Symptoms of Water Ingress in a Car Transmission?
2 Answers
There are several scenarios of water ingress in a car transmission: 1. Minor water ingress: Some screws inside the transmission may rust. 2. Moderate water ingress: White deposits appear in the oil pan. When oil mixes with water, it forms a white emulsion that adheres to the oil pan. The presence of such deposits indicates moderate water ingress in the transmission. 3. Severe water ingress: This can be determined by the color and viscosity of the transmission oil. Water ingress in an automatic transmission can corrode the steel screws inside, necessitating prompt inspection and repair of the transmission. Additional information: 1. If the friction plates absorb water after transmission water ingress, they cannot be repaired and must be replaced along with other sealing components. This increases the cost of repairing the automatic transmission. 2. If water ingress is detected in the transmission, the sooner it is repaired, the lower the cost will be. Delaying repairs can lead to a series of issues, such as automatic transmission oil leaks, abnormal noises, and jerking movements.
About the transmission getting water inside, I once went camping with my SUV and accidentally drove through a deep puddle without paying attention. Later, I noticed something was off while driving. The gear shifts weren’t smooth, acceleration felt weak when stepping on the gas, and sometimes there was a clunking noise, like gears grinding against something. When climbing hills, the transmission would suddenly drop gears—engine RPM would rise, but power wouldn’t follow. After parking, I also smelled a weird rusty or moldy odor. When I checked the transmission fluid, it looked cloudy and emulsified, unlike the normal clear red oil. After driving for a while, the engine warning light came on, and fuel consumption noticeably increased. I towed it to the repair shop, and they said water had mixed in, corroding internal parts—requiring an oil change and seal replacements. So, my advice is to check the transmission as soon as possible after driving through water to prevent bigger issues. Otherwise, repairs can be expensive and compromise driving safety.
