• Home
  • Services
  • Specials
  • Blog
  • Location
  • Testimonials
  • About Us
Cloquet Automotive - Transmission Specialists

What Can You Learn from the Color and Smell of Automatic Transmission Fluid?

8/26/2013

8 Comments

 
There's a  lot you can learn about the condition of your transmission just by examining the fluid. Today, many manufacturers have begun to stray from the traditional red color. Transmission fluids may be green, yellow, some may even have a bluish tint. But in virtually every case, clean fluid will look clean and smell clean. So checking the fluid’s color and giving it a little sniff is a great indication of whether your transmission is in good shape, or in need of service.

Here are the basic conditions you are looking for:
New Transmission Fluid
New Transmission Fluid
New transmission fluid is usually transparent, and relatively odorless. A few years ago, virtually every transmission fluid was red; technicians would aptly describe a transmission with exceptionally clean fluid as being "cherry."  Clean, Clear Fluid, with Virtually No Odor— the fluid’s like new. Chances are the transmission’s working fine. Use the vehicle mileage or time since it was last serviced to determine whether you should have the transmission serviced.
Picture
Slightly Burnt Transmission Fluid


Slight Brownish Tint, with a Lightly Burnt Odor— the fluid’s beginning to burn, and is probably due for a service. If you didn’t have the fluid exchanged completely the last time you had the transmission serviced, you may just be looking at the old oil that was left in the transmission. As long as the transmission seems to be working okay, consider a complete fluid exchange service in the not-too-distant future.
Picture
Burnt Transmission Fluid

Brown Color, with a Distinctly Burnt or Varnished Odor— the fluid’s burnt, and you may already be experiencing transmission operating problems. If the trans seems to be operating okay, you might still get away with a complete fluid exchange service and filter replacement. But there’s little doubt that the transmission is beginning to wear, so the best you can expect from a service is to buy some time. Eventually you’ll be facing a transmission job.
Picture
Severely Burnt Transmission Fluid
Black Color, with a Stench that Will Make Your Toes Curl— the fluid’s severely burnt, and the transmission probably is, too. You’re probably experiencing a serious transmission operating failure. A service at this point will usually be a complete waste of money; the trans is going to need a rebuild. And there’s the possibility of related problems, such as a clogged trans cooler or a cooling system problem. Make sure you have these systems checked at the same time, to avoid a second transmission failure.
Of course, fluid condition isn’t the only thing technicians check when examining a transmission’s condition. They also look at operating condition, computer system codes, and any loose material in the pan, to name just a few. Oil condition is just one of a series of clues they use to diagnose transmission condition.

If you’re unsure of whether your transmission fluid indicates a problem, stop by Cloquet Automotive at 1310 18th street Cloquet, MN, 55720 or call us at 218-879-1974.  We would be happy to help you out.
8 Comments
auto glass repair Murrieta link
9/4/2017 02:30:53 am

With the growth of the auto glass repair industry, there is a huge requirement for repair and replacement technicians. Auto glass jobs are quite challenging as technicians are required to be skilled at their task and maintain a pleasing attitude towards customers.

Reply
Autohaus in Leer link
10/2/2017 10:20:52 am

Reinsurance can be defined as an agreement between two insurance companies. The re-insurer in this arrangement is the second business and provides risk management for paying claim shares arising from initial insurance company. Auto dealers are now embracing owning reinsurance companies to enjoy coverage for different policies in their contracts.

Reply
booster seats for toddlers link
10/3/2017 04:31:11 am

Browse through a huge selection of booster car seats at iCandyKids.com.

Reply
Bella Elliott
2/7/2019 04:29:54 am

Thanks for helping me out to understand the quality of the transmission oil based on its color. Use of burnt transmission oil in the transmission could have a negative influence on the performance of the vehicle. So, it is really essential to inspect the quality of the transmission fluid on a daily basis and if necessary replace it in time to keep the transmission in working order. Skipping transmission fluid replacement could have a disastrous impact on the performance of the vehicle. For more assistance, visit
https://carbahnautoworks.com/mercedes-service/

Reply
Shanika Rathnayake link
2/7/2019 11:47:00 pm

Transmission fluids can be of different color and smell. Transmission fluid may be blue, green and some may even of bluish color. New transmission fluid looks clean and smells clean. It is usually red in color. It indicates that the transmission is working fine. At times the fluid is slightly brownish tint with a little burnt odor. Here the fluid is beginning to burn and is due for a service. Brown color with a distinctively burnt fluid indicates a transmission with operating problems. So, the color and smell of transmission fluid gives us information about the transmission.

Reply
Peggy Robinson
2/11/2019 04:03:51 am

The color of the transmission fluid needs to be inspected regularly and information given in this article helps a lot to evaluate the quality of the transmission fluid on the basis of its color. Use of burnt transmission oil could jeopardize the transmission. So, one should inspect the quality of the different types of lubricants used in the vehicle for the various purpose on a daily basis and if necessary should be replaced with suitable substitutes. Besides, mechanical issues in the transmission need to be fixed in time to prevent any major problem. Readers may like to visit
https://www.grouponemotorwerks.com/german-auto-transmission-repair-services/

Reply
Ivy Morrison
2/13/2019 05:14:51 am

The color of the different types of lubricants used in the vehicle helps a lot to evaluate the quality of such lubricants. Lubricants used in different components of the vehicle including the transmission and the engine reduces the friction among different components of the concerned components and by doing so it keeps those components in working order. However, such lubricants need to be replaced after a certain time interval to keep the vehicle in working order and the color of the concerned lubricant should be taken into consideration while evaluating the quality of the concerned lubricants. For the replacement of different types of lubricants, visit
https://www.cerroneseuropean.com/appointments/

Reply
Emma
6/23/2022 07:12:55 pm

What content is this? So useful and I am one satisfied reader. I want to share a company who helps me with retaining my VW’s tip-top shape. “Northside Autohaus”. https://northsideautohaus.com.au They have spectacular car maintenance services that specializes on Volkswagens and Audis. Thanks again!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Cloquet Automotive Transmission Specialists

    Follow @CloqAuto

    Cloquet Automotive

    Transmission Specialist for over 30 years!  

    Categories

    All
    Acceleration
    Battery
    Brakes
    Car Care Tips
    Deals/Coupons/Specials
    Diagnostics
    Differential/Drivetrain
    Fuel Economy
    Performance
    Powertrain
    Safety
    Shocks & Struts
    Summer
    Suspension/Steering
    Tires
    Transmission
    Winter

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    July 2017
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    October 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    March 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

SITE MAP

HOME   -   SERVICES   -   ABOUT US   -   TESTIMONIALS   -   SPECIALS   -   LOCATION   -   MEDIA GALLERY   -   BLOG  
Cloquet Automotive
1310 18th Street
Cloquet, MN 55720   I   Phone: 218-879-1974

Follow - Tweet - Share - Contact - Watch
Proudly powered by Weebly