A transmission cooler is a kind of small radiator that is filled with hot automatic transmission fluid that is pumped from the automatic transmission to the front of the vehicle for cooling.

Sometimes transmission coolers are part of the same assembly as the radiator or somehow linked to the engine's cooling system.

Any leak in the system can cause severe damage to the vehicle's engine.

Here are the significant signs to spot a transmission cooler leak in your car. - Bad transmission shift -Color of coolant -Red oil on the floor

A leak in the transmission hydraulic lines that travel to the transmission cooler can empty a transmission of fluid at a slow to even dramatic rate depending on the size of the leak.

Any automatic transmission that looses or has less fluid than it needs to run properly will most likely be coupled with a harsh shift in all gears.

And if the problem is left unattended, then it can result into a transmission slippage.

When the coolant and the transmission fluid gets mixed, then the color of the resultant mixture is somewhat like of a strawberry milkshake.

When the engine cooling system and transmission cooling system are part of the same assembly, then the seal between them might break and result in the mixing of the two fluids.

When this happens the engine may overheat, transmission start slipping or shifting harshly, and you should see a strawberry milkshake-like liquid in the radiator cap or coolant reservoir.

A transmission fluid leak from one of the cooler lines can leave a dripping on the floor when the engine is off because the fluid is not under pressure.

When the engine starts and the transmission fluid starts flowing and pumping, then the drip will accelerate depending on the severity of the leak.

Transmission fluid leaks should be treated seriously and repaired promptly to avoid permanent damage to the transmission.

To prevent premature corrosion, wear, or damage to your engine or transmission cooling systems regular flushes of the coolant and transmission fluid are strongly recommended.

Flushing coolant can keep it from becoming too acidic and breaking down over time and does not damage the engines cooling systems and any gaskets or seals involved.

Regular flushes of the transmission fluid are recommended because it gets all the metal grit and clutches dust out of the fluid, which can collect in areas like the cooler or valve body resulting in corrosion.