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