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Transmission Fluid Help


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des100601
Novice

Nov 28, 2018, 7:09 PM

Post #1 of 9 (2058 views)
Transmission Fluid Help Sign In

I bought a 2005 Chevrolet express 3500 with a 6.0 and a 4l80e transmission. Due to severe "deferred maintenance", the transmission fluid was black and the trans was blown. I knew this going in. I found a "good" used transmission that was in a short bus with a diesel. Along with the trans, I got a brand new Torque converter correct for my van, a new filter, flushed the cooling lines and cooler with "Kooler Klean", and installed 13 qts of fresh Valvoline ATF+4 transmission fluid. I later noticed a leak and was told that it was because I hadn't used the OEM gasket. So, I dropped the pan and put it in. The next morning, I still had a leak and figured that the gasket was old or damaged and decided to replace it with a new gasket. This time I decided I wanted to catch the fluid for reuse as it wasn't 24 hours old and the van had only been run to check fluids. Much to my dismay, when I pulled the pan from under the truck, I was greeted with a pan full of brown, opaque transmission fluid. At first I thought it was maybe coolant and the radiator was toast along with my new/ used transmission if coolant had gotten in there. I am no longer sure about that as I collected some in a clear clean pop bottle and left it undisturbed for a few days. Nothing has changed. It hasn't separated nor has anything precipitated. Any thoughts as to what might be happening? Is my new to me trans junk? Was there old fluid in the cooler that didn't get flushed out? Is this old transmission fluid that was still left in the replacement trans? Any thoughts would be helpful as I'm trying to decide where to go from here.


Thanks in advance!


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Nov 28, 2018, 7:49 PM

Post #2 of 9 (2050 views)
Re: Transmission Fluid Help Sign In

ATF+4 is Chrysler fluid. Why are you putting it in a Chevy?

That truck takes DEXRON III or Equivalent



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



des100601
Novice

Nov 29, 2018, 6:36 PM

Post #3 of 9 (2017 views)
Re: Transmission Fluid Help Sign In

My Bad. It's maxlife dex/merc. Don't know where I got +4 from.


des100601
Novice

Nov 29, 2018, 6:59 PM

Post #4 of 9 (2016 views)
Re: Transmission Fluid Help Sign In

Sorry, it was Maxlife Dex/Merc. Don't know where I got +4 from.


gsferraro
Veteran

Nov 30, 2018, 5:16 PM

Post #5 of 9 (1993 views)
Re: Transmission Fluid Help Sign In

Hello,
If water was in the trans fluid it would look like a strawberry milkshake, how many miles did you drive the car, did any codes show up as you were driving it. Using kooler klean is ok but did you blow air into the lines to get the rest of the fluid out?


des100601
Novice

Dec 1, 2018, 9:49 PM

Post #6 of 9 (1972 views)
Re: Transmission Fluid Help Sign In

Replacement trans has about 160k on it and was told it was serviced regularly. Van itself has 225k. Air was used before Kooler Klean to blow out lines and after Kooler Klean. No codes. Here is the fluid from the last pan drop.



(This post was edited by des100601 on Dec 1, 2018, 9:52 PM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Dec 2, 2018, 3:30 AM

Post #7 of 9 (1965 views)
Re: Transmission Fluid Help Sign In

Quote out of top post: ">Is my new to me trans junk?<"
Now you say the used one had 160K on it? Why would you mess with a key component with so many miles on it except to rebuild that one? Just my 2 cents let 'gsferraro' the site's pro trans tech take this on from here IMO 160K is a good # to achieve if from new at all without a redo?


Tom


gsferraro
Veteran

Dec 2, 2018, 12:18 PM

Post #8 of 9 (1949 views)
Re: Transmission Fluid Help Sign In

Hello,
Little hard for me to tell, is the fluid a light pink? Gary


des100601
Novice

Dec 2, 2018, 1:39 PM

Post #9 of 9 (1939 views)
Re: Transmission Fluid Help Sign In

Easiest way to describe is it looks like some one dumped chocolate sauce into strawberry syrup.







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