Different views of used ATF

[Samik8377]

Hello,

After reading on this forum that ATF can look very bright when it the dipstick wiped on tissue paper but can be much darker in reality, I decided to syringe out some ATF (JWS 3309) to experiement. Indeed the ATF is looking dark burgundy color in the tumbler and bright on a white plate. Quite a surprise for me !

Wondering if this means that the ATF itself is not oxidized too much (to turn brown) yet, but has some debris in it which is blocking light when put in the tumbler to make it look dark...

Does ATF turn dark burgundy from bright red rather quickly? Is this ATF it good for 2000 more miles or so?

Attaching relevant photos for reference; both shot in daylight using the same smartphone and unedited.

 

[blufeb95]

It's normal for the dye to change color fairly quickly, if the fluid looks relatively clean on a white towel it should be fine, even lightly used fluids can look fairly dark when decanted into clear container but if the fluid doesn't look super dark or smell burnt when wiped from the dipstick it should be good to go until the next service interval.

 

[Samik8377]

It's normal for the dye to change color fairly quickly, if the fluid looks relatively clean on a white towel it should be fine, even lightly used fluids can look fairly dark when decanted into clear container but if the fluid doesn't look super dark or smell burnt when wiped from the dipstick it should be good to go until the next service interval.

What do you think of the fluid in the photo? It does not smell burnt.

 

[blufeb95]

Looks fine to me, it's clearly still notably red especially in the light, so it looks perfectly fine to me.

 

[dnewton3]

Color shift isn't a good way to judge the viability of any lube. It certainly isn't a means of assessing the ability to go another "2000 miles".

Get a UOA.

 

[repairman54]

How many miles on this fluid and in what trans.? If over 35k miles, I would change it.

 

[Samik8377]

How many miles on this fluid and in what trans.? If over 35k miles, I would change it.

It is less than 35K miles and the transmission is Jatco JF405E.

 

[Nuclear_42]

Appearance for the most part does not represent actual fluid condition. Only a oil analysis will truly show the condition. However, if we have more info of vehicle, year, and miles we could better assist.

 

[blufeb95]

It is less than 35K miles and the transmission is Jatco JF405E.

If you've only got 35k on it and no transmission problems, there's no reason to waste money on a UOA. Just change it at whatever the interval is for your car, it sounds like you're planning to change it in a few thousand anyways, Technically "color doesn't tell you the condition of the fluid" but color and a common sense approach that 35k mile transmission fluid may be a little darker than new fluid would say that the fluid is fine if the transmission works fine and doesn't have that horrible burnt transmission fluid smell.

 

[Samik8377]

Just change it at whatever the interval is for your car.

That is the issue, the User Manual does not state any change interval based on years, only based on miles ! (100000miles)

 

[blufeb95]

That is the issue, the User Manual does not state any change interval based on years, only based on miles ! (100000miles)

If you're not putting a ton of miles on it probably won't make much difference whether you ever change it or not and it sounds like you were already planning on changing it, you can change it now or in 2000miles it won't make any difference when, I wouldn't waste money on a UOA when you could buy the fluid to do a drain and fill for the same amount, choosing to do any maintenance is better than most people most cars go to the junkyard with like 150-200k on the clock and the factory fill still in the transmission.

 

[jhellwig]

Not in a transmission but Dex/Merc being used as hydraulic fluid for about 5 years in a unit running all the time. Even the new stuff has a dark tinge to it in larger pails.