Does ATF color mean anything?

[Danimal1q2w3]

Hey all. I see so many posts in the PCMO threads that the color of motor oil means nothing. It’s so commonly said that if your ATF isn’t red it needs to be changed. Is there any logic to that? Vehicle in question is a 2012 Buick LaCrosse 3.6 with the 6T70 transmission. Did my first of 3 drain and fills today and the fluid was significantly darker than the factory fill which I put 94k on. Why I drained out was more of a... brown with a touch of red. The red was there but... you almost had to look for it. I didn’t put it on a paper towel. Didn’t want to contaminate my used oil analysis sample and the rest was in a filthy drain pan
This fluid only had 38k. It was Valvoline MaxLife Synthetic.
Replacing it today was AMSOIL Signature Series ATF. Already feels dramatically smoother

 

[Lubener]

The color will indicate if the fluid has been subject to high temperatures. Darker red doesn't mean it needs changing but brown does. If your fluid looks real bad in just 38k miles, you got some issues brewing. Doesn't surprise me with a GM transaxle.

 

[Danimal1q2w3]

The color will indicate if the fluid has been subject to high temperatures. Darker red doesn't mean it needs changing but brown does. If your fluid looks real bad in just 38k miles, you got some issues brewing. Doesn't surprise me with a GM transaxle.

The filter on this transmission isn’t serviceable either... would a more aggressive OCI help?

 

[Ihatetochangeoil]

Hey all. I see so many posts in the PCMO threads that the color of motor oil means nothing. It’s so commonly said that if your ATF isn’t red it needs to be changed. Is there any logic to that? Vehicle in question is a 2012 Buick LaCrosse 3.6 with the 6T70 transmission. Did my first of 3 drain and fills today and the fluid was significantly darker than the factory fill which I put 94k on. Why I drained out was more of a... brown with a touch of red. The red was there but... you almost had to look for it. I didn’t put it on a paper towel. Didn’t want to contaminate my used oil analysis sample and the rest was in a filthy drain pan
This fluid only had 38k. It was Valvoline MaxLife Synthetic.
Replacing it today was AMSOIL Signature Series ATF. Already feels dramatically smoother

Really? Just for this very purpose I save a (water) bottle of drained fluid (with date & mileage so I don't even try to "remember") for visual comparison. I also add red lubegard per bottle directions when I change ATF. https://www.lubegard.com/products/red/

 

[Danimal1q2w3]

Really? Just for this very purpose I save a (water) bottle of drained fluid (with date & mileage so I don't even try to "remember") for visual comparison. I also add red lubegard per bottle directions when I change ATF. https://www.lubegard.com/products/red/

Really. I’m hoping the AMSOIL Signature Series does the trick! I’m going to take a sample at 20k and give it a used oil analysis just to satisfy curiosity

 

[SoNic67]

I see so many posts in the PCMO threads that the color of motor oil means nothing.

Fanboys of Toyota usually because Toyota factory fill of WS oxidizes very fast. I changed mine (RAV4) at about 68k miles and it was dark black/violet.
That's not acceptable IMO, my older Fords that used Mercon V never did that.
Washed it out with some drains/refills of MaxLife. My fill now is ASIN WS, full synthetic, I really don't trust too much the MaxLife hype.
Also you might want to check transmission temps. Last summer, in 98F outside temps, stop-and-go traffic, my transmission reached 215F. Also the factory air intake was sucking heated air at 105F while withing at stop lights.
I added an auxiliary cooler.

 

[demarpaint]

Color serves a purpose imo. It can indicate if the fluid is dirty or burnt. When checking a used car with a transmission fluid dipstick it is one of the first things I check. Over the years I've walked away from a few cars because of the color and smell of the ATF. A savvy car seller might change the ATF prior to selling a car if the color of the ATF is bad, that's why I always test drive a car too. It still amazes me how many people don't test drive cars before they buy them.

 

[SoNic67]

A savvy car seller might change the ATF prior to selling a car if the color of the ATF is bad, that's why I always test drive a car too.

I almost walked away from buying a car when I saw in their open garage door the open/used bottles of transmission fluid (they didn't had the presence to hide them better). I did test drive it anyway and, at a hard acceleration, it stumbled the shifts. Walked away.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

If it's any shade lighter than brown then it's a useless indicator of how long the fluid can remain in service. People have their own subjective limits to color but it's subjective rather than objective (ie, based upon an analysis of the ATF).

 

[SoNic67]

If I am in doubt about a fluid, I would rather do a drain/refill, than not do anything and keep wondering.

