Most car owners don’t see transmission fluid all that often, and that’s a good thing. The problem is that if you’re seeing transmission fluid at all, there’s a leak and it has to get fixed as soon as possible. Southcross Auto Service wants you to know at a glance whether the problem is a minor one, like maybe just a leak, or a more major issue. Take a look at what the different colors of transmission fluid mean.
Red
Red is the optimal color for your transmission fluid. Brand-new transmission fluid is translucent and reddish-tinted. Now, beyond color, if you’re seeing puddles of red transmission fluid under your car, that means you’ve got a leak. Leaks are never good and are something you should get checked out as soon as possible.
Brown
If you’re seeing brown transmission fluid, there’s a range that’s good and there’s a range that’s starting to get iffy. Reddish-brown transmission fluid or even brown fluid that is still fairly translucent is good. That means that the fluid isn’t used up and that it can still do its job. But fluid that is veering toward dark brown and that is starting to be opaque means that the fluid has picked up a lot of grime in the transmission and it’s likely in need of a change.
Black
Black transmission fluid means that it’s not able to do what it’s there to do at all. This is transmission fluid that is too full of grime and contaminants to lubricate the transmission well at all and it definitely isn’t going to be able to keep cleaning up anything. This is transmission fluid that is at the end of its life in a big way.
Pink
You might think that pink transmission fluid is just fine. After all, the new stuff is pale red, right? Not so much. Pink fluid means that it’s been contaminated by water and water is not something that you need in your transmission. By this point, you’re probably experiencing a lot of other issues with your transmission, but it’s definitely a bad sign.
Spotted some transmission fluid under your car? It’s always a good idea to get that looked at as quickly as possible. Give us a call at Southcross Auto Service in Savage, MN right away. We can diagnose the problem and get any leaks or other issues corrected. Don’t wait when it comes to transmission issues, because they only get worse.
