Clear Automatic Transmission Fluid?

[StormSide]

There is a 1998 Honda CR-V I was looking at. This was at a local used car dealer.
When I checked the transmission fluid it was clear (no color or maybe amber)
and not red. Any idea if this is legit or not?

4cyl with 130000 miles on.

 

[Bartman39]

Most likely not been serviced properly... I`m old school though after looking at it I would smell it and know even more... 😉

 

[zerocool84]

Maybe search the internet or ask on a Honda specific forum to see if that's the correct color for their tranny fluid.

 

[thescreensavers]

Some Google shows, its not supposed to be clear. Its still supposed to be red.

 

[StormSide]

Yeah I searched up and down the net. Only clear honda fluid is for the CVT which is also used on the rear differential on this vehicle.

I guess this is something I should be worried about?

 

[SparkyJJO]

Walk away. Don't look back. Unless you want to put a transmission in it. Some people truly believe that Hondas/Toyotas/whatever are unbreakable and don't need serviced...

Clear just seems really weird though, usually over used trans fluid has a brown color to it or something.

 

[Vette73]

Clear to light brownish is usually when the fuild is so old even the color has burned out. As said I would have smelled it next. If it smells like bad fish/rotton then I would known its proabable never been serviced.

If it was customers car I would do a drain and fill to see if that gets somelife in it. If so then do the same after 500miles or so.

 

[evident]

uhh, you might want to bring it back. you can check this in the owner's manual, but they MUST use honda's ATF-Z1 fluid for the transmission, and that's red! the tranny will break down with any other fluid, PERIOD!

edit: oh wait, i see that you're just looking to buy a used car, in that case, walk away!!!

 

[kornphlake]

A lot of used car dealers will change fluids prior to selling a vehicle, because people like you and me will pull the dipstick. It's hard to tell if the fluid was the wrong color because the dealership replaced the fluid with the wrong fluid thinking the vehicle had a CVT, or it could have been the previous owner who thought an oil salesman knew more than the engineers who designed the transmission and used some clear hydraulic oil instead of transmission fluid. Regardless of the reason, I'd steer clear (no pun intended.)

 

[StormSide]

A lot of used car dealers will change fluids prior to selling a vehicle, because people like you and me will pull the dipstick. It's hard to tell if the fluid was the wrong color because the dealership replaced the fluid with the wrong fluid thinking the vehicle had a CVT, or it could have been the previous owner who thought an oil salesman knew more than the engineers who designed the transmission and used some clear hydraulic oil instead of transmission fluid. Regardless of the reason, I'd steer clear (no pun intended.)

Yes this sounds the most likely. Used car hunting is driving me crazy!! Looked at a 2002
Ford Escape at a Ford dealer yesterday. I happened to get a look at the vehicle before they serviced it and pulled the oil dipstick and it was dry! I had them take it in the garage and
see how much oil it would take to get it full. It was 3 quarts down! No thank you ......

 

[Throckmorton]

Yes this sounds the most likely. Used car hunting is driving me crazy!! Looked at a 2002
Ford Escape at a Ford dealer yesterday. I happened to get a look at the vehicle before they serviced it and pulled the oil dipstick and it was dry! I had them take it in the garage and
see how much oil it would take to get it full. It was 3 quarts down! No thank you ......

Of course that means the next guy will pull the dipstick and think everything is fine!!

 

[Throckmorton]

My auto transmission fluid is pink. Is that bad?