An automatic transmission is one of the most crucial parts for the car’s normal function. The component transmits power from the engine to the wheels to make the vehicle run efficiently, hence its name.
Like many other parts of a vehicle, the tranny comprises many different moving components that require lubrication.
In this case, tranny fluid acts as the lubricant to help these components move freely and smoothly without damaging each other. They also help cool down when these parts heat up during operation.
After about 50,000 to 100,000 miles, debris will accumulate in the lubricant and harm its performance. To keep the car free of issues, you will have to change it frequently.
However, some common problems are a transmission slipping after fluid change, or automatic transmission won’t go into gear after fluid change.
How To Know If The Transmission Is Slipping?
So how in the world can changing transmission fluid be bad? Typically, after changing the tranny fluid, you should have no problems switching gears or maintaining the car’s speed. There are usually no abnormal sounds or hiccups happening.
However, if you notice that your vehicle starts to switch gears without intention, accompanied by a noise or pitch change, then you should be worried.
It can be dangerous and unreliable, leading to unstable speed control and sudden hiccups you want to avoid along the road.
Sometimes, the car can also have problems changing the gears, which usually comes with a heavy thud or clunk sound from the tranny.
The gears won’t work properly either, as the tranny doesn’t function as expected to accelerate or maintain speed at a particular gear.
Another noticeable sign is a delay in the car’s acceleration from a stop. If you find that your vehicle takes a while to start moving after changing the gear from stop to drive, but the engine is working as usual, then the tranny is to blame.
Other signs include loud engine revs with the car having trouble accelerating, grinding or rubbing sounds when driving, and cars feeling sluggish or humming noise after transmission fluid change.
So why does changing transmission fluid cause problems?
What Causes A Transmission Slipping After Fluid Change?
Varnish Deposits
A common problem resides in the old fluid. Old or burnt lubricant becomes discolored and creates varnish deposits floating around.
So, how can changing transmission fluid cause problems? The answer is the leftover deposits won’t go away but stay in the system as the residue and stick to the internal filters, which block the liquid from flowing smoothly.
To prevent this, remember to flush the tranny to remove the residue each time you change your clean fluids.
Wrong Type of Transmission Fluid
Another mistake people usually make is having the wrong tranny fluid due to not paying attention to its type. Not all fluids are the same, and certain types of them will cause more residue due to their nature, which leads to the above reason.
As a rule of thumb, traditional types with petroleum bases will leave more varnish deposits when they become old.
After being changed without flushing, those deposits will cause more friction and heat in the system, making noises and reducing efficiency.
More modern and synthetic types are more efficient in this regard. You can find them under the name of trans fluid or trans medic.
So can changing transmission fluid fix problems? The answer is yes, as long as you do not forget to have a flushing transmission after putting in wrong fluid.
If you are careful enough, have a mechanic do it for you to prevent any problems after transmission flush.
Other Components Problems
Lubricant-related problems also lead to slipping tranny. When the car’s fluid level is low, worn-out, or burnt, the system won’t function as expected.
However, sometimes the problem is less detectable. Transmission problems after fluid change may come from tranny solenoid, an electro-magnetic part that is responsible for the flowing of the fluid in the system.
When you shift gear, the car’s control modules will dictate the solenoid to pump a certain amount of flow to the valve bodies to activate the right gear.
When any of these parts are broken or malfunctioned, this flow will be hampered, and thus the system will not receive enough lubricant to operate freely.
As these parts are more delicate and harder to diagnose, you may need help from professional service centers. Fortunately, replacing a broken solenoid, for example, can efficiently resolve the problem.
Also, if the problems persist before you have a correct fluid change, it might be a good indicator that the lubricant is not to blame, but other components such as the solenoid or a worn-out clutch packs and band.
Is It Safe To Drive With A Slipping Transmission?
It is definitely not recommended to drive with a slipping tranny. If the lubricant is drained or burnt, it can cause more friction and heat between the moving components and severe wear and tear.
You might even encounter your car getting overheated and not moving.
Eventually, you will have to replace more delicate and expensive parts from a transmission shop instead of spending a few hundred dollars for some quarts of quality lubricant.
Not to mention driving with such a problem is extremely dangerous. You will have problems starting the car, accelerating, or changing gears, as we discussed above.
All those issues will cause inconvenience in your vehicle’s operation and may also pose other threats such as losing speed control or an accident.
As such, if you notice any signs of slipping transmission, you should bring your car to a professional to have a check as soon as possible.
How To Fix A Slipping Transmission?
As we discussed the possible causes of a slipping issue, most problems can be resolved by changing the lubricant the right way, i.e., having a transmission flush after you discharge the old fluid.
It will remove any residual debris and help the components move without friction.
Other causes revolve around clutch plates, solenoids, or electric parts. All these problems are not complex for a mechanic to diagnose.
To prevent any potential damages, you should bring your car to a fresh fluid change after every 50,000 to 100,000 miles of coverage.
After that, have an overall check of your vehicle as it should be among the list of what to do after transmission fluid change.
To Wrap Things Up
Transmission slipping after fluid change is not a rare problem. However, we hope that with everything we covered in the article, you will have some helpful information to figure out what to search for if you encounter it.
Remember to always keep an eye on your vehicle’s fluid level, and most of the time, it will take care of itself.