Do you know when your transmission fluid needs to be changed? The general rule of thumb is every 30,000 miles, but your owner’s manual may have a different mileage duration. Check the service portion of the manual to see when your vehicle’s manufacturer recommends you get the transmission fluid changed. Make sure to do it at that time to ensure the transmission is always protected. You can also tell by the color of the transmission fluid. Uptown Imports explains more below.
Red
Transmission fluid is red. This is the color it should be at all times. The color is a bright red that is translucent and free from contamination. When the transmission fluid is this color, it is protecting the transmission adequately, drawing heat away from the gears and other moving parts, and also helping the transmission to shift through the gear cycle.
Light Brown
As the transmission fluid gets older, it turns light brown or orange. Provided the fluid is still translucent, you don’t need to have a flush and refill quite yet. Light brown or orange transmission fluid is still doing an adequate job of protecting the transmission and helping it shift gears. This being said, you will need to have your transmission fluid changed soon, so plan for the service in the near future.
Dark Brown
Once the transmission fluid turns dark brown, it definitely needs to be changed right away. Dark brown or even black transmission fluid has oxidized and is damaging the transmission rather than protecting it. This fluid has air bubbles in it that reduce its viscosity, meaning it isn’t lubricating the working transmission parts anymore. If you continue to drive your car with dark brown or black transmission fluid in it, you will notice transmission problems such as difficulty changing gears or getting your vehicle into gear in the first place. You may also hear humming or squealing coming from the transmission.
Pink
Finally, pink transmission fluid oftentimes resembles a strawberry milkshake and this is a sign of transmission death. Pink transmission fluid turns this color because it is a mixture of transmission fluid and engine coolant. In other words, the red fluid is light in color because it has been diluted. This indicates you have a severe leak between your cooling system and transmission.
Call Uptown Imports in Minneapolis, MN, right away if your engine coolant or transmission fluid looks like a strawberry milkshake. You can also count on us to change your transmission fluid every 30,000 miles when it needs it.