I went to get an oil change, and the mechanic noticed a leak in my transmission. This was on Saturday. They put more fluid in it.

I went to get an oil change, and the mechanic noticed a leak in my transmission. They put fluids in there and I was fine. I had been checking my fluid, everyday. I even bought fluid. Now I think I have a bigger issue. My car is not going into drive, and all of the fluid I put in, is coming out in a puddle!!

My car has 153500 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
There could be a leak on the input shaft, output shaft, oil pan, dipstick grommet, or the seal on the shifter linkage could be leaking. I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you diagnose the leak on your transmission.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

If you`ve recently changed your fluid, the computer may still operate as if old fluid is installed, causing poor shift quality. In these cases, keep driving and eventually the computer will “relearn” your driving habits and the behavior of the new fluid and adjust accordingly.
If your transmission fluid needs replacing, you may experience a slipping transmission. To prevent this, it`s a good idea to get a transmission fluid flush done regularly, according to the schedule in your owner`s manual.
In an automatic transmission, slipping can be caused by wear and tear on numerous different parts. These include damaged or worn clutch plates, transmission bands, and solenoid packs. If your automatic transmission has been slipping, it`s likely a technician will replace some or all of these parts to fix the problem.
Changing your fluid cannot cause any damage by itself, if everything is fine inside the transmission. The issues start to appear when you change the fluid if your clutches are already worn or damaged from use. If you go and replace the fluid after they are already worn out. this can cause slipping.
When you accidentally use the wrong transmission fluid, there are a few common signs that your transmission will throw off indicating wrong fluid: The car will stall while shifting gears. Your engine will produce a clunking sound. The gears will begin to slip.
The Transmission Range Sensor tells the PCM the position of the transmission shifter. The PCM uses this information to control which gears of the transmission to enable or disable. When the TR sensor fails it can cause wrong gear starts, no upshifts, or what feels like a falling-out-of-gear condition.
Maintain Proper Transmission Fluid Levels

The #1 cause of transmission failure is low fluid, which causes overheating. In automatic transmissions, it causes delayed engagement, harsh shifts, and slippage.

Dexron VI, 3.8 liter engine information says bottom oil pan removed 7.4 quarts (7 liters). Fill run recheck drive then recheck.
Remove the dipstick, being careful not to spill or drip any fluid. Wipe off the dipstick with a clean rag, just as you would do when checking the engine oil. Reinsert the dipstick, then remove the dipstick again to check the fluid level. If you need to top it off, be sure to use the recommended transmission fluid.
Finally, ATF can alter the viscosity of the oil, reducing wear protection. Viscosity is the oil`s most important property, influencing wear protection and fuel efficiency. Increasing or decreasing viscosity by adding a little transmission fluid in oil to clean sludge can lead to increased engine wear.
At low speeds (under five mph), abrupt shifting from Drive to Reverse, or vice versa, will not usually cause any transmission damage. Generally speaking, it`s always a safer bet to come to a full stop before changing gears using your automatic transmission.
A part of the Electronic Control Unit (ECU), the Transmission Control Unit covers everything related to the transmission of a vehicle. It ensures smooth gear shifts and optimal fuel economy and performance.
The ISS sensor monitors the input shaft`s speed. If these sensors get misaligned, the operation of the transmission system will be affected.
When the transmission fluid isn`t clean or is blocked by a clogged filter, the internal components won`t have the lubrication they require to function properly. This could lead to shifting issues, grinding gears, slipping transmission or other common symptoms of transmission problems.
There are 6 ways to improve automatic transmission performance and reliability. These are servicing the transmission, changing driving habits, driving with lower gears when loaded, maintaining engine performance, having proper alignment of tires, and having the correct tire size.
Slipping of gears in the transmission system. Transmission slippage is one of the signs your car is low on transmission fluid. You can tell the gear has slipped when the vehicle does not stay in the gear or mode you select.
What Does Transmission Slipping Mean? Transmission slipping typically occurs when your vehicle`s engine revs, but there is no acceleration during driving. It usually means that the power produced by the engine does not get to the wheels.
This one is a lot easier to diagnose than slipping gears because you can check it while the car is sitting still. Simply shift the car from park to reverse, or from park to drive, and observe what happens. If there`s a big clunk or the car seems like it`s lurching, this could be an early sign of transmission trouble.
FRAM – Full Synthetic Dexron VI Automatic Transmission Fluid: 1 Gallon (Part No. F426-1G)
In 1991, the GTP replaced the Grand Prix Turbo coupe and sported a 210-hp 3.4 L DOHC V6 engine and a five-speed manual transmission. With the optional four-speed automatic transmission, the engine was capable of 200 hp. app, you`ll access the best rates from over 50 top insurance providers.
Low-quality transmission fluid – or driving without transmission fluid altogether – can cause a number of problems such as transmission failure, gear slipping, a hard time shifting, and a few more issues.
How long can a car run without transmission fluid is up to about 10 miles on low to no transmission fluid, but doing so would be extremely risky. Transmission fluid is essential for helping your car shift gears smoothly. Without it, gears are exposed to added friction and may not be able to move at all.
Valvoline – DEXRON®-VI ATF Full Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid, 1 Quart (Part No. 822405)

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

I went to get an oil change, and the mechanic noticed a leak in my transmission. This was on Saturday. They put more fluid in it.
ANSWER : There could be a leak on the input shaft, output shaft, oil pan, dipstick grommet, or the seal on the shifter linkage could be leaking. I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you diagnose the leak on your transmission.

