How to Check Transmission Fluid When Hot or Cold (5 Easy Steps)

check transmission fluid hot or cold

The same way an engine relies on motor oil, an automatic transmission needs to be lubricated with transmission fluid. It has several moving components which rub together just like the engine does. Automatic transmission components can only work smoothly if they’re consistently lubricated while the vehicle is running. Any type of fluid leak would cause … Read more

7 Symptoms of a Bad Flywheel (And Replacement Cost)

bad flywheel symptoms

Every car with a manual transmission has a mechanical device called a flywheel. Flywheels are heavy, balanced metal disks that store rotational energy. Since heavy spinning objects have high inertia (that is, resistance to change in velocity), flywheels keep your engine running smoothly even when torque delivery is inconsistent or changes quickly, such as when … Read more

5 Symptoms of Burnt Transmission Fluid

burnt transmission fluid

A transmission fluid is a special type of lubricant that is formulated to keep the moving components of a vehicle’s transmission running smoothly. There are different types of transmission fluids available, especially for automatic transmissions and manual transmissions. An automatic transmission needs fluid that not only lubricates its components, but also keeps them cool and … Read more

5 Symptoms of a Bad Transmission Valve Body (And Replacement Cost)

transmission-valve-body-symptoms

A transmission valve body is a complex labyrinth of valves and solenoids that routes transmission fluid through circuits in the transmission. If the transmission control module (TCM) is the brain of the transmission, valve body would be the heart. If something were to go wrong with the transmission valve body, certain features of the automatic … Read more

5 Benefits of a Limited Slip Differential (How it Works and Its Cons)

limited slip differential pros and cons

There are three types of differentials that a vehicle could have; open differentials, locking differentials, and limited slip differentials (LSD). The function of any differential is to transmit engine power to the wheels. This is how wheels can rotate at various speeds. While an open differential would still power any wheels that are losing traction, … Read more

10 Symptoms of Low Transmission Fluid (Manual and Automatic)

low transmission fluid symptoms

The transmission is basically what allows the driver to control the power of the engine in a vehicle. It is what allows the driver to change gears and determine the direction and motion of the vehicle. Whether you have a manual transmission or automatic transmission, there needs to be transmission fluid that lubricates its internal … Read more