What Do the Different Colors of Transmission Fluid Mean?

Did you know that your car’s transmission fluid can be different colors? The color of the transmission fluid can tell you a lot. But the bottom line is that if you’re seeing transmission fluid at all, you need to have your car’s transmission inspected right away. MDP Diesel & Auto has this information for you about your car’s transmission fluid.

Brand-new transmission fluid is see-through and red in color. That’s what you’ll see as you pour it out of the bottle. Ideally, you’re not going to ever see a puddle of new red transmission fluid underneath your vehicle, because that means you’ve got a problem. Brand-new transmission fluid is perfectly able to lubricate the transmission parts and keep your transmission running well.

As the fluid hangs around for a little while and does its job, it picks up dirt and gunk in the transmission. It also starts to break down little by little. While that is happening, your transmission fluid slowly starts to turn brown. It also gradually fades from a clear, see-through fluid to one that is a little more opaque. This happens over time.

Eventually, there’s no more room for the transmission fluid to keep picking up anything. It’s also been keeping the transmission cool for a while, and that means it’s nearing the end of its usefulness. At this point, the transmission fluid is either really dark brown or black. You won’t be able to see through it and you might even be starting to experience some trouble with your car’s transmission.

The real problem can be if you see bright pink transmission fluid under your car. This means that water has somehow gotten into your transmission, which is seriously terrible news. Your car’s transmission is meant to stay a greasy, oily environment and water is not good for it by any stretch. If you do see pink transmission fluid underneath your car, it’s best not to drive your car so that you don’t damage the transmission any further than it already is. It’s also very likely that you have been having some trouble with the transmission by this point.

Do you suspect that there’s something going on with your car’s transmission fluid? Let MDP Diesel & Auto in Jackson, MI take a look for you. We can inspect the entire transmission and let you know what we find. If your transmission does need repairs, you’ll know exactly what is necessary.

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