What Color Should My Transmission Fluid Be?

The color of your transmission fluid is very revealing. The fluid changes color as it ages. This helps auto service technicians to know when the best time is to flush the transmission fluid out of the system and refill it with new fluid. Righteous Auto Care explains that this service is very important because the transmission fluid not only cleans and protects the interior parts of the system but it also helps the transmission shift gears. Dirty or low transmission fluid can damage your automobile’s transmission.

New transmission fluid is bright red. It is also translucent. This fluid does not need to be changed because it is adequately protecting the transmission and helping it shift gears. Your only concern with red transmission fluid is to make sure that it is not leaking out of the transmission. Transmission fluid can leak out of the transmission pan, the pan gasket, the seals, and the transmission’s torque converter. If you do have a transmission fluid leak, call us right away.

Light brown transmission fluid is still okay. It may also look a little bit orange in color. This fluid is still translucent and it is still doing its job of protecting the transmission and helping it shift gears. The fluid has darkened a little bit because it’s older. As long as the fluid is light brown or orange and translucent, you don’t need to change it quite yet.

Once the fluid turns dark brown you need to change it right away. Dark brown color transmission fluid has oxidized. In other words, it’s no longer translucent and you can’t see through it anymore. Oxidized transmission fluid has air bubbles in it, and it is not only getting the parts of the transmission dirty as it circulates through the system, but it is also damaging them. You may also have gear shifting problems if your transmission fluid is so old that it is dark brown or black.

Pink transmission fluid means that the fluid is being diluted by engine coolant. Unfortunately, this is a sign of serious engine trouble. A breach has occurred between the transmission and cooling system and the diluted fluid will damage both systems. Pink transmission fluid that has coolant in it is also milky or frothy. We describe it as a strawberry milkshake.

If it’s been awhile since you’ve had your transmission serviced, stop by Righteous Auto Care in Racine, WI. A good rule of thumb is to make sure that you get your transmission serviced every 30,000 miles.