Key Takeaways
The following are the key takeaways from this article:
- Transmission seals are placed between the housing and transmission pan to prevent transmission fluid leakage.
- The seals can be damaged due to overheating, bad gaskets, and improper installation.
- The common symptoms of bad transmission seals include low transmission fluid, burning fuel smell, and grinding sounds during a gear shift.
- The solution to bad transmission seals includes applying liquid transmission sealers or replacing the transmission seals.
- Liquid transmission sealers will only work in case of minor seal/gasket leaks.
- The cost of transmission seal replacement is around $150, which can vary depending on the car’s model, make, and variant.
Introduction
Like the engine, the transmission also has a pan that contains the transmission fluid. The pan works optimally with the help of seals and a gasket in between the transmission housing and the pan.
The seals prevent transmission fluid leakage and maintain an optimum operating pressure according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
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This helps the fluid run across different transmission components and return to the pan. However, seals can go bad due to certain issues impacting transmission performance (1). This article analyzes the causes and symptoms of bad transmission seals and common solutions to resolve the issue.
What is the Purpose of Transmission Pan?
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Transmission pan is located below the vehicle and is responsible for the automatic vehicles’ flow of transmission fluid. The transmission pan also has a magnet that collects the dirt and other contaminants before reflowing the fluid back to the transmission components.
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Further, the pan is also designed to prevent the leakage of the transmission fluid. This is accomplished by transmission gasket and rubber seals that are present between the transmission housing and pan to prevent leakage (1). Both the seal and gasket are essential for optimum transmission performance. Seals also ensure that the pan maintains the manufacturer-specified pressure in the pan for fluid flow around different components.
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In modern vehicles, the transmission pan also performs the function of a flow regulator that maintains an optimum pressure for fluid flow across the transmission.
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Similarly, a cooling mechanism maintains an optimum transmission fluid temperature to maintain lubrication. An average transmission pan can contain around 12 quarts of fluid. It’s worth noting that around half of the transmission fluid is inside the pan at a time. The other half of the transmission fluid is in the torque converter and other transmission components. That is why it is recommended to flush the transmission while replacing the transmission fluid, so the dirty fluid is replaced with new/fresh fluid.
Causes of Leaked Transmission Seals
Overheating
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The transmission system is an essential system in vehicles, and its main role is to move the vehicle through different gears and maintain the speed. Transmission seals are designed in the system to maintain the flow of the transmission fluid in the system.
The transmission seals are rubber and usually get damaged due to extreme temperature and pressure. The optimum temperature at which the transmission line works accurately is 150 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. When the temperature in the transmission system rises above 220 degrees Fahrenheit, the transmission fluid gets very hot and causes damage to the transmission system (1). Due to excessive heat and pressure, the seal becomes hard and brittle and ultimately breaks down.
Defected Gaskets
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Transmission seals behave as gaskets, and the main purpose of the gaskets is to seal the transmission pan with other components of the transmission system. These gasket gets cracked due to high temperature and dirt components.
As a result, transmission fluid starts leaking, and the overall performance of the transmission system becomes poor. Moreover, gaskets made up of low-quality material get cracked immediately and cause heavy damage (2). Besides, dirt particles are also a major cause of damaged transmission seals. The dirt and debris block the flow of the transmission fluid, and high pressure is exerted, resulting in ruptured seals.
Poor Installation
One of the major causes of the damaged transmission seals is the poor installation of the transmission system.
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The poor installation of the transmission pan causes damage to the seals. This is because the transmission pan is not properly fixed, and due to loose nuts, the vibrations in the system increase, resulting in cracked transmission seals.
The leakage in the transmission system can cause multiple issues, such as misfires in cylinders and a rotten egg smell. Moreover, the durability of the transmission seals depends upon the material used during the manufacturing (2). The low-quality transmission seals do not have strength, flexibility, and durability; ultimately, they shrink down. Also, due to the friction of other components, the transmission seals made of low-quality material get ruptured.
Symptoms of Damaged Transmission Seal
Low Transmission Fluid
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When the transmission seal gets ruptured, the overall performance of the transmission system in the vehicle gets poor. This happens because the damaged transmission seal causes the leakage of the transmission fluid.
The transmission fluid gets low in the system, so the transmission system fails to generate the required amount of hydraulic pressure. The transmission fluid has an important role in the transmission, and it lubricates all the metal parts and bearings, but the low amount of fluid impacts the lubrication process. As a result, the metal parts and bearings got damaged due to minimum transmission fluid. Also, due to the low fluid level in the system, it becomes difficult to adjust the gears automatically, and the vehicle may experience sudden accidents.
