A hydraulic breather for a valve body in an automatic transmission, in which is disposed hydraulic equipment, for example, linear solenoid valves. The breather separates oil in the oil pan from the oil in the hydraulilc equipment when the automatic transmission is at work while allowing clean oil from the oil pan to enter the hydraulic equipment when the automatic transmission is at rest. The breating hole is provided in the form of an oil passage extending from hydraulic equipment within the valve body and includes an open-end section disposed in an upper part of the valve body. The open-end is located at a point higher than the working oil level in the automatic transmission. When the automatic transmission is at work, oil in the oil pan is used to lubricate, so the oil level is at its lowest level and the open-end section is above that oil level and thereby connects with air space in the valve body. When the automatic transmission is at rest, the oil level in the oil pan rises and oil from the oil pan enters into the breathing hole.