Tranny fluid analysis gone bad
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Gig Em, Tx
Tranny fluid analysis gone bad
Bought my truck used and don't know tranny fluid change history. I sent in a sample to Blackstone and it was bad. May be due to fluid never have been changed or trans going south. Have always heard that if you change the fluid after many miles of no change that tranny will go out shortly thereafter. Tranny runs great with no probs. Should I go ahead and change it, get a BG flush and change fluid or just leave it? I would post the results but don't know how. PM me and I will email them if interrested.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Central, Al
Keep in mind that if it had never been flushed before the metals in the analysis will be high since they had longer to accumulate and if you took the sample from the drain plug all of the wear metal is attached to the magnet just above the drain hole which could skew the report. Do a flush and fill and re-analize in 5 - 10 K and see where you are.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Middle Tennessee
Agreed. Change it and drive on. Get another analysis if you like but I'm sure it will go down. I'm not a big analysis guy. Leads to a lot of hand wringing and then what??? Gotta fix what?? Just do proper maintenance and when she's done she's done. You will know it then, and the analysis won't fix it. If poor maintenance led to it you will also know.
That's just me and I stand by with asbestos suit. In-coming.
That's just me and I stand by with asbestos suit. In-coming.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Hartford, WI
That is an old wives tale. I have flushed trannys for many years or changed the fluid or both and never had a problem except once. The trans was running bad and slipping so I dropped the pan and found debris in it. Changed fluid and it ran for a few hundred miles more before it died.
Posting Guru
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From: Jasper, MO
Mine is now at 248k on its original Tranny and has been worked HARD. All I can attribute that to is I change mine TOO often in the eyes of some, doing it every 30,000 miles. That's a hundred dollars every 6 months or so, so I have put approximately a grand into tranny fluid changes. I know of two other similar mileage trucks who are on their second or third tranny, a much higher tab.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2004
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Originally Posted by mrfixit64857
Mine is now at 248k on its original Tranny and has been worked HARD. All I can attribute that to is I change mine TOO often in the eyes of some, doing it every 30,000 miles. That's a hundred dollars every 6 months or so, so I have put approximately a grand into tranny fluid changes. I know of two other similar mileage trucks who are on their second or third tranny, a much higher tab.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Gig Em, Tx
Originally Posted by amiller93
Keep in mind that if it had never been flushed before the metals in the analysis will be high since they had longer to accumulate and if you took the sample from the drain plug all of the wear metal is attached to the magnet just above the drain hole which could skew the report. Do a flush and fill and re-analize in 5 - 10 K and see where you are.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Hartford, WI
Originally Posted by Orezona
What is your 30k mile change? I mean, drain and change or flush yourself and change or Stealer flush and change, Trans Shop flush......you get the idea. Thanks in advance man. That mileage is impressive. I'm not sure whether to jump for joy and show it to my "Dmax/Ally" buddy or cry cause I'll never have a BTS....
Posting Guru
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From: Jasper, MO
Originally Posted by Orezona
What is your 30k mile change? I mean, drain and change or flush yourself and change or Stealer flush and change, Trans Shop flush......you get the idea. Thanks in advance man. That mileage is impressive. I'm not sure whether to jump for joy and show it to my "Dmax/Ally" buddy or cry cause I'll never have a BTS....
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,157
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From: Littleton, Colorado
I too would do the full service on it. (flush and filter and drain the converter)
There is a good article listed above in the transmission section titled:
Changing ATF Fluid in a E4OD and 4R100 transmission
Thats pretty much the way I do mine. I flush every time, and change the filter every other time. I too have towed since day one from 4500lbs to 9500+ lbs in the mountains with a heavy foot and so far the stock tranny is holding up. I'm a firm believer in flushing brakes, p.s., coolant , etc. It may cost a little more now, but you save a lot more later when you don't have to replace everything.
Austin
There is a good article listed above in the transmission section titled:
Changing ATF Fluid in a E4OD and 4R100 transmission
Thats pretty much the way I do mine. I flush every time, and change the filter every other time. I too have towed since day one from 4500lbs to 9500+ lbs in the mountains with a heavy foot and so far the stock tranny is holding up. I'm a firm believer in flushing brakes, p.s., coolant , etc. It may cost a little more now, but you save a lot more later when you don't have to replace everything.
Austin
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Sioux Falls, SD
Steve,
How many miles do you think is on the fluid? What metal readings were high and how much higher than the universal avereages were they? Well, like mentioned above the best thing to do is grab some tranny fluid & a filter, drop the pan and see if there is any debris. There is normally some sludge build up around the magnet. I would recommend installing a magnafine tranny in-line filter (get them at Napa, etc.). Why? because the torque converter is the proven weak link in the drivetrain (especially after adding a chip) and if your torque converter goes and starts sending debris downstream the in-line filter will save the rest of the tranny. The good thing is you caught a potential problem before a break down. SInce she is shifting fine and the TC isn't slipping you might just need a fluid change, still the best whay is to drop the pan and see it with your own eyes.
If you whant a second opinion, take her down to Diesel Innovations in Houston, they are good folks.
How many miles do you think is on the fluid? What metal readings were high and how much higher than the universal avereages were they? Well, like mentioned above the best thing to do is grab some tranny fluid & a filter, drop the pan and see if there is any debris. There is normally some sludge build up around the magnet. I would recommend installing a magnafine tranny in-line filter (get them at Napa, etc.). Why? because the torque converter is the proven weak link in the drivetrain (especially after adding a chip) and if your torque converter goes and starts sending debris downstream the in-line filter will save the rest of the tranny. The good thing is you caught a potential problem before a break down. SInce she is shifting fine and the TC isn't slipping you might just need a fluid change, still the best whay is to drop the pan and see it with your own eyes.
If you whant a second opinion, take her down to Diesel Innovations in Houston, they are good folks.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 111
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From: Warsaw, IN.
I bought a 03 f350 that the previous owner had the dealer service the trans. every 35,000 because he delivered trailers around the country, still on original trans at 439,000 miles, no mis print, 439,000 miles and still shifts solid.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Central, Al
Originally Posted by mrfixit
But at LEAST once a year we open it up just to have a peek