Signs of Low Transmission Fluid
Your BMW is complicated, there’s no two ways about it. You open up the hood of your car or SUV, and there’s tubes and wires and big boxes and small boxes, and you’re not sure what a lot of it does. That’s perfectly fine—the service center at BMW of Atlantic City does!
Something you may be aware of, but not necessarily understand, is what your transmission is—and why it needs transmission fluid. Don’t worry, dear friends of the Atlantic City, Egg Harbor, and Vineland, NJ, areas, we’re here to help explain what transmission fluid is and why you need to keep up with how much you have.
What Does Transmission Fluid Do?
To answer the question of what transmission fluid does, we must first explain what your transmission does.
Your engine generates raw power, which is great for going, but not so great for stopping. This raw power needs to be controlled and changed to usable power before it gets to the wheels. That’s what your transmission does: by shifting gears, it makes sure only an adequate amount of power is given to the wheels so that you can go and stop easily.
Transmission fluid acts much the same way as engine oil does. It keeps all the components of the transmission lubricated, which keeps it from building up excess heat. If your transmission builds up too much heat, you could be looking at a pricey transmission replacement.
What Are Signs of Low Transmission Fluid?
Now that you know why your transmission fluid level is important, it’s time to learn what to look out for when it gets low. The easiest sign is the one that your car will give you itself in the form of a light on your dashboard. There is no specific transmission light, but if your CHECK ENGINE light comes on, you should come and visit our service center.
Other signs can include things like experiencing a problem shifting gears. This makes sense, because your transmission controls your gear shifting, and when the lubricating fluid is low, the gears can get stuck in position. The reason your fluid could be low is a leak, so make sure that if you see a puddle of reddish fluid, you bring your BMW to our service center as soon as you can.
What Should I Do If I Notice Signs of Low Transmission Fluid?
If you’ve noticed that your BMW is making a strange noise when shifting gears, it’s time to visit your local service center. What we’ll do when you bring your BMW in is first check your transmission fluid levels. If the level is too low, we’ll top up the fluid.
We may also recommend a transmission flush, which is where our team will run some transmission fluid mixed with cleaner to clear out any blockages or buildups of debris. This could take up to three hours to make sure every nook and cranny of your transmission is clean, so take advantage of our service center’s amenities.
Visit Our Service Center If Your Notice Signs of Low Transmission
Whether you’re coming up on your next scheduled maintenance stop, or you’ve just noticed the signs of low transmission fluid, it’s time to visit the service center at BMW of Atlantic City. We’re here to help our friends in the Atlantic City, Egg Harbor, and Vineland, New Jersey, areas. Contact us today for an appointment!
