In the wake of tropical storm Harvey and hurricane Irma, homes and businesses throughout the southern states were left without power. Many of these properties sustained irreparable damage due to heavy wind and rain. Even the early estimates are calculated to be in the millions and insurance companies are struggling to stay ahead. But it’s not just property damage that has resident’s concerned, other areas impacted by inclement weather include damage to vehicles. Even if your vehicle looks fine on the outside it’s what you can’t see that can lead to costly issues. Water in the transmission for example can cause a huge headache for the owner of the vehicle. If you open your hood and the transmission dip stick looks like it’s covered in a pink milky substance there is a very good chance that you have water in your transmission. Water in your transmission even a small amount can spell trouble and in many cases a complete rebuild is required.
How Does Water or Coolant Get into My Transmission Fluid?
There are many ways that water can get into your transmission such as from the radiator itself or from an external source. Generally speaking, all automatic transmissions are built with a cooling line that runs to the radiator with a separate fluid line that circulates the transmission fluid through a section of the radiator to cool down. If a leak occurs in the radiator between the coolant line and the transmission line, the coolant can seep into the radiator. Drive through a deep puddle for example and you will drench the units. Same goes for heavy rain that produces a flash flood which is particularly damaging when you drive through a low spot in the road. Your automatic transmission is designed with a vent to maintain the barometric pressure within your transmission. When you drive your vehicle through heavy rain or flood water and the water level is above the vent, the water will lower the internal temperature of the transmission unit which in turn draws water into the transmission. Some makes and models can inadvertently allow rainwater to leak into the fluid through the dipstick into the transmission.
Removing Water from Transmission Fluid
The knowledgeable experts at Gomez Transmissions recommend a full diagnostic to determine how the water got into your transmission and how to avoid it happening again in the future. Depending on the extent of the problem, your Gomez Transmissions specialist may recommend flushing your transmission with new transmission fluid; this process may require several applications of fluid. There is no quick fix and the outcome will depend on how long the vehicle was driven, and how much water was in the transmission to determine if you need a total replacement or a rebuild.
Transmission Service in Irving, Richardson, Garland, Mesquite, Duncanville, Farmers Branch, Balch Springs & Dallas, Texas
Water inside your automatic transmission can be catastrophic, and according to experts in the automobile industry there is nothing worse than finding water in your transmission fluid. When water in your transmission is left to its own devices, the friction plates in your transmission will come apart and your transmission will fail to shift into gear. Your transmission is an intricate piece of machinery that needs some attention to stay in tip-top condition especially when exposed to extreme weather conditions. For more information regarding transmission performance checks and diagnostics, repair and maintenance services contact the knowledgeable experts at Gomez Transmissions.
