I am waiting for my turn at my local automotive repair shop when I overhear a person that is speaking about the problem they are having with their car. They stated that their vehicle was leaking transmission fluid, so the question that comes to my mind is why would a vehicle be leaking transmission fluid?
Here is what I found in my research of why my 2001 Ford Taurus is 
leaking transmission fluid. A vehicle would be leaking transmission fluid due to a gasket or seal in the transmission system being compromised or damaged, a loose transmission line, a damaged part, or the transmission was overfilled with fluid. By the system doing this, it is letting the transmission fluid leave the system.
Why is my 2001 Ford Taurus leaking transmission fluid?
A transmission system of a vehicle is much like the coolant system of the vehicle. These fluids are held in the system by gaskets and seals that interlink the bigger pieces of the system. A great example would be the transmission hoses that link transmission and a transmission cooler.
Since these lines are metal at times a metal to metal contact would not keep liquids in the system. So the manufacturer combines rubber seals and sometimes a paper gasket, to be put in between the metal to metal contact making a proper seal. Over time these seals and gaskets become brittle and damaged over time due to dry rot and age itself.
Are you needing a new Transmission Gasket for your transmission? I have it in the parts library for you, that I found on Amazon at a significant amount lower than the local auto parts stores!
So it is key when it comes to keeping your transmission system and great working order, that you keep the transmission fluid at the proper level to prevent additional wear and tear to your transmission system.
Do you need a putty knife for this repair to clean the old gasket off properly? I have a putty set in the Tool Library that I found for a great price on Amazon.
What causes my 2001 Ford Taurus to leak transmission fluid?
There are only a few things that can cause your vehicle to leak transmission fluid outside of a vehicle accident. One of those things is time, time plays a vital role when it comes to the lifespan of your vehicle. Normal wear and tear to your vehicle without proper preventive maintenance in place can disable your vehicle altogether if not cared for in proper time.
Time is also what causes part failure on your vehicle. Each part is built to last a good amount of time so you receive a timely return of your investment that you
placed to purchase the part. If you do not receive that amount of time that you paid for by purchasing a replacement part then that would go into our second reason for the cause of your vehicle leaking transmission fluid.
The second thing is improper install or defective parts that were installed on your vehicle. This is never planned by any company to have a defective part stocked on their part shelves, but it does happen. This happens at such a great rate when this does happen it is called a recall.
It is always a great idea to check on any recent recalls that could of been made to your vehicle. Here are the recall numbers for some of the automotive companies that are out there.
Ford- 1(800)392-3673
GMC- 1(866)694-6546
Chrysler- 1(866)220-6765
Dodge- 1(866)220-6765
Chevrolet- 1(866)694-6546
Honda- 1(888)234-2138
Toyota- 1(800)331-4331
Lexus- 1(800)255-3987
Remember when calling these phone numbers to check on your vehicle recall status, have your VIN number and model of your vehicle ready for the representative to assist you.
The other reasons why your vehicle would be leaking transmission fluid is a loose transmission line, a damaged part, or the transmission was overfilled with transmission fluid. If your system was overfilled with transmission fluid you are going to need to use a vampire pump to extract some of that fluid to prevent overspill. Of course, if you have a damaged part you need to replace this part as soon as possible to prevent wear and tear to your transmission system.
You will be able to notice a loose transmission line rather quickly not only will it be leaking fluid but it will make a mess of all parts around it’s well. This will make it a little bit more difficult to spot where the original leak came from. So a good tip would be to clean the area. So it will be easier to notice the original location of the leak and you can make the repair needed.
It is always better to be safe than sorry. Heres my article on 5 Simple Ways to Protect your Car in Hurricane Season.
When will my 2001 Ford Taurus leak transmission fluid?
You’re Ford Taurus will leak transmission fluid when one of the seals and/or gaskets becomes damaged, or one of the transmission parts becomes punctured or loose. It is vital as the driver and operator of the vehicle to look under the vehicle for any leaks that may have been caused while the vehicle has been sitting in that spot. Outside of the condensation from the air conditioning system, a great way to tell If your vehicle has a leak is to look at the ground after you move your vehicle.
The fluid that is on the ground will have a color to it and will help in telling you what fluid it is. Black or tan is oil, green or yellow is antifreeze/coolant, dark red is power steering fluid, clear is brake fluid, and bright red is transmission fluid as well. Another time that your vehicle will leak transmission fluid other than the reasons already stated is right after a transmission repair or flush has been done.
Are you needing a new Transmission Gasket for your transmission? I have it in the parts library for you that I found on Amazon. It matched up just like the factory one straight from Ford at a fraction of the cost!
When checking your transmission fluid, make sure your vehicle is running and is in the neutral gear position. The chart to the left shows the color your transmission fluid should be and if the fluid is one of the other colors, the chart indicates what that color means. This will assist you in creating a solution before the problem becomes a major repair.
Make sure you get all of the old gasket off, so the new gasket can sit properly flush or it will cause a leak. Check my Tool Library for a set of putty knives I found on Amazon, it has different sizes to match the need of the job.
Everyone is not perfect and sometimes the mechanic can forget to clean off the area they repaired or dripped some fluid while filling the system. Look at finding a leak as a mystery and you are the investigator to find the true reason behind why this happened, every situation is different in it’s own way but knowing the in’s and out’s of your vehicle will make this mystery an easy one to solve.
You will be surprised by this one here’s my article on 12 Crucial Maintenance Things to Check on your Vehicle.
How can I fix my Ford Taurus so it doesn’t leak any more transmission fluid?
First of all, you need to make the repair to your vehicle so the major problem is corrected. Next, you are going to need to top up the transmission fluid while the vehicle is running and the gear shifter is in neutral. When filling your transmission fluid you are wanting to put the fluid in between the max and the minimum.
Overfilling will cause overspill when the transmission starts to warm up to the operating temperature. Underfilling your transmission will starve your system of a much-needed fluid for it to prevent wear and tear in the system. After you feel the system you need to clean up after yourself, I know our parents have told this to us numerous times when we were children but it was all for a reason.
Have you checked your motor mounts? Check out my article on How can I tell if my motor mounts are bad?
This was that reason, so make sure you clean up good because any residue leftover can mistake a future problem for a past issue. Last but never least, you want to make sure that all fittings and hoses that you put back on to the system are tight. You want to make sure they are also in its original position, so it does not obstruct another parts position or movement. Also, 
when repairing your transmission system using a transmission stop leak mix is a temporary solution, not a permanent one. So remember that when using a stop leak solution, because the leak will come back if not properly repaired.
Have you ever looked into the advantages of spending more on your brake pads? Don’t worry, I have and what I found is here in my article.
How can I prevent a transmission fluid leak in the future with my 2001 Ford Taurus?
The best way to prevent a transmission fluid leak in the future with your vehicle would be to fill the transmission fluid to the proper level. Also, to have a preventive maintenance schedule in place for your car so you can catch these significant problems before they become substantial problems. By keeping up to date on your maintenance this will help you notice any transmission leaks that are trying to form, and low fluid levels in the system.
Take a look at my article 11 Critical Things to Look for When Buying a Used Car, next time you are car hunting.
From everything I read and researched preventive maintenance is where most problems are caught and stopped. So this should be a significant weapon in your arsenal to keep your vehicle tip-top at all times. You will also notice a difference in the amount of money you have to spend on your vehicle over the years of you owning the vehicle. All of this is due to excellent preventive maintenance procedures.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article and it helps you with the problem you are trying to solve on your vehicle. Thank you for reading this article, and I hope to see you reading the next article as well!
