The color of your transmission fluid may seem as if it is a strange topic for a blog post, but the hue can actually let you know when you need to change the transmission. It’s important to have the transmission fluid changed when it needs it. Failure to do so can cause unnecessary and expensive transmission damage. As such, let’s talk about the different colors of transmission fluid below.
Red
Red is the ideal color. You always want red and translucent fluid in your automobile’s transmission. The transmission fluid serves two purposes and when it is red and translucent, it is serving those purposes perfectly. The transmission fluid works as if it were motor oil to protect your transmission and keep it cool. This being said, it also works as a hydraulic fluid to help your transmission shift gears.
Orange
Since red is ideal, this means you do not need to change your transmission fluid yet. Usually, the fluid needs to be changed every 30,000 miles. As the transmission fluid starts to age, it will turn orange or light brown. The fluid will remain translucent, which means it is not oxidizing. Light brown or orange and translucent transmission fluid is still okay. You can put off changing it for some time.
Brown
Once the transmission fluid turns brown, it needs to be changed as soon as possible. The transmission fluid will also lose its translucency. This means that the fluid has started to oxidize. Unfortunately, the air bubbles associated with oxidation will make it difficult for the transmission fluid to protect the transmission parts. In fact, you may start to have gear-shifting problems.
Black
If you fail to change the transmission fluid when it has turned brown, it will turn black, eventually. The black color means that the fluid has oxidized completely and is filled with dirt. At this point, rather than protecting the transmission, the fluid is damaging it. You will have problems shifting the gears, the transmission will overheat, and it may even start to make strange noises.
Pink
Finally, it is important to discuss pink transmission fluid. This is rare, but if your engine ends up with a hole between the cooling system and the transmission, the coolant will mix with the transmission fluid. This turns the transmission fluid from red to pink. It may also look like a strawberry milkshake. This mixture can damage the transmission beyond repair.
If it has been more than 30,000 miles since you have had your transmission changed, call our shop today to schedule a service visit.
