Getting to know the different colors of transmission fluid can help you to know whether you have a small problem with your transmission or a big one. Here’s what Kevin’s Auto Repair Service wants you to know about the different shades of transmission fluid and what they mean for your car.
Brown
You’re probably more likely to see brown transmission fluid than most of the other colors, just because that’s the shade it is most of the time. Transmission fluid picks up dust, dirt, grime, and more from the transmission as it circulates. So that means eventually it becomes a little browner in color. It’s also keeping the transmission cool, so it gets hot. As fluids get hotter, they tend to brown. The big concern is when you’re seeing transmission fluid at all. Any leaks are something you need to investigate fully.
Red
Brand-new transmission fluid is bright red and translucent. You’re likely only to see red transmission fluid in the bottle before it goes into the transmission or because there’s a big problem with a leak. In general, though, clear red transmission fluid isn’t horrible at all unless there’s a puddle of it under the car. Again, leaks are bad and need to be inspected carefully.
Black
Black transmission fluid is on its last legs. Remember how transmission fluid gets hot and it picks up a lot of stuff? Eventually that means that the transmission fluid is full of debris that doesn’t get filtered out and that it is at its limit in terms of offering any cooling abilities to your car’s transmission. Black transmission fluid needs to get swapped out right away.
Pink
If you ever do happen to see pink transmission fluid under your car, that’s really bad because it means that there’s water in the transmission somehow and it has diluted the transmission fluid. That’s a big repair. If you ignore this, you may end up with a failed transmission a lot sooner than you expect. Transmission fluid is oily for a reason, and water does not mix well with it.
Got transmission fluid underneath your car? Don’t ignore it. Get in touch with Kevin’s Auto Repair Service in Swoyersville, PA as soon as possible. We’ll diagnose the issue and let you know what is happening with your transmission. From there, we’ll let you know your options for getting back on the road as quickly and as safely as possible.