If you notice red fluid leaking from the front of your car, you might have a damaged transmission oil pan. Find out how to diagnose and fix a damaged transmission or engine oil pan in this article and video.
What Is the Red Fluid Leaking from the Front of My Car?
If you notice red fluid leaking from the front of your car with no additional smell like gas or a sweet smell, generally you don’t have a fuel or coolant leak. For many vehicles, red fluid leaking into a puddle on the ground indicates there’s a transmission oil leak. A sweet smell would indicate there’s a coolant leak, and a gas smell would indicate a problem with the fuel system.
More on how to identify different types of leaks
Can I Drive My Car If It’s Leaking Red Fluid from the Front?
If your car is leaking transmission fluid, you don’t want to drive it. If the transmission is low on fluid, you can have drivability issues, like a transmission shudder, and your car may not move at all.
How to Check Your Car for a Transmission Oil Leak
Steps to check your car for a transmission oil leak
- Check the Top of the Engine
Inspect the top of the engine for signs of a major leak. Signs of fluid seeping is not something to be concerned about.
- Check the Area of the Transmission
Inspect around the transmission for signs of a major leak or anything that could be making the red puddle. Check the transmission casing for damage.
- Lift and Secure the Vehicle and Check the Transmission Pan
Lift the front of the vehicle with a jack and jack stands or another method like car ramps to look at the transmission oil pan. Look at the transmission casing and the transmission oil filter for signs of a major leak.
Check the transmission oil pan for signs of a major leak. In this example, the transmission oil pan split open from a pothole in the road, but it could also leak for other reasons, such as rot. Even if there is a small crack from rot, this can expand and damage further over time, so we recommend replacing the transmission oil pan, gasket, and oil filter.
The check the rest of the surrounding area, like the engine oil pan, to make sure you don’t have other parts to fix at the same time. - Keep Checking the Transmission Fluid Level
Keep a consistent eye on the transmission fluid level if you suspect you have a leak. An obvious sign of a transmission oil leak is a level that keeps dropping.
What Can Damage a Transmission Pan or Engine Oil Pan?
Transmission oil pans and engine oil pans can suffer from the same symptoms when damaged. If you find damage or rot, we recommend replacing the pan.
1. Road Debris and Bad Roads
Road debris or driving on bad roads, like ones with too many potholes, can damage the oil pan and leak red fluid from the front of your car.
2. Rotting
Parking on sand or grass for long periods of time can rot the engine oil and transmission oil pan over time. You may see a little oil seeping out from a rot hole. Small seepage might not seem like a problem but it can worsen and eventually create a large leak if left unattended.
Signs of a Transmission Oil Leak
Shiftability Issues
If fluid is leaking, you’ll notice a difference and issue when your transmission shifts. You might put the car in “Drive,” step on the gas and rev it up, and notice the car doesn’t move.
Signs of an Engine Oil Leak
Ticking Noise from the Engine
If there’s a problem with the engine oil pan leaking, you might hear a rapping noise when you start your car. This means oil is low, and the oil pump can’t push the oil up to lubricate the parts that need it. If left unattended, this could cause further damage to the engine.
How to Remove and Install a Transmission Oil Pan
Here are some general steps for removing or installing a transmission oil pan. Find repairs for specific models with this problem and more with our how-to videos.
The new transmission oil pan featured here from 1A Auto also comes with a drain plug to make changing fluid easier.
- Raise and secure the vehicle with a jack and jack stands
- Loosen and open the drain plug if the pan has one to drain the oil
- Re-tighten the drain plug
- Remove the bolts from the transmission oil pan
- Tap the pan to loosen it if needed
- Remove the pan, filter and gasket
- Clean the gasket mounting area
- Place the gasket on to the new pan
- Reinstall the pan with some bolts fed through the pan
- Tighten all the bolts to the oil pan
- Torque the pan to the manufacturer’s specifications in a crossing pattern
- Refill the vehicle with the correct transmission fluid
- Start the engine
- Shift the transmission the circulate the fluid
- Check the fluid level and add more as needed
- Test drive the vehicle and add more fluid as needed
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Related Posts
- What Causes Transmission Shudder? How to Diagnose Problems with the Transmission
- Is Your Transmission Slipping, Jerking, or Low on Fluid?
- How to Check for Bad Transmission Fluid
- Car Stuck in Park? How to Move the Transmission Shifter
- Signs of transmission failure and ways to prevent it
