Transmission fluid drops on the floor

[Brockdog12]

I have used my local dealer for decades, literally, when needed.  For the most part they do a good job, but have made mistakes in the past, below may be another one.  

 

I have a 2022 SEL AWD, 36,000 miles on it, I bought the maintenance program for it, took it in for a regular oil change at 32,000 miles, advisor recommended the trans fluid change, it is included in the plan.  Went ahead and had all that done, all is good until this past Tuesday morning, I notice drops on my garage floor.  I wiped them up, red in color, then same thing Wednesday morning, I thought it was odd.  I have only driven it around town until Monday I had to do some highway driving and go some distance.  My kiddo and I popped the hood last evening and did some looking around, we found puddles of trans fluid in the housing casting around the fill hole area on the top of the transmission, it took about an hour to soak it all up due to the areas it was in were tough to reach.  The splash shield is also soaked on the drivers as is the new rack unit they replaced this summer.  Its going in as soon as I get a loaner for the dealer to look at, the dealer has been notified, it is also about 1200 miles shy of another oil change anyway.  Its running and shifting fine, you think they simply overfilled the transmission and it bubbling from the fill cap or they just made a big ass mess filling it?  My son said other than the tranny fluid, the bottom of the engine area is clean.  TIA

Edited yesterday at 07:23 PM by Brockdog12

[edjunior]

I don't know the answer to your question, though I would think overfill could be a cause.  I am curious though why the dealer recommended the fluid changed in the first place.  I can't imagine the fluid needing changed at only 32K.  I'm not sure what the schedule is, but I'm betting it's not that early.

[Brockdog12]

From what I have seen it is recommended at 30K, 60K and 90K on tranny fluid changes.  I wouldn't think it should be that early either.  I also checked under the hood last evening and things were "dry" where we cleaned up what we could and there were no new drops on the floor this morning.  

[1004ron]

Best check the owner's manual for the transmission fluid change interval.

In extreme operating conditions such as towing etc. the recommended transmission fluid change interval is 30K miles, and for normal use 150K miles.

 

Question, what is the motivation for the dealerships suggesting transmission fluid changes at such lower mileage?

 

If there's fluid found on the floor or anywhere outside the transmission make sure you have written records that you've addressed this with the dealership for them to resolve - doesn't matter whether they messed oil or overfilled it, it's their issue - there could be further issues like seals etc.

[Brockdog12]

I have emails sent to them and they have called me and are getting me a loaner lined up to get it in.  Me kiddo took some pics under the vehicle as well.  They did it under my maintenance plan at no charge, I did question it.    

[Samurai Edge]

I suspect the tech just made a huge mess filling the transmission and spilled a lot of excess transmission fluid everywhere.  Shame on them.

 

As stated by 1004ron above, " Best check the owner's manual for the transmission fluid change interval.

In extreme operating conditions such as towing etc. the recommended transmission fluid change interval is 30K miles, and for normal use 150K miles. "

 

The interval you have for transmission fluid changes depends on how you filled out your Maintenance Plan.  If you marked " Extreme Operating ", then 30K mile intervals is what your plan states, and therefore, per your Maintenance Plan, the dealership should be performing the change every 30K.

 

Personally, if you read the definition of " Extreme Conditions " in the plan, it pretty much defines what every day driving is.

 

As long as it is covered in your plan at 30K miles, then you are all set.  No worries.

 

 

[edgeidiot]

I am old fashioned. I know manufacturing techniques are better today, but when I bought my Edge straight from the dealer, I had the engine oil changed at 1,000 miles and the transmission fluid completely flushed at 15,000 miles (my Edge is not AWD so no differential or I would have also changed it early.)