Burning Fuel Smell
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Due to the damaged transmission seal, the transmission fluid will start leaking and enter the combustion chamber and different engine cylinders.
Due to the poor transmission seals, certain unusual smells are expected to be observed. Also, the transmission fluid may fall on various parts and gets burned along with the fuel—this burning of fluid with fuel results in the release of black-colored smoke from the exhaust system (5). Moreover, the fuel quality becomes poor, and the spark ignition is delayed. The delayed spark ignition will result in poor acceleration of the vehicle. Besides, the oil smell is observed around the vehicle because the leakage of the transmission fluid creates a puddle under the vehicle. This symptom indicates that the transmission seals are ruptured and require immediate replacement.
Harsh Noises
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Another common symptom of damaged transmission seals is the harsh knocking sounds from the engine system. This happens because the transmission fluid level becomes low due to the seal leakage.
Due to the minimum pressure, the transmission fluid is not supplied to all the metal parts and the bearings (3). In a transmission system, there is constant friction between the metal parts; this fluid is responsible for maintaining the smooth friction process through constant lubrication. But, due to minimum lubrication, these metal parts and bearings rub with each, and a knocking sound is generated due to the wear and tear of the components. Thus, the harsh knocking sounds indicate the issue of the damaged transmission seal. Also, the engine check light on the dashboard is turned on to indicate the errors with the transmission system (5). This light is illuminated to avoid serious damage to the engine.
Solution of Bad Transmission Seals
Following are a few solutions for bad transmission seals:
Transmission Sealers
Transmission sealers can be a great solution for leaking transmission seals. Different transmission sealers available in the market can be applied to the transmission seals to stop the leakage.
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However, it is recommended that the drivers drive the car for around 100 miles to check the result of the sealer. Similarly, if you are losing the fluid quickly, then there is a chance that the transmission sealer will not work to stop the leakage (4). If the leakage does not stop after applying the sealer, it is recommended to change the transmission seals to avoid any major damage to the vehicle’s transmission.
Change the Seals
The most common solution for leaked seals is to change the seals. When you are hearing grinding noises at gear shift and losing the transmission fluid rapidly, it is recommended to change the seals at the earliest.
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In the case where the loss of transmission fluid is not that rapid, you can drive the car for a few hundred miles before changing the seals. In some cases, you might require to replace the gasket. Locating the transmission pan is not a major issue (3). It is generally located near the transmission section at the bottom of your vehicle. Or you can also see the vehicle’s instruction manual to locate the gasket. Before replacing the seals, check for visual damage to the transmission gasket (4). If there are some eminent damages to the gasket, it is better to replace it to avoid further transmission issues.
Cost to Resolve Transmission Seal Problems
The following table illustrates the cost required to resolve transmission seal problems:
| Common Transmission Seal Problems | Cost to Resolve the Problems |
|---|
| Bad Transmission Seals | $150 to replace bad transmission seals |
| Transmission Sealer | $60-100 to get transmission sealer liquid |
| Bad Transmission Gasket | $150-300 to replace the transmission gasket |
| Bad Transmission Pan | $1000-1500 to replace the transmission pan |
| Labor Cost | $100-300, depending upon the extent of the issue |
Conclusion
To conclude, transmission seals play an important role in the optimum function of the transmission. These seals are between the transmission housing and transmission pan to prevent fluid leakage and maintain an optimum fluid flow pressure. However, the seals can go bad due to overheating, defective gaskets, and improper installation. If the leaks are not fast, it is recommended to apply transmission sealers. These sealers have sticking property that helps resolve minor transmission seal issues. However, replacing the seals is recommended to avoid complex transmission issues if the liquid leaks rapidly. It is also recommended to check for leaks at the transmission pan and gasket problems before replacing the seals.
FAQs
You are not supposed to replace transmission seals after a particular mileage. You can go for overall vehicle service at 30,000 miles or 50,000 miles, as per recommended by the manufacturers. If the seals require to be replaced, the professional mechanic will replace their seals. If the seals go bad before this mileage, it is recommended to go for the liquid sealers. These sealers resolve minor seal problems. However, if the issue is complex and fluid is leaking rapidly. Replace the seals urgently to prevent other transmission issues is recommended.
Yes, transmission pan leakage will ultimately impact the transmission’s performance. Pan’s leakage will mean the fluid will be leaked, which can starve different transmission parts. So, check for any visual damage to the transmission pan and get it replaced to avoid transmission starvation. Transmission pans are generally expensive but important components that need to be replaced urgently.
These sealers are liquids that can be applied at bad transmission seals or gaskets. These sealers resolve minor leakage problems preventing the leakage of the fluid. However, when fluid leakage is high, these sealers might not work.
