Signs Your Transmission Fluid Filter is Clogged (And What To Do About It)

  1. An Unexplained Rattle. Sometimes, you know exactly what’s making your vehicle rattle. …
  2. Whirs or Whines. …
  3. Leaking. …
  4. Burning Smell. …
  5. Problems Changing Gears. …
  6. A Noisy Neutral.

Besides, Can a transmission cooler get clogged?

Transmission Cooler Failure Symptoms. … The most common transmission cooler failures are due to either a leak in the body of the cooler itself, or a clogged line caused by something flowing through the system.

Keeping this in mind, What happens when transmission oil cooler fails? When a transmission oil cooler hose fails it can cause the transmission to overheat. This can be due to low fluid level from a leak or preventing flow. In either case if the transmission overheats it can stop working entirely and this condition may be permanent.

What will happen if my transmission filter is clogged?

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.

Can you clean a transmission cooler?

The only way to clean a transmission cooler is to use the only transmission cooler flushing machine that can get rid of 99.9999% of debris and contaminants in the cooler. … Only the Hot Flush can clean your cooler of 99.9999% of debris and contaminants. The Hot Flush machine is often immitated, but NEVER duplicated!

How do you know if your oil cooler is bad?


Some of the common symptoms of oil cooler gasket failure include:

  1. Oil Leak. When the oil cooler gasket fails, it is unable to keep oil in. …
  2. Overheating Engine. …
  3. Contaminated Oil. …
  4. Decreased Engine Performance. …
  5. Black Smoke. …
  6. Vibrations. …
  7. Expanded Radiator. …
  8. Engine Temperature Changes.

Can you drive with a bad oil cooler?

You can drive for a while, depending on the symptom you notice. You can manage the car with a bad oil cooler as long as you don’t need to do any tasking driving.

What causes oil cooler failure?

Oil in the cooling system

This happens because when the engine is running, oil pressure is greater than cooling system pressure. Oil is forced into the cooling system. This will eventually cause a lack of lubrication and can severely damage your engine.

How much does it cost to replace a transmission cooler?

You will pay somewhere between $100 and $450 for a transmission cooler line replacement. The labor should be between $60 and $300, while parts can cost you anywhere from $40-$160.

Can I drive with a clogged transmission filter?

Car Won’t Drive: In some severe circumstances your transmission filter can get so badly clogged that your vehicle will start to drive and then simply stop on you. You may experience a continual installing after you try to restart your vehicle and then moving will prove to be close to impossible.

How do you unclog a transmission filter?

Hold the filter pieces over a pan and spray them with disc brake cleaner to clean them. The dirt and particles will drip off into the pan. Anything that is still stuck to the filter pieces can be dislodged with a toothbrush. Be careful not to damage the brass parts with the toothbrush.

Can a loose transmission filter cause problems?

You may be asking yourself, “So what happens when the transmission filter is loose?” Well, the loose transmission filter symptoms include the aforementioned leakage in addition to strange noises in the transmission. … The worn-out parts will result in a much weaker seal thus creating a leak.

Can air get trapped in transmission?

Aeration is created by air bubbles entering the transmission lines and mixing with the fluid. If there is too much transmission fluid, then air can leak into the system when the car runs and develop air bubbles in the solution.

How much does a transmission oil cooler cost?

As a DIY project, you’ll pay between $30 and $60 for the oil cooler and spend 1 1/2 to 2 hours on installation. You can have a local transmission shop install a transmission oil cooler in your vehicle. Expect to pay between $150 and $250 for the job.

Can I drive with bad oil cooler?

Can you drive with a bad oil cooler? You can drive for a while, depending on the symptom you notice. You can manage the car with a bad oil cooler as long as you don’t need to do any tasking driving.

How does a oil cooler fail?

Oil pressure is greater than cooling system pressure when the engine is running. The cooling system has oil in it. This can cause a lack of lubrication and damage your engine.

Do oil coolers go bad?

Although most drivers never have interaction with their oil coolers, keeping them in working order will extend their lifespan. However, like any other mechanical component, they can and often will wear out. The purpose of the engine oil cooler is to allow the engine’s cooling system to remove excess heat from the oil.

How can I tell if my oil cooler is bad?


The most obvious sign of oil cooler failure is physical distention of the radiator and its associated piping.

  1. Decreased Performance. If the oil cooler is failing in your vehicle, the first thing you’ll notice is decreased performance from the engine. …
  2. Black Smoke. …
  3. Vibrations. …
  4. Distended Radiator.

How much does it cost to replace an oil cooler?

Engine Oil Cooler Replacement Cost – RepairPal Estimate. Labor costs are estimated between $162 and $204 while parts are priced between $369 and $381. This range does not include taxes and fees, and does not factor in your specific vehicle or unique location. Related repairs may also be needed.

Can I drive my 6.0 with a bad oil cooler?

You’ll be fine so long as it doesn’t get pushed too hard.

Can an oil cooler be repaired?

Can you repair my oil cooler? Yes, we can generally repair them, but it depends on the type of oil cooler and the type of failure. Sometimes in a worst case scenario, a temporary repair can be performed so your machine can continue to operate until a new cooler can be supplied.

What happens when oil cooler lines leak?

If the oil cooler lines begin to leak, they will let a good bit of the oil outside the vehicle since the lines are usually under pressure. … Rather than putting a strain on the internal parts of an engine due to lack of lubrication, you will need to get the oil cooler lines replaced as soon as leaks are detected.

How long does it take to replace transmission cooler?

How Long Does Cooling Line Replacement Take? Repairing the cooling line for your transmission can take quite a bit of time. You can expect to leave your vehicle at the repair shop for a day or two for this repair.

How do you fix an overheating transmission?


What to do when your transmission is overheating:

  1. Stop driving immediately and let your transmission cool down.
  2. Make a note of what you were doing, where you are, what’s happening (noises, etc.)
  3. After cooling down, start back up & gingerly continue on your way.

How do you change a transmission cooler?


Step by Step Guide to Replace the Cooler Lines

  1. Raise the Vehicle. It would be best to work on level ground to ensure that your vehicle does not lean too much on the jack when lifted. …
  2. Drain the Transmission Fluid. …
  3. Remove the Old Line. …
  4. Install the New Cooler Line. …
  5. Replenish the Transmission Fluid. …
  6. Double-check.