The transmission fluid color when it’s old will become brown, dark brown, or black. The darker it is the more damage it is causing your transmission. Let’s talk about the colors of transmission fluid below throughout the stages of its life so you know when your transmission fluid needs to be changed. This fluid works to protect your transmission and help it shift gears. It’s important to always have clean fluid in the transmission. 2000 Auto recommends you get a transmission fluid flush every 30,000 miles.
Bright Red
Bright red or red transmission fluid is new, clean, see-through, and able to do its job. This fluid works as a lubricant to protect the gears and other internal parts in your vehicle’s transmission. It prevents friction between the parts and helps keep them cool. It also works as a hydraulic fluid so your transmission can shift gears quickly and easily. You do not need to change the red transmission fluid.
Reddish-Orange
The transmission’s fluid will start to turn orange as it gets older. It could be a definite orange color or more of a reddish-orange color. The transmission fluid should still be translucent even though the color has changed. If it is, the fluid will need to be changed in the future, but it’s okay right now. Keep an eye on your transmission fluid when it is orange or reddish-orange.
Light Brown
Keep an eye on your transmission fluid when it is light brown, too. As with orange fluid, the light brown color is still okay provided the fluid is still translucent. Light brown means that the transmission fluid is getting up in years, but it can go a little while longer before you need to have it flushed and replaced with new fluid. You’re coming up on a change, however.
Brown/Black
As we said above, once the transmission fluid is brown, dark brown, or black, it is old and needs to be changed. You will no longer be able to see through this fluid because it has turned opaque. This fluid is incapable of protecting the transmission and helping it shift gears. In fact, this fluid can actually make your transmission overheat. This fluid needs to be changed right away.
Pink
As an aside, pink transmission fluid is a very bad sign for your car’s transmission and cooling system. Pink fluid means that there is a serious leak between the two systems and you aren’t looking at just transmission fluid. You are looking at a combination of transmission fluid and coolant. As you can imagine, this will seriously damage your transmission.
2000 Auto in Melbourne, FL, would be happy to check your transmission fluid. If it needs to be changed we can change it. Call us today.