Do I need to get the transfer case fluid and transmission fluid changed?
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. I looked at your maintenance schedule for your vehicle and found that for up to 150,000 miles, it only says to inspect the fluid level and not change it. The fluids are special fluids and if you did need any work done (i.e. if there is a leak present or other mechanical problem) then make sure the correct Ford certified fluid is used.

When it is time for you to have your transmission fluid serviced, consider having a certified automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to perform the service for you.

Hope this helps and best of luck!

Just noticed a huge oil leak trailing my car. It seems to be coming from below the engine. I recently had my oil changed a month
ANSWER : You might have a problem with the oil filter leaking when you rev the engine and increase the oil pressure. This can be from a collapsed oil filter media or excessive oil pressure from the engine. I recommend having the oil and filter replaced using a good quality filter and have the oil leak verified to be from the filter. Make sure to not run the engine low on oil. If you are finding you do not want to drive with the leak, a mobile technician from YourMechanic can come to your home or office, and replace both your filter, and oil.

My car is leaking oil i got an oil change for it last month but it is still leaking oil what will cause my car to leak oil ?
ANSWER : Most older cars have oil leaks. Sealing technology has just not kept up with mechanical improvements to engines so much so that leaks often kill engines rather than mechanical problems. So, it is not unexpected at all to have an, indeed many, oil leaks on a 23 year old car. Oil leaks vary hugely in terms of severity and priority of repair. Oil leaking onto a hot engine manifold is the worst case (the oil can start a fire; at best, you are left breathing oil fumes in the cabin, as the oil burns off of the manifold) while de minimus seepage of oil at the oil drain plug or oil pan gasket, while annoying and messy, if limited enough is not an emergency. Some leaks are easy to repair, while others literally require the engine to be removed just to get physical access to all the leak points. In your circumstance, if you smell burning oil, oil is probably leaking onto a hot engine part such as the exhaust manifold. A certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, can perform an oil leak diagnostic and then let you know of your repair options and costs.

As far as the check engine light, that is not related to the oil leak(s). If you request a check engine light diagnostic, a certified mechanic from YourMechanic would use a code scanner to retrieve the specific diagnostic trouble code(s) from your car’s PCM that have caused the check engine light to illuminate. Using those codes, the appropriate individual vehicle components or sub-systems (often a sensor, circuit, and the like) are then carefully tested, based on specifications set forth in your car’s Factory Service Manual, to pinpoint the cause of the fault or the reason why the check engine light has illuminated. Once the faulty part or component is identified, it is explained to your satisfaction and the mechanic will let you know of the cost to repair. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

Oil was leaking, put in over 4 qts of oil and oil leak stopper. White smoke coming tailpipe,engine shakes, car dies. Oil leaking.
ANSWER : Oil additives are not recommended by any vehicle manufacturer for any reason. Additives that purport to resolve oil leaks are useless, a waste of your money, and may result in engine damage. Every vehicle manufacturer strongly recommends against use of these materials. There is only one recommended and approved repair strategy when it comes to oil leaks: fix the leak.

You can only add the manufacturer specified amount of oil to an engine. If you add too much oil, or too little oil, that will cause engine damage. You should check the engine oil dipstick to determine if there is presently too much oil in the engine. If there is too much, the excess will have to be removed to prevent engine damage.

The leak that you are referring to can be repaired if you request an oil leak diagnostic. If you have further questions or concerns as you decide what to do, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic because we want you to make the most of your repair dollars and help you get the best possible results.

car burning too much oil and can’t find where it’s going
ANSWER : The engine is sucking it in most likely. The oil control rings are bad or the intake valves are leaking. You should have a mechanic check the intake PCV system to see if there is a problem. After the diagnosis of your leakage, a certified mechanic can make necessary repairs.

A mechanic at sears auto center told me I had a oil pan leak. But i have not seen any oil leak from under my car. He recommende
ANSWER : Oil leaks should be repaired because leaking oil can damage external engine components such as rubber motor mounts. If you want the source of the oil leak identified and the repair estimated, simply request an oil leak diagnostic. Your vehicle has an engine oil maintenance reminder system to let you know when it’s time to change the engine oil and filter. The allowed interval for oil changes depends on your unique driving habits and can be up to, but not more than, one year. If you haven’t driven the vehicle a lot, don’t needlessly worry about having gone perhaps 2-3 years without the required oil change. It is critical though, at this juncture, to change the oil and filter immediately. Synthetic oil is recommended. If you desire that this maintenance be performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request an engine oil/filter change and the responding mechanic will get this resolved for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic.

Oil still leaking after I changed oil filter
ANSWER : Unless there is an imperfection (e.g., serious pitting or irregularities) on the engine mounting base for the filter gasket, the leak is probably not at the filter. There are other adjacent potential leak spots such as the oil pan gasket, oil pressure sending unit and so forth. If the leak is significant at all, merely thoroughly cleaning the suspect area and running the engine while looking for the leak should be sufficient. If you still can’t find the leak origin, a UV visible dye can be added to the engine oil which will then make the leak point visible using a detection light. If you want these steps performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request an oil leak diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.