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Your transmission, an essential system to your vehicle's operation, relies on a complex additive in order to run smoothly: transmission fluid. Without this fluid, your transmission can overheat, make horrid noises, stall, or come to a grinding halt. Actually, your transmission fluid can tell you a lot about the state and condition of your transmission system. Changing it, flushing it, and cleaning its receptacles regularly are essential to the transmission working properly. But even if you do that, you can still find some unusual changes occurring with the transmission fluid in your vehicle. While mechanics can run transmission diagnostics in Lawrenceville to identify and correct issues with this vital system, checking your fluid often can give you important hints about problems with the system, ones that you may not even notice while you drive. There are 2 specific problems that can clue you to the health level of your transmission: discoloration and odor. New Fluid Straight out of the bottle, transmission fluid runs transparent and nearly odorless, besides a light and expected chemical odor. Transmission fluid used to have a cherry-like red hue, but this has fallen out of fashion of late. Today, it tends to run green, yellow, or even blue. You can give your fluid a look and a quick sniff on a regular basis. If your fluid has retained its original color, transparency, and faint smell, then it is still clean, healthy fluid that is adequate for protecting your transmission system. Aging Fluid As the fluid ages and taints, it will develop a light brown color. It may even have a lightly burnt odor. At this point, the vehicle may be due for service, even a routine tune-up. Check your car's mileage and service history to confirm this. Your fluid is beginning to burn at this point, a common sign of aging fluid. Burnt Fluid When transmission fluid turns completely brown—losing its original, bright hue completely—and has a strong, burnt odor, then your fluid needs to be changed right away. This may be a sign that your transmission is experiencing problems. It may even be wearing out. You should take your vehicle in to have the fluid replaced, receptacle flushed, filter replaced, and overall transmission system serviced. Severely Burnt Fluid If your transmission fluid is black, with particles or "chunks" in it, and an intensely awful, burnt odor, then the transmission system is in danger. There are probably serious operating issues, like the transmission grinding or slipping. Once your fluid has gotten to this point, then components of your transmission absolutely need to be serviced and maybe even replaced. Should you let your transmission fluid get to this point, the transmission may even need to be rebuilt. You are past the point where a simple fluid flush and change will be serviceable. There are many other signs of transmission issues with your vehicle. However, checking your fluid odor and color regularly can clue you in to the overall health of your system. If you suspect that there are any issues with your vehicle's transmission system or if your transmission fluid does not look normal, take your car in for transmission diagnostics in Lawrenceville to get to the bottom of it.
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