Bar's Leak Tech Tip: Spot And Fix Common Transmission Fluid Leaks 

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Bar’s Leak Tech Tip: Spot And Fix Common Transmission Fluid Leaks 

The high pressures in modern transmissions can turn a small leak into a major one very quickly, which can lead to time-consuming, expensive repairs.

Counterman Staff
By Counterman Staff
Published:

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Transmissions are heavily dependent on lubrication to prevent damaging friction and heat buildup. The high pressures in modern transmissions can turn a small leak into a major one very quickly, which can lead to time-consuming, expensive repairs.

Here are three telltale signs of a transmission leak that, when detected early, give you the opportunity to save your customers a hefty repair bill.

  1. Drops on the ground – Spotting drops before they become puddles is a good thing. Fresh transmission fluids are usually dyed red, but can also be green, amber, or even have a bluish tint. Transmission fluids with a brownish tint and a lightly burnt odor indicate a transmission that’s beginning to experience operating problems. A few drops of any color aren’t necessarily a major problem, but it is a sign of the start of a leak.
  2. Low transmission fluid level – Older vehicles usually include a dipstick for checking the transmission fluid level (these levels on many newer vehicles can only be checked by a mechanic because the transmission is sealed). With the engine running and the transmission in park, check the fluid level. It should be between the minimum and maximum lines. A level lower than the minimum indicates a leak.
  3. Drivability issues – Even if no leaks have been detected, there are drivability issues that can indicate transmission leaks. A transmission that hunts, slips, shifts roughly or bogs down can be a sign that the transmission fluid level is low.

Once you’ve determined a vehicle has a transmission leak, it’s important to act fast. Should the transmission seal or one of the lines fail, the vehicle could lose all its transmission fluid and leave the driver stranded on the side of the road. When caught early, transmission leaks can be stopped easily and inexpensively with a proven chemical repair.

For Leaky Manual or Automatic Transmissions

Over time, transmission seals, gaskets and O-rings tend to dry out and shrink. Bar’s Leaks Transmission Stop Leak Concentrate is formulated to stop transmission leaks by revitalizing these seals, gaskets and O-rings, making them soft and pliable again. It works in all manual or regular automatic transmissions, including continuously variable transmissions (CVTs). It is compatible with all petroleum-based transmission fluids, including synthetics. Bar’s Leaks Transmission Stop Leak is easily installed through the dipstick tube or through a fill plug.

For Automatic Transmissions with Leak and Performance Issues

Bar’s Leaks Automatic Transmission Repair is specially designed to stop seal and gasket leaks caused by normal transmission wear and age. This multifunctional premium product also restores transmission performance by reducing rough shifting and friction, eliminating slip, controlling temperature, and repairing shudder, chatter and whining. It is easily installed through the dipstick tube or through a fill plug. Do not use in CVT transmissions.

Learn more about Bar’s Leaks transmission solutions for your customers at barsleaks.com/our-products/?category=transmission-2. You also can follow Bar’s Leaks on Twitter, Facebook and through the blog at barsleaks.com/blog.

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Auto Industry

Customer Service: How It’s Done

Customer service should be your number one priority, and it all starts with the greeting.

Eric Garbe
By Eric Garbe
Eric Garbe is a graduate of Columbus State Community College with a degree in Automotive Maintenance Technology. He has extensive independent and dealership field experience as a technician and shop owner and is an ASE Certified Master Technician and former Adjunct Automotive Professor. He has been professionally writing automotive technical articles and documents for many years and in his free time enjoys restoring old cars and creating custom interiors and upholstery.
Published:

This is always an important topic to discuss, because I consider excellent customer service one of the most important tools you can have to earn trust, respect and repeat business from the customers that come through your door. Whether that customer is do-it-yourselfer from across town or the professional repair shop across the street, your business depends on a solid relationship.It’s a subject that I am passionate about, and it’s one that many people are losing touch with. Whether you are communicating to someone in person, on the phone or using some type of social media, good customer service and bad can both exist. You can’t afford the latter, so this is the first in a series of topics which can and should be shared from the front of the shop to the back. No matter which role you hold, you represent the shop and yourself. Customer service should be your number one priority.First on the list is the greeting. From the second a customer walks in the door, they need to know you appreciate them coming in and how important they are to your business. First impressions are everything and here’s the correct way to do it each and every time: look them directly in the eye, smile and say hello!Of course, you can say “Good morning” or “Welcome to Joe’s Autocare,” but it should be a formal greeting and the most important thing is that you have smiled, looked them in the eye and recognized that they have walked through the door.You should always retain a formal greeting until you are on a first-name basis with a customer. Only once you have established that level of relationship is it OK to use the less formal greeting of “Hi,” followed by the person’s name.This greeting does more than just indicate respect and appreciation for someone walking through the door. Most likely there are customers both new and old who are in earshot of your conversation. For newer customers, this continues to build rapport and reinforce their positive view of your shop; they see that you demonstrate respect and treat everyone in the same manner. For repeat customers, even ones that have been coming for years, the greeting is important because the way you treat them is the reason they continue to come.And when a long-time customer comes in and you greet them with “Hi [First Name],” this indicates your appreciation for them and that you’re glad to see them as a person, more than just a customer. New customers that witness this will see that your repeat customers are comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis, another indication of the trust they have in you.

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