black trans fluide

[3.8Ls2]

I checked my fluide, and it's not red, but it's not gooey and it doesn't smell burnt. So do you think by it just being black it's going to hurt it any? btw it's a 3.8 auto

[landj]

Re: black trans fluide

black? Like motor oil black? What did you do to it to make it black? Just to make sure, you are checking the one with the red handle right?


Black makes me think that there are small but rather numerous quantity of fine metal shavings floating in the oil. If that's true, then I would think the longer you go without a fluid and filter change, the more problems you could have. When was the last time you changed the tranny fluid and filter and cleaned the little magnet out?

But at any rate, even if you never changed it, I would't think it would be black.

[3.8Ls2]

Re: black trans fluide

i mean i drive it pretty hard but i just bought it a week ago, and it's only got 52000 miles on it, and the oil was just changed on last monday, and im changing it again here on monday with synthetic, and as for the tran fluide it did have a hint of red, but not like it should, but their was nothin metal in it at all... i dond't know why it's so dark, and it shifts just fine, other than the occasional "long" rev ( that's what i call when it kinda sits at a rev for a little longer than usual)

[landj]

Re: black trans fluide

Well engine oil is there for a couple of purposes, for the transmission oil its there for even more. One purpose is to provide a fluid to transmit the rotary motion from the engine to the gearbox yet allow for slippage for when the transmission is changing gears (in which case this creates a lot of heat). The next purpose it to provide cooling to the transmission (because of all that heat the oil itself generates). It also provides a hydraulic fluid to actuate all sorts of crazy valves and crap I can't begin to comprehend. And lastly it provides a lubrication to the gears and bearings in the transmission.

When I say metal shavings, I don't mean chips, I just mean that it is filled with microscopic little shavings, kinda like when motor oil turns black (which is a good thing for motor oil to do).

Usually when tranny oil has an overheating problem, it turns brown and smells "burnt". Black makes me think there is something other than an overheating problem.

I would change the tranny fluid and filter and check the magnet for accumulated debris. But something aint right, I sure would like to know what's not right to make it turn black.

What's with "fluide" with in "e"?

[3.8Ls2]

Re: black trans fluide

me too.. but even with it being black it shifts so beautifuly, and a few of my friends do agree that it can't be to good, but they also say that they don't think it could cause to much diffrence. but either way, do you know how i could change the fluid in the tranny isn't their a plug just like when you change oil? if not do you know how?

[landj]

Re: black trans fluide

Changing the tranny fluid is a little more invovled, and generally there is not a plug, though some people install one in the pan themselves. Haynes manual is exceptional at disclosing the details. You'll need to remove the pan (in this process is when all the oil comes a spewing out) and replace the filter, gasket and seal that's inside. I've done it a couple times and while it's not hard, it just takes time, and I've found a proper torque wrench is an indispensible tool to borrow from someone for reinstalling the bolts.

[performabuilt.com]

Re: black trans fluide

I would concur with changing the fluilds and if theres anything in the pan post pics . Black is not good

[CDNFB]

Re: black trans fluide

If you want clean trans fluid there is 3 ways of doing it.

1) Pan Removal
- least effective method, acceptable if you have little or no fluid contamination
- why? Your still going to have half of the dirty fluid in the torque converter if you just drain and change via the pan. The Torque Converter is going to be holding a whole lot of that dirty oil that will mix with your new fluid.
- you have to drain, replace, run, then drain again a couple of times to get the fluid to remain decently clean.

2) Trans Flush
- a better way, recommended for light to moderate fluid contaminations
- All the fluid is replaced in one operation.
- Unless you know what your doing and have the tooling, this is best left up to a transmission shop.
- Fluid will not stay perfectly clean because a lot of the gunk that is making your fluid dirty is trapped (by centrifugal force) in the outer circumference of the torque converter. This gunk will contaminate your clean fluid, but your fluid will still be cleaner than the black stuff you have now.

3) Torque converter replacement.
- the best method, recommended for heavy/sever contamination.
- Drain the fluid from the trans via the pan. Remove the torque converter and install a new converter filled with new fluid. Install new filter, re-install the pan and fill with new fluid.
- now everything is clean, and little chance of cross contamination.

I've seen a torque converter that was cut open for rebuilding and you would not believe the crud that collects in there. I can imagine what yours looks like.

If I was you, I would go to a tranny shop and get a flush done with a good synthetic trans fluid. This way the superior friction reducing properties (less wear and heat) of the synthetic fluid would counter the possible re-contamination of the new fluid by the torque converter.

[3.8Ls2]

Re: black trans fluide

ok. well i looked at my stuff at night and that's when it was black... Now i look at it and it's more brown hint of red to it, kinda like motor oil itself.. so i think i just got it confused with it being night time, but im still gonna get a trans flush and a new t-converter, that way i can be safe. im going to maybe put a new tranny in it to while im in their.. Only cuz i have the money. And ideas to what might help me performance wise. (less than 5,000)

[performabuilt.com]

Re: black trans fluide

www.performabuilt.com LT1 TYPE for pricing

[Tech]

Re: black trans fluide

Performabuilt do you do standard transmissions, as well?

[performabuilt.com]

Re: black trans fluide

Not at present , We have no adequate core supply

[auto666]

Re: black trans fluide

the new tranny is a good idea if your not going that route i would just do a really good flush first and drive it for 5k miles the clutch discs in a severly burnt trany can completly loose there friction material when you change the fluid leaving you with a car that doesnt move if you put a new converter in first you could be just thoughing money away cause you'll need another one if that happends

[3.8Ls2]

Re: black trans fluide

ok well i just got the tranny fluid changed and it's back to red/pink and i plan on taking it to the track tonight... is that not advisable ? but i figure if i just changed it and i take it to the track and run it pretty hard and it's turns black/brown again then something if burning it, and if that's the case should i just get a whole new tranny/trq converter? waht do you guys think?