What Are The Symptoms Of Low Transmission Fluid?

May 27, 2020 | By Mister Transmission

What Are The Symptoms Of Low Transmission Fluid?

Keeping a sufficient level of transmission fluid is crucial. If you drive with insufficient transmission fluid, you run the risk of compromising road safety, destroying critical system components, and having to pay exorbitant repair and part replacement costs.

Fortunately, transmission fluid is relatively cheap, and keeping yours at the optimal level is easy, especially if you know how to spot the signs of fluid shortages.

Read on to learn some transmission fluid fundamentals, and find how to spot the signs of low transmission fluid before it costs you an arm-and-a-leg and contact a Mister Transmission technician to book a free inspection and same-day quote at a shop near you.

Transmission fluid fundamentals: 6 reasons to stay on the level

Automatic transmission fluid is the life blood of the automatic transmission. It is also used in continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) and occasionally in manual transmissions, though the latter more commonly uses transmission oil. In all cases, transmission fluids play a similar role, keeping your system running as intended and increasing the service life of critical components by:

  • Lubricating your vehicle’s mechanical parts
  • Maintaining fluid pressure
  • Cooling your transmission system
  • Preventing aeration
  • Conditioning the gasket
  • Preventing rust formation

Given this wide range of benefits, it should come as no surprise that low levels of transmission fluid can cause all sorts of problems. And the more you know about these problems and their warning signs, the greater your odds of preventing minor issues from snowballing into major expenses and safety concerns.

Read on to learn more, or contact your local Mister Transmission to speak directly with a certified transmission specialist near you.

Save on transmission service: 7 signs of low transmission fluid

Insufficient transmission fluid can cause or contribute to a whole host of problems, some of which can be detected without any special training or equipment. To save on transmission service, watch out for the following low-fluid warning signs:

  • Slow Gear Engagement
    With a low level of transmission fluid comes low levels of pressure. This can mean that your transmission is slow to engage when you shift gears. If you find that your transmission takes a second to engage into drive or reverse, it’s time to check your transmission fluid level.
  • Problems Shifting Gears
    Slow gear engagement isn’t the only problem you might encounter when you try to gear up or down. If you feel any resistance, grinding, or friction when you try to shift, something’s awry, and there’s a good chance that low transmission fluid is to blame.
  • Transmission Overheating
    As the old saying goes, where there’s smoke, there’s fire! While your transmission system may not burst into flames, low fluid can create excess friction and heat that causes varnish to form on metal parts, seals to harden, and clutches/transmission bands to slip.
  • Warning Light Turns On
    If your “Check Engine” light turns on, there’s a chance that your transmission system is acting up. Of course, there could be many other causes, so we recommend looking for symptom clusters (i.e. two or more symptoms of insufficient transmission fluid) to confirm, or booking a free road test and multicheckto pinpoint the problem.
  • Slipping Gears
    Sometimes, instead of making it too hard to shift gears, low transmission fluid causes the opposite problem, making it so shift-sensitive that it slips out of gear on its own, without any input from the driver. As you might have guessed, this is a serious problem, one that can jeopardize road safety for you and nearby drivers. This usually occurs shortly after you have switched gears and it usually slips into neutral, but not always. Again, low transmission fluid can cause this because of low hydraulic pressure.
  • Funny Noises
    Your transmission will often tell you if something is wrong, as long as you know how to listen. Fortunately, even a transmission tyro will have no problem determining when something’s awry—it just sounds wrong, even to an inexperienced ear. Manual transmissions tend to clunk and grind, whereas automatic transmissions whine, whir, and hum. If you hear any of these odd noises while you’re behind the wheel, you could have a faulty transmission on your hands, and low transmission fluid may be at the root of the problem. But you’ll need to contact a transmission professional to know for sure.
  • Transmission Fluid Where It’s Not Supposed to Be
    Another way you can tell if you have low transmission fluid is if the fluid is not where it’s supposed to be, e.g., on your driveway. If you see patches of reddish liquid leaking out of your vehicle and pooling under your car, you could be low on transmission fluid, and additional repairs may be needed.

Where to fill up on transmission fluid near me: Call Mister Transmission

With Mister Transmission on your team, maintaining the correct transmission fluid levels is easy.

