Water in the Transmission: Something Serious?

Water’s a necessity for life.  But to your automatic transmission, it can be a death sentence. 

Is Water in the Transmission Really That Bad?

In a word, yes.  Moisture that gets into your transmission can do real damage.  And there’s two ways it can hurt: Any water that gets into your transmission is essentially contamination. 

Debris contained in the water—so tiny you couldn’t even see it—can collect and clog, damaging your friction plates so that automatic shifting becomes difficult or eventually impossible. 

Second, water causes metal components in your transmission to rust over time, and when it reaches that point, you have a big problem. 

How Water Gets In

Under normal conditions, your transmission is practically water-proof.  But things happen.

Leaks due to physical damage are one common culprit.  Water may seep in from a worn radiator cooling line, a damaged seal or gasket, or—even worse—a cracked radiator or damaged transmission housing. 

It can even get in through the dipstick, especially if the car has been driven through deep water, which is a big “no-no” if you want to protect your vehicle. 

On the other hand, some of these things can occur normally over the lifetime of a transmission:  parts just wear out.  But regardless of the reason, you need to get help ASAP. 

What Are the Signs and What Can I Do?

The most obvious symptom of water-infected transmission is poor shifting.  If your vehicle is slow to change gears, if the shifting is rough, or if it’s stuck in a gear, you may have a water problem.  You may also hear some grinding or straining noises that’ll give you a clue.

 A pinkish foam coming from your dipstick shaft is a sure sign of contamination, too.  If you’ve driven through any deep water recently, you can probably put two and two together.  

If the damage is slight, a flush and fluid change may be all that’s needed.  If it’s worse, a transmission re-build or replacement may be necessary, which is no small matter. 

You’ll need a good mechanic, or if you can do the work yourself, the best possible tools and equipment. 

Go To The Source!

When you need something for your automatic transmissions, Sun Transmissions has it.  We also carry top-of-the-line parts and accessories for your power steering system as well.   

From gaskets to transmission overhaul kits and complete re-build kits, we’ll be happy to ship to you anywhere in the U.S.   Give us a shout-out today and let us know how we can help!