92 f150 5.0 v-8

mechanic said my tranny fluid is burnt and said i would need a complete overhaul. tranny has only slipped a couple of times and has not been "too rough". i asked him to replace the fluid and filter in the hopes that i might get lucky and solve the problem (a $50 gamble that could save $1600). he refused and said that changing the fluid will only make the problem worse. is this guy right or is he just trying to jerk me around?

brian

 

Sounds like he is jerking your chain. If the truck shifted OK, it's probably OK. If he won't do what you ask, go elsewhere or do it yourself it's not that hard, just follow the manual.
John

 

The guy wants in your wallet real bad! Drain the fluid. change the filter and you should be in good shape if it has only slipped like you said. He may say the oil smells real burn't, Is it still red in color or has it turned black?

 

Accually I have heard that if you let it go to long by changing the fluid now it will cause it to start acting worse. I bet the guy was trying to save his butt, if he changed it with fresh clean fluid and it broe loose some of the build up and caused tranny problems you would be going back after him for ruining your tranny. by putting new oil in a tranny that has not been properly serviced you can very easily break loose build up, especialy since tranny fluid has such a high concentration of detergents. I would not doubt it a bit if you have more tranny problems after you service it. unless you have been good about getting it service reguarly. I know many people that after they got 70 to 80 thousand mile decided that it was about time to service them and then they have major problems.. Any way i am sure that some will disagree, but that is my oppinion. My tranny had 83,000 and i decided to have it serviced, I got the truck with 60,000 and I don't know if it ever had been done before that or not, but 3 months after sevicing it it went out and I had to have it rebuilt. luckly the $1600 bill was covered by an extended warenty I had bought.


good luck
Scott

 

the color is brown, maybe w/ some red in it if you were thinking on marth stewart terms. but its pretty brown...looks the color of brand new motor oil...a light brown.

 

I would try changing the fluid and filter. All you got to loose is the price of the oil and filter. If it is going to cash in, it is going to do it sooner or later anyway.

 

mickelsons is pretty much correct. Brown, burned smelling fluid is an indication of a problem, usually.

The high detergent in the new fluid could cause all the gunk to come loose and screw up a lot of stuff inside. The clutch material may also come apart sooner.

It's really a 50/50 thing. Maybe you may want to pull the pan and see how much clutch material and metal is in the pan. If very little, I'd take the chance of changing all the fluid, plus the converter and filter. If it's full of junk, find a reliable transmission rebuilder, not AAMCO or Cottman type places.

[hr]
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'94 E-150 Conversion Van 4.9 / C-6 -- '89 Mustang LX 5.0

 

just thought i would let you guys know...when i dropped my pan i found that my fluid was not in as bad of shape as the jerk led me to believe. it was dirty, but it was definitely not burnt. i changed it out and the filter and it has been fine so far. some of these tranny shop guys would just assume overhaul and bill than actually find out what the problem is. the crappy part is i paid him $70 to "diagnose the problem", which probly consisted of him pulling out my dipstick. of course now that i have officially gloated it will probly go out tomorrow.

 

... and if it does, I'm sure we'll all stand ready to help you however we can. Best of luck, and may your truck have many more useful miles on this transmission!!!