What does GREY transmission fluid mean?

Over time, the parts in your transmission wear down and “shed” metal into your transmission fluid. This turns the fluid from a clear bright red color to gray, brown or even black.

What color is transmission fluid when its bad?

The reason why transmission fluid changes from bright red to brown to black as it ages is that is it oxidizing. Oxidation is bad for transmission fluid. Dark brown or black transmission fluid is dirty and incapable of lubricating the hundreds of transmission parts. It will cause damage if you don't have it changed.

What color is transmission fluid when it needs to be changed?

Transmission fluid naturally takes on a darker, deeper color as you drive, but in some cases, it's appearance will be a sign that you require service. Here are the signs you should look for: If your transmission fluid is a dark, translucent red, it's either new or like-new.

What does oxidized transmission fluid look like?

Brown/Dark Brown

The brown transmission fluid will become opaque, which means you can't see through it anymore. Brown and dark brown hues indicate that the transmission fluid is no longer viscous and it is oxidizing. Oxidizing means the fluid is filling with air bubbles and is unable to do its job.

What does cloudy transmission fluid mean?

The milky substance you are seeing on the transmission dipstick is a result of cross-contaminated coolant and transmission fluid. More than likely, your radiator has failed which has allowed coolant to enter the transmission system.

TRANSMISSION FLUID COLORS EXPLAINED

What does transmission fluid look like when it needs to be changed?

Fresh transmission fluid will look bright pink or red. You can check the condition of the fluid as well as its level using a dipstick, located in the engine bay. If the fluid level is low, that indicates a leak, and you should schedule an appointment with a qualified repair facility.

Can dirty transmission fluid cause shifting problems?

3. Shifting Issues. When the transmission fluid isn't clean or is blocked by a clogged filter, the internal components won't have the lubrication they require to function properly. This could lead to shifting issues, grinding gears, slipping transmission or other common symptoms of transmission problems.

Should I change burnt transmission fluid?

If it's dark or has a burnt smell, you'll likely need the fluid changed, and you should also have your transmission inspected for potential problems. The burnt fluid typically means the transmission has overheated, and this requires the attention of a professional mechanic.

How much does transmission flush cost?

Average Cost and Factors

The typical price range for a transmission flush is $125 to $250 – approximately twice as much as a fluid change due to the additional fluid required (12-22 quarts instead of 5-7 quarts) to completely replace the old fluid. The average you can expect to pay is $150 for the full service.

Should I change my transmission fluid if it's never been changed?

If your fluid has never been changed before, replacing it with new fluid can cause the transmission to start slipping, even if it wasn't slipping before. This is because the old fluid will contain clutch material from being in there over time and can actually be helping the transmission to still shift gears.

How do you tell if the transmission is slipping?

Is it better to flush or drain transmission fluid?

It depends on what you want to accomplish. But, first of all, check your owner's manual to see if your vehicle manufacturer recommends one instead of the other. If you want to ensure removal of nearly all the old transmission fluid, get a transmission flush.

How long should transmission fluid last?

If fluid temperatures can be held to 175 degrees F., ATF will last almost indefinitely -- say up to 100,000 miles. But if the fluid temperature goes much higher, the life of the fluid begins to plummet. The problem is even normal driving can push fluid temperatures well beyond safe limits.

How much does Jiffy Lube charge for a transmission fluid change?

On average, transmission flush at Jiffy Lube costs about $150 with average prices ranging from $100 to $200 in the US for 2022.

Can you fix a burnt transmission?

When that smell turns burnt, your transmission fluid has broken down and the system is burning too hot, leading to an increase in friction and corrosive activity in the engine. This type of issue may be easily fixed with a transmission fluid flush and change, or leak repair.

What are the top 5 signs of transmission problems?

How do you know when transmission fluid is bad?

What are the signs of a dirty transmission filter?

How long can a car go without changing transmission fluid?

Automatic: Every 60,000 to 100,000 miles

If you drive manual, most manufacturers will recommend changing your transmission fluid every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. If you have automatic, you can typically boost that range up to 60,000 to 100,000 miles. There's no harm in changing your fluid early.

Can I just add transmission fluid?

Insert long funnel into automatic transmission fluid dipstick hole. Carefully add automatic transmission fluid in small increments and recheck level each time until fluid level reaches "warm" line. CAUTION: DO NOT OVERFILL OR SPILL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID ON HOT ENGINE PARTS!

Can you mix old and new transmission fluid?

This fluid starts to lose its standard properties and should be changed to keep the transmission parts and its performance at its peak. Mixing old and news fluids wont give you the ideal viscosity and the reduces the performance of the transmission system.

Is it OK to change transmission fluid after 100k miles?

Do You Need to Have the Transmission Fluid Changed? The simple answer is yes. But service intervals for new vehicles can exceed 100,000 miles before this needs to be done.

Can a transmission be fixed if its slipping?

You can solve transmission slipping yourself if it's simply low fluid, burnt or ineffective fluid, or transmission leaks. This will often require you to either check the fluid, change the fluid, or fix the transmission leak.

What does a failing transmission sound like?

If the sound resembles humming, buzzing, or clunking, you may be experiencing transmission failure. Bad automatic transmissions may emit humming, buzzing, or whining noises while manual transmissions have harsher “clunking” sounds.

What does low transmission fluid sound like?

If you're like many drivers, you often forget to check the fluid levels in your vehicle, and if the fluid level in your transmission is too low, you will notice a gurgling noise. This noise is caused by the excess air in your transmission line.