Knowing the different colors of transmission fluid can help you diagnose serious problems. If your transmission fluid dipstick can be found in your engine, you can check the fluid color regularly yourself. In some cases, the dipstick is located underneath the automobile, making it hard to check unless you crawl under your vehicle. We can help here at Urb’s Garage. We can check your transmission fluid for you and change it when it’s necessary. Here’s what the color of the transmission fluid tells us.
Bright Red/Red
When transmission fluid is brand new, it’s red – usually bright red. Another feature of new transmission fluid is translucency; you can see through the fluid. Red and translucent transmission fluid is not only capable of lubricating the transmission moving parts and gears, but it also helps the gears shift. Transmission fluid isn’t only an oil; it’s also a hydraulic fluid that assists in transmission function.
Light Brown
As transmission fluid ages, it darkens to more of a light brown color. If the fluid is still translucent, it does not need to be changed even though it isn’t red anymore. Light brown transmission fluid is still useful in lubricating the internal transmission parts and helping them shift gears. When the fluid reaches this color, you can rest assured it’s still working but you should plan to have it changed soon.
Dark Brown/Black
As the transmission fluid ages even more, it will turn a darker brown and lose its translucency. It becomes opaque because the fluid is oxidizing. It’s at this point that you definitely want to change the transmission fluid. Brown, dark brown, or black transmission fluid is no longer useful to the transmissi]on and, in fact, could be damaging it. Change the fluid as soon as possible once it’s no longer light brown.
Pink
If your transmission fluid is pink, it’s best to have your automobile towed to a service shop right away. The only reason why a transmission fluid would turn pink is that it is being diluted by coolant. To keep the transmission cool, transmission fluid circulates through the radiator via a brass cooler tube. If the tube cracks, coolant will mix with the transmission fluid and dilute it, which can kill the transmission.
Urb’s Garage in Burlington, KY, is your one-stop-service-shop for all of your vehicle transmission needs. We service, repair, and replace manual and automatic transmissions, and we’d be happy to check your transmission fluid to ensure it is bright red and translucent.
