Automotive Technology/Automatic Transmission Fluid

Automatic Transmission Fluid is a lubricating oil with friction modifiers and detergents

• Sometimes used in power steering, manual gear boxes, transfer boxes
• used by some as an additive to motor oil to clean the residue from the oil passages
• used by some to defog plastic lamp covers

If the fluid is

• Dark brown or black and/or has a burnt odor, the fluid has been overheated
• Milky white color means coolant has leaked into the transmission
• Dark particles come from clutch or band material
• Silver-white particles come from the transmission parts
• Coating on the stick indicates fluid oxidation