What are the symptoms of not changing transmission fluid?
3 Answers
The symptoms of not changing transmission fluid are: 1. Decreased power - the vehicle responds sluggishly during acceleration with loud engine RPM sounds but no actual speed increase; 2. Difficult starting - at low gears, the vehicle travels shorter distances despite increased RPM when pressing the accelerator; 3. Transmission overheating damage - leading to bearing and gear damage; 4. Gearshift hesitation - rough shifting with abnormal transmission noises. The transmission consists of gear transmission mechanisms and control mechanisms, whose function is to alter the speed and torque from the engine, enabling fixed or stepped changes in the transmission ratio between output and input shafts.
I had a car that I drove for many years and always neglected to change the transmission fluid, which later led to problems. The most obvious symptoms were difficulty in shifting gears. In the automatic transmission, there was strong jerking during acceleration, as if it was stuck, and the manual transmission became even more troublesome. The noise also increased significantly, especially when climbing hills or driving at high speeds, producing annoying buzzing or grinding sounds. Over time, fuel consumption skyrocketed, using 20-30% more than normal, making my wallet bleed. If left untreated, the transmission overheating light might come on, and as wear worsened, overall performance declined. Eventually, when I took it for repairs, I found that internal parts were damaged, and the cost of replacement was high. In fact, aged transmission fluid loses its lubricating properties, and accumulated impurities can clog the oil passages, causing a chain reaction of issues. Now, I follow the manual for regular maintenance to avoid major losses from minor neglect.
I drive to work every day and have been procrastinating on changing the transmission fluid, and now symptoms are gradually appearing. When starting or driving at low speeds, the car suddenly jerks and vibrates, as if it's stuck, making passengers feel uncomfortable. The noise issue is also quite annoying, with strange sounds coming from the engine compartment, sounding like gears grinding. Long-term neglect of fluid changes has led to noticeably higher fuel consumption, costing a few cents more per kilometer. The most frustrating issue is the delayed gear shifting—the automatic transmission responds sluggishly, and manual shifting becomes difficult. All these problems stem from degraded fluid, which can no longer effectively cool and lubricate, accumulating dust and clogging the oil pump. Ultimately, the transmission failure rate increases, leading to costly repairs. I recommend developing a maintenance routine and not waiting for problems to arise before taking action.
