I'm curious what you think is changing the color of atf? Could it be friction material from clutch/band wear? Or that the fluid was overheated?

Also I would like to know, if there is a way to determine if the atf is degraded? Think I will look into an oil analysis of the atf. For my Tacoma.

 

I just talked to a friend who recently retired from the Auto Mechanic trade.
He said what he does is disconnect the return line from the cooler, and put it in a bucket. Run the warmed up car, and add atf, thru the dipstick tube, at the same rate it's coming out the line and into the bucket.

 

color is just a dye that can react to heat of normal operating temp, or even the small amount of oxidation from the air as it enters service.
It does not reflect the hydraulic properties of the oil.

Google atf z1 color and you will find a bunch of debate threads including service instructions from Honda themselves saying both color and smell actually is irrelevant in judging the fluid.

So if you really want to know you will need to send it in for testing.

Practically in the real world though? you can just go by your gut and change it whenever for piece of mind, it's relatively not that expensive or difficult

 

Love this Thread


mines is light brown changing it this week Yup

 

Wow! Discolored, burnt, and having metal chips or flakes in it, and they say it is still good!
They must be talking about transmissions that are still under warranty!

Back in 1970, working at a Ford dealer, we had a Mustang that was burning a quart of oil in 1000 miles. Fords opinion was that it was normal! BS They didn't want to fix it.

Feeling better all the time having bought a m/t Fit.

Someone with a a/t Fit, with burned, discolored fluid, should send it to a lab, and see how they feel about it.

If you could ask an chemist at an Oil mfg, about burnt, discolored atf, i wonder what they would say. Not an oil company, that is connected to a car mfg.

 

My 2Cents and idgaf if i waste money if its not the same color shit has to go replace it

 

I've been using Red Line D6 in mine! (08 AT Fit)

Red Line Synthetic Oil - Automatic Transmission Fluids - D6 ATF

Compatible Honda DW-1! Transmission was awesome with that. Even better then with factory oil! The reason why i prefer Red Line transmission oils is they carry a lot more fluids for specific applicatons where AMSoil ATF seems to more on the Universal side of the Force! Nothing wrong about AMSoil Motor Oils, it's what i'm using in 5w20 flavor!

MArko!!

 

At work I work with a retire auto transmission Allison oil engineer. He says Honda ATF is NOTHING special and running Amsoil or Redline is fine. Honda has you all spooked on their BS. In fact Honda DW-1 is kinda lame ATF when compared to Amsoil and Redline. DW-1 is sub-standard.

 

Honda mtf is shit too. Ask all the civic si people. They will tell you that their trans have issue in cold weather with the honda crap then switch over to redline or amsoil and it becomes problem free.

 

My oil of choice is Royal Purple. When I moved to Orlando, a friend that lived in Daytona Beach had a 95 Honda Prelude VTEC (I had an 00 S2000 and 98 Prelude SH) and a Honda 929RR bike used what he used in his bike in my car, i looove it adds power too. Now tranny fluid idk if they have but if they do, you can bet i'll switch.