Newly rebuilt 4t60, brown/foamy trans fluid?!?

[stiv2k]

Hello guys, I recently had my 4t60 rebuilt about 1 year and a half ago. Since then I only put about 25,000 miles on it. I'm getting ready to take a long road trip to chicago and I recently checked the oil and it is slightly brown, rather than the normal bright red it should be. The level is too high as well. I asked a mechanic and he said my trans is toast but i don't believe that worth a shit since it's brand new. I haven't beaten on it very much and I'm very worried about this. Should I change the fluid? Or should I just leave it because the mechanic told me changing the fluid might ruin it. Help please!

[GP1138]

Here's the important question: is it acting strange at all? Do you have any other reason to suspect that it might be failing?

[stiv2k]

it seems to be functioning decent... the only things i've noticed is sometimes it doesn't shift into 4th on the highway but i can make it shift if i play with the throttle. Other than that theres nothing major that i can tell.

[Andrew]

ive heard that having an old trans flushed can hurt it, but just doing a pan drop is ok. you dont change all the fluid doing a pan drop since the torque converter has a lot in it, but at least you wont have to worry about hurting your trans.

 

did you check the level when it was warm?

[stiv2k]

the problem is that it's NOT old! it was just fully rebuilt less than 2 years ago and i have less than 25k miles on it so I don't even understand how the fluid turned brown so fast! :/ Should I change the fluid or leave it?

[BXX]

The clutches are about to be completely toaster, hence you have issues w/ 4th gear.... Change the fluid and wish for the best... Just because it was rebuilt doesn't mean it was done right

[GP1138]

Just because it was rebuilt doesn't mean it was done right

 

I've heard people say that rebuilds are almost always flaky in some way.

[stiv2k]

Should I bother with the gasket and filter also? or can the same (not very old) ones be reused?

 

I'm going to try it tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes.

[Dark Ride]

new filter and gasket roughly $25 well spent

[BXX]

Just because it was rebuilt doesn't mean it was done right

 

I've heard people say that rebuilds are almost always flaky in some way.

 

 

Yup, it's hard to get a quality rebuild

[stiv2k]

Alright well as much as I wanted to do the procedure myself, I unfortunately didn't have the time, so I took it to a place called All american lube. They charged me WAY too much ($119.99 for a pan drop / filter change, and another $19.99 for a bottle of Lucas). The good part to this story is my trans seems to be shifting MUCH better/firmer, and it is actually going into 3rd and 4th nice and smoothly. Thanks for the advice!

[Dark Ride]

Damn, I really need to get into the W-body Repair business

[19Cutlass94]

also, a tranny temp gauge wouldnt hurt either. Be able to see when its getting too hot.

[ns87]

Mine gets really hot, and the fluid turned brown in 10k miles. Just drop the pan, it should be fine

[Brian P]

it's not uncommon for dexron 3 fluid to turn slightly brown at 25k miles. I don't think there's much of an issue, but keep an eye on the fluid as you put more mileage on it.

[19Cutlass94]

it's not uncommon for dexron 3 fluid to turn slightly brown at 25k miles. I don't think there's much of an issue, but keep an eye on the fluid as you put more mileage on it.

 

 

I change the tranny fluid at 25K...