

If you pull the dipstick and the transmission fluid is black, get a fluid flush as soon as possible before it grows into more significant problems. Black transmission fluid is oxidized and burnt, which means that it’s no longer providing the necessary lubrication for your transmission system. If your transmission fluid is black, it’s a cause for concern, and it’s time to replace the fluid. Most vehicles won’t require a transmission fluid change until they hit the 100,000-mile threshold, and that’s when the fluid will start to reach this darker brown stage. Once it reaches this stage, it’s time to start considering replacing your transmission fluid. BrownĪs your transmission fluid ages, it goes from a bright and semi-transparent amber all the way to an opaque brown color. Your transmission fluid will start to have a maroon tint after just a few thousand miles, and will stay this way for most of its service life. It doesn’t mean that you need to replace it yet. All that it means is that the transmission fluid has some wear. If your transmission fluid has a maroon tint, that’s perfectly alright. Keep in mind that it won’t maintain this color for long, and it will start to transition to a maroon color after only a few thousand miles. Not only will the transmission fluid have a bright red color, but it will also be semi-translucent. It’s fresh transmission fluid, and this is precisely what it’ll look like after a fluid change. If you check your transmission fluid and it has a light red or amber color, this is ideal. If the fluid is pink, you won’t just need to replace the fluid you’ll need to repair and potentially rebuild the transmission. Typically, this water is actually coolant, and it means you have some faulty gaskets that you need to replace. Pink transmission fluid means that water’s getting into the system. If you check your transmission fluid and it’s more pink than red, you have a problem. Below, I’ll highlight the five most common colors and tell you what each one means! Transmission Fluid Color Chart 1. If you know what you’re looking at, the different colors you see in your transmission fluid can tell you quite a bit. Very Dark Brown or Black – Very Old & Burnt.
