What are the symptoms of not changing transmission fluid?
2 Answers
Transmission fluid not being changed can lead to the following symptoms: 1. Decreased power, where the car responds sluggishly during acceleration, with the engine revving up loudly but the car not speeding up accordingly; 2. Difficulty in starting, where the car covers less distance despite increased RPM when the throttle is pressed in low gears; 3. Overheating of the transmission, leading to damage to bearings and gears; 4. Jerky gear shifts, uneven shifting, and unusual noises from the transmission. The transmission is a mechanism designed to alter the speed and torque from the engine, capable of fixing or variably changing the transmission ratio between the output and input shafts. Also known as a gearbox, it consists of transmission gears and a control mechanism.
I've been driving for over twenty years and have seen too many consequences of not changing transmission fluid. The initial symptoms are just rough shifting, like noticeable jerking, and the car hesitates to move when accelerating. Then the noise comes, creaking and grinding, especially when going uphill or shifting gears. Over time, the fluid degrades and turns black, its lubricating ability declines, and the transmission overheating warning light may come on. In severe cases, it may just stop working entirely. When I was younger, I neglected it once, resulting in a failed gear shift on the highway—almost causing an accident—and ended up spending thousands to repair the transmission. Now, I always remind my friends to change the fluid every 50,000 kilometers or so—safe, cost-effective, and worry-free. Long-term neglect accelerates component wear and may even affect the clutch, and the repair costs for that can be sky-high.
