# Automatic Transmission Fluid **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 24, 2016, 7:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-fluid/92614 "2016-02-24T19:34:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sloepoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sloepoke](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sloepoke)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 7:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-fluid/92614/1 "2016-02-24T19:34:18Z")
This is something I’m just curious about . Years ago a friend was looking to buy a used car off a car lot . He asked me to go along to look at cars with him . One car he liked the looks of was a Chrysler product , If I remember correctly a Dodge & we test drove it . It ran well & the transmission shifted fine & seemed to work properly . When we got back to the lot I checked the transmission fluid & it was brown , about the color of engine oil after a fresh change . It didn’t look dirty or burnt & didn’t smell burnt . I advised him against buying the car because of the color of the transmission fluid & he didn’t buy it but probably would have otherwise . Has there ever been automatic transmission fluid that was brown & supposed to look brown ? I’ll add , it was definitely the transmission fluid I checked & not the engine oil . ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-fluid/92614/2 "2016-02-24T19:38:54Z")
I get my transmission fluid exchanged every 30,000 miles. It goes in bright pink. A week later, it’s pinkish-brown. Why? Because exchanging the transmission fluid never gets all of the old stuff out, and then what’s left mixes with the new stuff and gets dulled down right quick. ---
**Author:** ![Sloepoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sloepoke](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sloepoke)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 7:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-fluid/92614/3 "2016-02-24T19:49:47Z")
I don’t think I remember seeing fluid that looked & smelled clean that didn’t have any hint of a red look to it . ---
**Author:** ![sgtrock21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/sgtrock21/32/246_2.png) [@sgtrock21](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sgtrock21)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 8:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-fluid/92614/4 "2016-02-24T20:49:47Z")
I tend to misremember many things. But I think Type F (Ford) ATF was amber verses Dexron (GM) that was red. I don’t remember which color Chryslers used. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-fluid/92614/5 "2016-02-24T21:23:00Z")
Chrysler used ATF3, now ATF4, which are pink/red. Could be the Dodge had the wrong fluid in it, which, according to the [allpar.com](http://allpar.com) site is a major mistake. I think it was reasonable to see a big caution flag in that off-color trans fluid. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 10:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-fluid/92614/6 "2016-02-24T22:36:59Z")
Transmission fluid is bright red when it comes out of the container. Here’s a chart that shows when to service the transmission fluid by it’s color. > **[Transmission Service in Yorktown VA](http://www.americanprideautomotive.com/transmission-service/)** > > Come get your Transmission Service done at American Pride Automotive (Williamsburg) in Yorktown VA Tester ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 11:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-fluid/92614/7 "2016-02-24T23:02:26Z")
The dye used in some automatic transmission fluid is not permanent; **FLUID COLOR** Mopar ATF+4® has exceptional durability. However, the red dye used in ATF+4® is not permanent; as the fluid ages it may become darker or appear brown in color. ATF+4® also has a unique odor that may change with age. With ATF+4® fluid, color and odor are no longer indicators of fluid condition and do not necessarily support a fluid change. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-fluid/92614/8 "2016-02-24T23:39:45Z")
I don’t think that should have been a deal breaker. It was due for an ATF change, but it was not to the point of doing any damage. It would have been a good negotiating point though as the ATF should have been changed ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 11:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-fluid/92614/9 "2016-02-24T23:42:14Z")
I’ve never thought that tranny color was an indicator of if it’s still good. The only indicator I’ve ever used was did it smell burnt. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 12:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-fluid/92614/10 "2016-02-25T00:03:54Z")
[http://myautomatictransmission.com/how-to-check-condition-of-atf.htm](http://myautomatictransmission.com/how-to-check-condition-of-atf.htm) Tester ---
**Author:** ![galant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/77aa72/32.png) [@galant](https://community.cartalk.com/u/galant)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-fluid/92614/11 "2016-02-25T00:14:37Z")
I have bought quite a few used cars with 20-40K miles on them where I am sure nobody changed the fluid before me and the fluid has always been brown with almost no trace of red in it. I just do 3 drain and refills when I get them and keep doing one drain/refill at around 20K miles after.