid is simply a worn transmission pan gasket. This is the seal between the transmission pan (which is the reservoir for the transmission fluid) and the main transmission housing. The gasket will wear out over time and can start to leak.
Brown and dark brown hues indicate that the transmission fluid is no longer viscous and it is oxidizing. Oxidizing means the fluid is filling with air bubbles and is unable to do its job. Change your transmission fluid right away when it`s this color.
Transmission fluid that is brown in color indicates that oxidation has begun to occur. This, in turn, means that your vehicle`s transmission fluid is lacking key additives that maintain viscosity and prevent wear.
Light Yellow If you see yellow fluid leaking from your vehicle, do not drive it. The fluid dripping from your car is probably brake fluid. When fresh, brake fluid is light yellow in color but gets darker as it ages. If not maintained, it can even look like a dark brown.
Many vehicle fluids have been dyed for easy identification, and transmission fluid is no exception. Newer transmission fluid is a translucent dark red color, but over time, it will become even darker through use.
LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID: WHY IT`S CAUSE FOR CONCERN
Left alone, the little leak will become a bigger one. Eventually, your transmission —which makes sure power gets from the engine to the wheels — won`t be able to perform as it should, and you may experience: Delayed engagement when placed in gear.
While you can always check for a leak, transmission fluid has a unique odor that you can also identify it by. This fluid has a slightly sweet or tart odor and often attracts animals. If you start to notice a burning odor, this is the time to schedule (quickly) your next fluid change.
Light brown to black:
Engine oil If you see a spot that is amber to dark brown or black in color, it`s likely motor oil, says Cars.com. Oil that is older will likely look dark brown or black, says Angie`s List — adding that you`ll typically notice oil leaks directly under where the engine was.
Dark-brown or black oily fluid means the engine is leaking oil. The leak could be caused by a bad seal or gasket. A red oily spot indicates a leak of transmission or power-steering fluid. A puddle of clear water is usually no problem.
Dark fluid is hypothesized to be a specific kind of fluid whose attractive and repulsive behaviors depend on the local energy density. In this theory, the dark fluid behaves like dark matter in the regions of space where the baryon density is high.
Dark fluid is hypothesized to be a specific kind of fluid whose attractive and repulsive behaviors depend on the local energy density. In this theory, the dark fluid behaves like dark matter in the regions of space where the baryon density is high.
When your vehicle leaks brake fluid, it typically leaves a trail that can range from a light, yellowish hue to a dark brown that resembles motor oil. If you suspect your vehicle is leaking, check on the ground under the vehicle, around the master cylinder, on the brake lines, on the rotors and on the drums.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
My car is leaking brown fluid. I’m guessing it’s transmission fluid.
ANSWER : Hi there. Typically, ATF or automatic transmission fluid is a dark red color, while engine oil tends to start light brown and gets darker as it ages. If the leak is coming from the center of the motor, it could be coming from the transmission seal or perhaps an oil filter gasket or oil line or fitting that is damaged. The best way to know for certain where the leak is coming from is to have a professional mobile mechanic from our team come to your location and complete an oil / fluid leak inspection. This will allow them to isolate the source of the leak and recommend the right repairs.
My car is leaking transmission fluid – I can’t diagnose the leak
ANSWER : Based on the NHTSA database covering consumer complaints, as well as government mandated recalls and factory service bulletins, for your specific year, make and model, I do not see evidence of widespread complaints about transmission fluid leaks. Such leaks are, in fact, common in transmissions made by any car company, particularly if the transmission is older than say 10 years. There is a manual shaft seal, oil pan gasket, output shaft seals, case seals, torque converter seal (inaccessible) and so forth all of which are potential leak points on your transmission.
If you want to identify and resolve these leaks, certainly a certified Mechanic from YourMechanic could come out and perform a transmission leak inspection and let you know where the leak points are and what it will cost to resolve them.
There is automatic transmission fluid in a manual transmission. Is it okay to leave or do I need manual transmission fluid?
ANSWER : This would depend on what the manufacturer recommends. Many manual transmissions do take automatic transmission fluid. If your transmission has ATF in it, it is very likely that it is supposed to have that in there. If not, it is likely that the transmission would not function properly with the wrong fluid. Many manual transmissions will also take engine oil as a lubricant. The best way to know for sure is to check your owner’s manual or call your local General Motors dealership to inquire.
Why is my transmission fluid leaking?
ANSWER : Generally, there are only a few places for leaking transmission fluid to go to since it does not burn off inside the transmission, unlike motor oil inside an engine. You have already ruled out the possibility of an external leak somewhere because of the lack of any visible signs of leaking.
A ruptured modulator can allow the fluid to be sucked into the engine (this is uncommon), or the fluid may have leaked into the transmission cooler. Another possibility may be a leak that is only active when the vehicle is in use or during times where hydraulic pressure is present in the transmission, such as while driving.
Try looking underneath the car and clean the surface areas under the transmission with a brake cleaner to get rid of any grease or oil spots. After cleaning, take the car for a drive. When you return, look underneath the car to see if you can spot any visible signs of fresh fluid leaking from under the transmission.
It is recommended that you get a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to come to your location and determine the cause of the transmission leak.
Can I use alternative Transmission fluid to the quotes recommended fluid if i’m bringing my own parts?
ANSWER : I would recommend buying the correct fluid. The reason is because I want to make sure your car is taken care of and is running as long as possible. You wouldn’t want to put something foreign in your car that it may not accept unless you’re willing to accept risks. Different fluids have different chemicals in it. It may cost more right now, but you won’t have to spend money buying a new transmission or having one rebuilt.
New cars don’t have transmission fluid dipsticks Transmission fluid changing
ANSWER : That’s a very good question. The reason they have gone with no dipsticks is because they don’t want people messing with transmissions other there at the dealership. Some cars went through that a couple of decades ago. They make it a very involved, convoluted process all through, in order to change the fluid on these modern cars. They have special adapters you have to put. Some of them have to have scan computers in order to read the data and what’s in there, and then be able to change it. A lot of these companies claim that this new fluid is the "lifetime" fluid.
Most new use synthetic fluid can last a long time but any fluid is going to get dirty and wear out over time. I would change it at least every 80,000 – 100,000 miles but if you’ve got one that is really hard to change, you are better off hiring a mechanic to do it.
On some of the cars, it would be too hard for the do-it-yourself because of all that equipment you need. The professional mechanics already have that. Just call any good mechanic, like one from YourMechanic, and they will be able to perform a transmission fluid service for you.
Transmission fluid leaked while pulling a car out of mud
ANSWER : From the description you’re giving me, I’m not sure. I know many Fords, including my F150, have a circular seal type bell housing inspection cover near the transmission. Fluid pooled in this area generally indicates an engine oil leak from the rear main seal or a transmission leak from the front pump seal. The only way to know for sure is to have your truck’s transmission leak inspected firsthand by a professional. The team at YourMechanic is an excellent option since we make house calls.
I pressed my gas and my car didnt accelerate. There is transmission fluid in my car and my car cranks great and runs great…
ANSWER : This kind of reaction is often a sign of low transmission fluid or a faulty transmission control solenoid. As you know, automatic transmissions use pressurized hydraulic fluid to change gears. Every time a gear change is required, the car’s computer activates a transmission solenoid, which directs transmission fluid into the valve body to engage the correct gear. When this is faulty or not working properly, this can cause a delay in gear shifting or in some cases cause the car to not shift at all. This type of problem is amplified any time the transmission is low on fluid creating a drop in hydraulic pressure. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
