thanks to all replies on tranny filter.......I guess i am ok with mine being black.....new one on now...........again thanks to all that responded....the winemaker ..2003 f350psd drw 4/4 KR white/ariz beige

 

They get black because they are filtering the clutch material out of the fluid, the pan filter is just a course filter and doesn't catch the clutch material. The tiolet paper roll is the real filter in the transmission system.

 

As Blackhat said where it is, this is what it looks like . . .

 

I am getting ready to do the flush procedure on my 06 6.0 with 26000 miles on it. i tow occasionally but not all that often. I plan on doing just the external filter this time because it doesn't say to change the internal one at 30k miles. I have a drain plug in my pan from the factory, does this mean i can just drain it that way and not drop the pan because I really don't need to get at the internal this time, or should i drop the pan anyways?
I also have a question as I was under there yesterday looking at the housing and identifying the return line that gets used for the flush procedure in the TECH folder.
why does it look like there is two lines going through the filter? or one maybe just goes over top of it? the one is the return line to the trans cooler but the other one goes to the bottom of the radiator. but looks like the other end of that is at the tranny. why would these be connected? i am not a master mechanic but can do many of the maintenance things myself. It's just this is new to me because i was used to my 97 underneath and it didn't have an external filter on the trans.

Thanks guys. I plan on doing this next good day we get for the weather. if i have to wait until spring, that's ok. because i'm still under 30k miles.

 

If you unscrew filter holder, do you loose alot of transmission fluid?
I want to change mine, but I want to make sure I don't take a bath in fluid. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks

 

You only lose a little. It does not come gushing out - just drips. The filter housing is on pretty tight, I used an impact wrench to loosen it. The filter housing will be full as you lower it - just go slow or cover the concrete or have a pan in case you drop it (I wouldn't know about that, I just heard of it happening somewhere to someone .......................).

To re-install, I cleaned the filter housing (outside and inside), then filled halfway w/ fresh fluid, slowly put the new filter in all the way, then filled it up to near the top w/ more fresh fluid, and re-installed (IIRC).

Probably easier to put it on dry and then add the regular way - this is just what I decided to do.