For your convenience, we offer:

To book a free transmission road test and multicheck, and get a same-day quote on any service, you can:

image-reviews image-reviews
Customer Reviews
They assisted me with a...
Omid Bashiri
They assisted me with a test drive without any appointment to figure out the problem of my transmission. No other place could identify but this location. Great place to service your vehicle that you can trust
Date: June 29, 2025
Website: Google
Had my truck in for...
Isaac Fitz
Had my truck in for a transmission fluid, filter, diffs fluid and t case and had it back same day running smooth. Even showed up late accidentally and they were still able to complete everything
Date: June 28, 2025
Website: Google
The car runs smoothly now....
Judy Poellet
The car runs smoothly now. Office guy ( I think name Sheraz) put up with me the last 4 days as I anxiously waited for finishing. Dave Schaffel was so meticulous.
Date: June 28, 2025
Website: Google
Took my Nissan Rogue in...
Shaina Crawford
Took my Nissan Rogue in for some much needed TLC and I was very pleased with my experience. Very friendly staff, quick and efficient with their work. Would definitely recommend to anyone in need.
Date: June 28, 2025
Website: Google
Awesome professional service... apart from...
Muhannad
Awesome professional service... apart from tranny service..they fixed other issues at no additional cost... many thx Robert.
Date: June 27, 2025
Website: Google
Descent price , quick work...
Jude Miller
Descent price , quick work and well done work
Date: June 27, 2025
Website: Google
Huge shoutout to the team...
Aryn Golsteyn
Huge shoutout to the team at Mister Transmission! I had car trouble right before a road trip and literally couldn’t get in anywhere, they were the only ones who took me in last minute, and got everything done in time. Super helpful, honest, and just really great people. So thankful!
Date: June 27, 2025
Website: Google
Awesome professional service... apart from...
Muhannad
Awesome professional service... apart from tranny service..they fixed other issues at no additional cost... many thx Robert.
Date: June 27, 2025
Website: Google
Really great experience…juli helped me...
Yashasvi Parmar
Really great experience…juli helped me so much
Date: June 26, 2025
Website: Google
They did a great job...
Carla Farias
They did a great job working with my extended warranty company, had my car ready as quickly as possible! Thanks Chris for the communication! Only one things to add here, they should have more than 1 loaner vehicle! First world problems I know, however, when you are spending a lot of money to get your car fixed, you should be able to at least get a loaner vehicle. Otherwise, the service was great!
Date: June 26, 2025
Website: Google
Featured Services
Transmission Repair

The evolution of transmissions has made these machines and systems increasingly complex. When transmission repairs are required, determining the cause and cure for what ails can be tricky.

Read More
Transmission Technology

At Mister Transmission we have access to leading-edge diagnostic equipment, enabling us to offer you the fastest and most accurate findings about what’s going on inside your vehicle’s transmission.

Read More
Transmission Maintenance & Service

Just as you have other parts of your car serviced, your transmission needs maintenance to ensure a long life and avoid transmission problems.

Read More
Mister Transmission Blogs
Recent Blogs
Finding A Reliable Transmission Shop Nea...
The transmission is the heart of your vehicle’s power system. When it starts to
Read More
June 23, 2025
Complete Guide To Transmission Replaceme...
Transmission replacement becomes necessary when wear and damage go beyond repair.
Read More
June 16, 2025
Is Your Vehicle Showing Transmission Pro...
Transmission problems often begin with small signs that many drivers choose to
Read More
June 9, 2025
What Does A Transmission Flush Do? Is It...
A transmission flush is a professional service designed to remove old, degraded
Read More
May 31, 2025
Why Is My Car Not Shifting Gears Properl...
Have you noticed your car struggling to shift gears? Whether it hesitates, jerks, or
Read More
May 23, 2025
What Happens When Transmission Fluid Is ...
Transmission fluid plays a critical role in keeping a vehicle’s transmission system
Read More
May 15, 2025
Used Transmission Vs. Rebuilt Transmissi...
Choosing between a used transmission and a rebuilt transmission is an important
Read More
May 7, 2025
Preventative Transmission Maintenance: 5...
A vehicle's transmission is one of its most critical components, responsible for
Read More
April 30, 2025
Transmission Rebuild Vs. Replacement: Wh...
When a vehicle's transmission begins to fail, owners often face a crucial decision:
Read More
April 23, 2025
Transmission Overheating Causes: How To ...
Transmission overheating occurs when the system becomes too hot to function properly.
Read More
April 16, 2025