Water In The Transmission After Driving In The Snow? Flush It Out
Posted on: 12 January 2016
If your transmission's fluid appears pink, pale, or watery after you drive through deep snow, flush out the transmission now. Water can be a big problem for cars if it damages the transmission or engine. Both parts can shut down when you drive or can rust. Draining the fluid and changing it helps remove the water and flushes out the transmission. Here's what you do.
Get Your Transmission Supplies
Before you drain the transmission fluid, check your car's maintenance manual to see what type and amount of fluid you should purchase. Also, obtain an oil pan to catch the transmission fluid and socket wrench to remove the drain plug.
If you can, find a location to dispose of the fluid after you remove it to avoid contaminating the environment. Some recycling places take old fluids, so it's a good idea that you check online for recycling centers in your area. If you can't locate a place, take the fluid to an auto repair shop and ask them to dispose of it for you.
Drain the Transmission
Follow the tips below to drain the fluid:
- Park your car on a concrete to keep it steady and level.
- Turn off the engine, then give the it 30–45 minutes to cool down.
- Raise the front of the car on jacks to access the transmission's drain plug on the fluid pan.
- Locate the drain plug, which is generally labeled or stamped with the words "drain plug" on it. If you can't locate the right plug, consult your car's maintenance manual for help.
- Place the oil pan beneath the plug, then remove it with your wrench. Liquid should pour out of the fluid pan very quickly, so keep your face away from the location until the fluid slows down or drips out.
- Examine the fluid pan for rust. If the pan is rusted from the snow, schedule an appointment with a transmission specialist as soon as you can. A rusty transmission pan can break open and leak fluid.
- Replace the drain plug, then lower the car.
- Place a cone in the transmission fluid reservoir and refill it. Periodically check the level of the fluid with the dipstick to make sure that you don't overfill it.
- Close up the reservoir, close the hood and crank up the engine. Let the car run for 10 minutes to circulate the clean fluid through the transmission and other parts of the car.
After the 10 minutes are up, leave the car running and check the color of the transmission fluid. If the fluid's color looks red or dark red, you successfully solved your problem.
If the fluid still shows signs of water or discolored, contact an auto transmission repair center right away. The transmission may have other issues to address.
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