 

[c502cid]

Years ago when I got my first Allison transmission truck I did a drain and fill to genuine Allison Transynd, planning to do 3 total. Fluid came out was red. After about 10,000 miles I did another, the fluid was brownish. At my third the fluid was brown (had no change in smell though, wasn't burnt). I thought I was losing my transmission even thought the shifting was flawless. I posted on a few truck forums and I believe it was Dnewton who taught me that transmission fluid had dyes in it and color.... IN MY CASE... had nothing to do with if the Transynd was good or bad. Follow up fluid testing confirmed it. 120,000 working/towing miles later that transmission is still working hard, although the color still freaks me out. He also taught me you could extend the Transynd fluid change intervals wayyyyyy out there, and sent me the Allison documentation to back it up.

 

[demarpaint]

If I am in doubt about a fluid, I would rather do a drain/refill, than not do anything and keep wondering.

Me too.

 

[Hall]

Ford had to send out a tech bulletin advising dealerships that Mercon LV that's not red anymore isn't an automatic sign of it being old, dirty, etc. It changes from red apparently very, very quickly and this is acceptable.

 

[t1snwrbrdr12]

Ford had to send out a tech bulletin advising dealerships that Mercon LV that's not red anymore isn't an automatic sign of it being old, dirty, etc. It changes from red apparently very, very quickly and this is acceptable.

Hyundai did the same a few years ago. Hyundai fluid looked shot at about 15k miles even on brand new vehicles.

 

[Danimal1q2w3]

Years ago when I got my first Allison transmission truck I did a drain and fill to genuine Allison Transynd, planning to do 3 total. Fluid came out was red. After about 10,000 miles I did another, the fluid was brownish. At my third the fluid was brown (had no change in smell though, wasn't burnt). I thought I was losing my transmission even thought the shifting was flawless. I posted on a few truck forums and I believe it was Dnewton who taught me that transmission fluid had dyes in it and color.... IN MY CASE... had nothing to do with if the Transynd was good or bad. Follow up fluid testing confirmed it. 120,000 working/towing miles later that transmission is still working hard, although the color still freaks me out. He also taught me you could extend the Transynd fluid change intervals wayyyyyy out there, and sent me the Allison documentation to back it up.

When I get UOA results I’ll post them here

 

[SoNic67]

Hyundai did the same a few years ago. Hyundai fluid looked shot at about 15k miles even on brand new vehicles.

My wife's Kia Soul fluid was even darker than my Toyota RAV4, the attached pic is the drained oil at 55k miles (bought car used, we're second owners).
I just don't trust the manufacturers with their claims that dark oil is still OK, not while other full synthetic oils keep their color. That is not a good looking oil, no matter who you are!
What they care is warranty period and that's all. They are happy to sell you a car every 3-5 years.
Even if I am wrong, I prefer to spend a few bucks on oil changes than worrying about oil color

 

[Greasymechtech]

I could care less about the color

If I can feel a difference in shift quality, that means I went too long without a service

The drain/refill gallon ATF regimen on most of my cars is yearly, about 10k miles. Wifes car is 20k in 2 years.

Bulletins from automakers concerning color=meaningless

 

[demarpaint]

I could care less about the color

If I can feel a difference in shift quality, that means I went too long without a service

The drain/refill gallon ATF regimen on most of my cars is yearly, about 10k miles. Wifes car is 20k in 2 years.

Bulletins from automakers concerning color=meaningless

Color=Meaningless should be taken with a grain of salt. I have seen ATF almost a dark gray metallic looking, and in a Ford I checked out for a friend very dark, a blackish/brown. Both vehicles drove and shifted ok. IIRC the Ford had a pretty noticeable delay going into reverse when cold. When it was warm it was OK. Bottom line had the owner driven the car prior to us checking it out, and me not looking at the dipstick, or had my friend gone alone he would have bought the car. So while changing color EG: from bright red to a brownish red might be meaningless, some color changes should be taken very seriously.

 

[Greasymechtech]

No, the automakers statement concerning color is meaningless.

 

[t1snwrbrdr12]

My wife's Kia Soul fluid was even darker than my Toyota RAV4, the attached pic is the drained oil at 55k miles (bought car used, we're second owners).
I just don't trust the manufacturers with their claims that dark oil is still OK, not while other full synthetic oils keep their color. That is not a good looking oil, no matter who you are!
What they care is warranty period and that's all. They are happy to sell you a car every 3-5 years.
Even if I am wrong, I prefer to spend a few bucks on oil changes than worrying about oil color

I agree. I wouldn’t keep dirty fluid in my vehicles either regardless of if the manufacturer comes out to say it’s normal.