Originally Posted By: MolaKule
The color of new ATF has no relation to its performance.
The amount of color of an ATF out of a newly opened bottle is due to the amount of oil solvent red dye, usually in the range of 75 to 250 ppm.
As far as your "inkblots" you cannot determine much about the ATF's condition.
Good question. My thoughts below:
I believe the efficaccy of the fluid can be understood from the color of the dye compared to original.
I assume that the dye is there only for "signalling" purposes that has nothing to do with the fluid itself (the dye has no lubrication or other property to aid the transmission).
By signalling, I mean, the designers of the dye made it so that it could be used as a proxy for how effective the oil continues to be.
Hence, if the dye has decayed/deteriorated completely, it can be assumed that the oil is beyond its useful purpose. However, if the dye still looks like it used to when the oil was new, it can be assumed that there still is life left in the oil?
I did want to stress that I am not making absolute claims about the color of the oil: I'm simply comparing the change in the dye color over time (and hence why I asked these questions in the first place)
I would love to stand corrected if there is no logical basis in any of my assumptions or questions.
Please teach me more!
The color of new ATF has no relation to its performance.
The amount of color of an ATF out of a newly opened bottle is due to the amount of oil solvent red dye, usually in the range of 75 to 250 ppm.
As far as your "inkblots" you cannot determine much about the ATF's condition.
Good question. My thoughts below:
I believe the efficaccy of the fluid can be understood from the color of the dye compared to original.
I assume that the dye is there only for "signalling" purposes that has nothing to do with the fluid itself (the dye has no lubrication or other property to aid the transmission).
By signalling, I mean, the designers of the dye made it so that it could be used as a proxy for how effective the oil continues to be.
Hence, if the dye has decayed/deteriorated completely, it can be assumed that the oil is beyond its useful purpose. However, if the dye still looks like it used to when the oil was new, it can be assumed that there still is life left in the oil?
I did want to stress that I am not making absolute claims about the color of the oil: I'm simply comparing the change in the dye color over time (and hence why I asked these questions in the first place)
I would love to stand corrected if there is no logical basis in any of my assumptions or questions.
Please teach me more!