Last Updated on October 17, 2022
The color of the automatic transmission fluid in your car can help in diagnosing a transmission problem and give you an indication of the overall health of your transmission.
To use the information and automatic transmission fluid (ATF) color chart provided below you must first determine the color of the transmission fluid that is in your transmission or transaxle. To do this, follow these instructions:
- Open your vehicle’s hood and locate the transmission dipstick.
- Pull the dipstick out of the filler tube.
- Determine the fluid color.
Look closely at the fluid on the end of the dipstick to determine the fluid color. If it’s hard to tell, place a few drops of transmission fluid on a clean white sheet of paper to get a more accurate color reading.
Match the color with the closest color shown on the fluid color chart below. The below provides an explanation and suggested course of action for each fluid color.
Related: How to Check Your Transmission Fluid (Manual and Automatic)
Automatic Transmission Fluid Color Chart
Color of Transmission Fluid
Red Transparent
What It Means: This is what new or like new transmission fluid should look like. Keep your fluid in this condition and make sure it doesn’t get low and you will likely never have a serious transmission problem.
Recommended Action: Check the fluid condition regularly and follow the manufacturer’s transmission/transaxle service procedures and service intervals.
Light Brown Semi-Transparent
What It Means: Your transmission fluid is in generally good condition. Maintain this fluid condition and watch for leaks and your transmission will probably outlast the rest of your vehicle.
Recommended Action: Check the fluid condition regularly and follow the manufacturer’s transmission/transaxle service procedures and service intervals.
Dark Brown Opaque
What It Means: Your transmission fluid is old, dirty, and contaminated and doesn’t provide adequate lubrication. Poor lubrication causes excessive wear and damage to internal parts. Dark brown transmission fluid also increases heat inside the transmission, which can quickly lead to transmission failure.
Recommended Action: Take action now before this fluid condition causes serious problems or even transmission failure. Perform a transmission fluid and filter change or a complete flush of the transmission.
Very Dark Brown or Black
What It Means: The transmission fluid is old, dirty, contaminated, and/or oxidized. A burnt odor will confirm oxidization.
Recommended Action: Take action immediately. Some internal damage may have already occurred. If your transmission is still working properly, a fluid and filter change or flush should be performed immediately. If problems already exist, a transmission rebuild may be necessary.
Light Pink
What It Means: When water or coolant has entered the transmission, the friction clutches fall apart and seals are ruined. The water enters the transmission through a damaged or leaking transmission oil cooler line radiator. Complete failure of the transmission is almost certain.
Recommended Action: Unfortunately, you will need to rebuild or replace your transmission.
Other Ways to Check Transmission Fluid Condition
Fluid Smell
Smell the fluid. If it has a burnt odor, the transmission has overheated and the fluid is oxidized. The result is poor lubrication, increased friction, increased heat and excessive wear or damage to internal parts and seals. In most instances, burnt smelling transmission fluid means some internal damage has already occurred.
Blotter Test
Place a couple of drops of the ATF on a paper towel and wait about 30-seconds or so. If the fluid has spread out and is red or light brown in color, the fluid is good – No action is needed. If the fluid does not spread out and is dark in color, the fluid is oxidized. In this case, a fluid and filter change or flush is needed.
How can find good transmision for replace old one ?
You could try searching forums or a local junkyard. They come up on Ebay as well, but shipping might be expensive for something that big and heavy.
When I start my truck and put it in gear and reverse my transmission makes a noise and when I put it in Drive will kick into gear and drive what is my problem
My car while in motion, it ceased; kind of jerked, and stopped moving. It will not reverse, it won’t go forward. It’s a Toyota Sienna, 2004 model. Please, what could be the problem and solution?
Replace your transmission fluid and even clean the line.
Where can I buy a good second hand BMW 318i e46 1998 1.8L Automatic transmission (gearbox). I live in Africa Lusaka, Zambia. I suspect my gearbox is gone because it can’t engage in any front gear except reverse. When front gear it’s just revving up and when I tried to check the transmission fluid in the gear by draining some it’s very dark with a burnt odor.
Ford Mercon LV ATF looks dark in color after 20,000 miles and that is normal.
It’s hard to say. Have someone knowledgeable look at it in person for best results.
It’s not that hard to say, it’s a fact about Mercon LV.
0 VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FACTORY FILLED WITH MERCON LV FLUID (PART # XT-10-
QLV), MAY EXHIBIT DARK COLORED TRANS FLUID THAT MAY LOOK BURNT IN APPEARANCE. THIS IS A NORMAL
CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS FLUID AND WILL NOT AFFECT TRANSMISSION FUNCTION OR DURABILITY. THE MERCON LV FLUID IS A
DEEP RED COLOR, COMPARED TO CONVENTIONAL MERCON V BRIGHT RED FLUID, AND THE COLOR NATURALLY DARKENS AT
RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE. IN SOME CASES, THE FLUID MAY APPEAR TO HAVE A GREEN TINT DUE TO DYE USED TO CHECK FOR
LEAKS AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT. TRANS FLUID COLOR SHOULD NOT BE USED AS SOLE INDICATOR FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIRS
Yeah, personally I didn’t think it was a problem based on the info he shared. However when a user is asking a question like this, I think it is best to refer them to a professional. Thanks for the quote from what looks to be the service manual.
what does ”purple” fluid mean found in my automatic transmission ?
I don’t know that it means anything good or bad. They were probably using Royal Purple ATF.
I have owned a 1961 MG MGA for a little over a year. It is a 4 speed manual. The gearbox fluid is low and is a green color and it feels like an engine oil viscosity. I cannot access the gearbox drain plug so I just want to add oil to fill. Every research I have done said engine oil 20W50 is OK to use in the gearbox. Do you think I can just add oil to fill? Trans runs fine and no issues shifting. Thanks, John.
Sorry John that one’s pretty far outside my wheelhouse. Might be a good question for an MG forum or Facebook group.