What Happens If I Put Transmission Fluid in the Oil? [Analyzed]

If you own a car, you may have heard that putting transmission fluids in the oil is terrible. Even though automobile engines are delicate, there are people that believe putting transmission oil is beneficial. So, we understand how confusing it can get for you.

You may now be asking what happens if I put transmission fluid in the oil?

To begin with, a modest proportion of transmission fluid diluted with oil won’t create severe issues. However, draining that fluid is critical since it may cause future engine damage. You can remove the unnecessary transmission fluid by changing the engine oil on a regular basis.

Reading this article, you will gain a basic understanding of transmission fluid mixing with oil. Most importantly, you’ll know how to get rid of engine oil contaminated by transmission fluid.

So let’s get deep into the topic!

Why Shouldn’t You Mix Transmission Fluid with Oil!

It’s possible that inserting transmission fluid in the oil won’t hurt it. On the other hand, some people use transmission fluid to clean the engine. This isn’t always a good thing, especially if there’s too much fluid in the crankcase.

Your vehicle’s engine is lubricated with engine oil. Engine oil is made to deal with the results of combustion. However, automatic transmission fluid (ATF) can not be exposed to pollutants from fuel combustion.

The fluids used in transmissions and power steering are the same. However, they have few major different traits. But even mixing power steering fluid can mess up the brake in a short time.

So, mixing transmission fluid with engine oil is not recommended.

Will Transmission Fluid Cause Any Damage to the Engine?

Transmission fluid mixed with oil should be changed immediately. Avoid running it for too long. The transmission fluid will not provide the exact amount of lubrication that the engine requires. So continuing to run it with the transmission fluid in it could cause damage to the engine.

Yet, a small amount of transmission fluid in oil will not damage the engine soon.

So, how much transmission fluid can be considered safe?

When an engine has more than 6 quarts of ATF, one quart of ATF does not cause immediate engine damage. It’s best if the oil and filter are changed as soon as possible.

Similarly, mixing windshield washer fluid in coolant can also cause damage to your car.

6 Steps to Get Rid of Transmission Fluid mixed Engine Oil

Still wondering what to do if you put transmission fluid in your oil? Well, fear not! We will discuss the 6 steps to remove transmission fluid mixed with oil.

Now let’s jump to changing engine oil to remove the transmission fluid.

Step 1 of 6: Layout

To begin with, place the car in park or gear, pull the handbrake and block the wheels. This must be done on a level, sturdy surface. The grass is extremely unstable.

Secondly, use the hydraulic trolley to raise your car up.

Step 2 of 6: Put in Engine Flush

In this step, open the oil filler cap.

Then fill the contents of the engine oil flush into the engine before pulling out the tools.

Now let the engine run for the time specified by the engine oil flush. Allow the motor to cool for a few moments after turning it off before continuing. Here are our top picks for engine flushes:

According to us, Liquimoly 2037 is one of the best engine flushes on the market.
If you don’t want to spend much for oil flushes you can look into the Berryman Oil Flush.

Step 3 of 6: Drain the Oil

Wear a pair of gloves to protect your hands from engine’s heat and oil.

At this point, place a drain pan beneath the plug.

Then loosen the plug with the right size socket or wrench, remove it with your fingers. Make sure it doesn’t fall into the drain pan.

While the engine oil is draining, replace the washer and clean the sump plug. Depending on your vehicle, this could be fiber or copper.

Step 4 of 6: Removing Oil Filter

While the engine oil drains, you can also remove the oil filter.

The oil filter may be easily accessed from beneath the automobile or via the engine area. You’ve to be prepared to catch the large amount of oil that could spill from this area. We recommend using FloTool to avoid oil spills.

Make sure that the old O ring comes off your old oil filter.

Step 5 of 6: Filter and Sump Plug installation

Apply a little amount of fresh engine oil to the oil filter’s O ring. Remove any old engine oil from the region around the filter housing.

Use the manufacturer’s directions while installing the new oil filter. One of the best in the industry currently is Fram Ulta Synthetic.

The sump plug must be replaced as the final step beneath the car. Replace any splash guards that have been removed and tighten to specification.

After that, the car can be lowered again.

Step 6 of 6: Refill Engine Oil

First, fill the sump with water through a funnel until the dipstick reads “full.”

After reinstalling the oil cap, start the car and let it run for around a minute.

Oil will circulate throughout the engine when the oil filter is filled. Inspect the level in the tank once more while the engine is running. If necessary, top up the oil and monitor the level until it reaches “full.”

Should you consult a professional?

For any car owner facing such difficulty, it is considered better to consult a professional if you accidentally pour too much transmission fluid in car. However, using knowledge, you can easily remove the oil in any automobile containing transmission fluid.

But be careful! Getting exposed to bad engine oil or transmission fluid can cause dermatitis.

FAQs

How Usually Should The Transmission Fluid Be Changed?

According to industry standards, transmission fluid should be changed every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. If you have an automatic gearbox, this is very vital.

Do Transmission Fluid and Engine Oil Have Any Differences?

Yes, there are some differences between transmission fluid and engine oil. The main difference is that engine oil works as lubricant and transmission fluid work as hydraulic fluid.

Endnote

That concludes our article. We hope we can provide an answer to your question “what happens if I put transmission fluid in the oil?”

One last tip-

It’s critical to use the proper oil and lubricant in the right places if you want your vehicle to run smoothly. Before you put anything in your car, read the label first.

Best of luck!

Author
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Robert Lozano

My name is Robert Lozano, and I am an automotive enthusiast and author. A great passion for engineering has fueled my desire to share my skills and educate others on challenging engineering terms and topics. Thanks to our readers, I am currently receiving a lot of nice feedback. While writing an article, I am always learning and assessing myself.