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And why is my tranny fluid turning purple?

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Old 06-17-2004, 08:25 PM
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Default And why is my tranny fluid turning purple?

Exactly. I decided to change all of my fluids the other day. I pulled my dipstick out of the tranny and it was really dark. Not the bright red that I am accustom to. Hmm, rather odd. Level was fine.....just dark.

There were no idications that anything was wrong, no slipping, shudder etc. Drives fine, T/C locks up fine........just not the right color of fluid.

Being the extremely worried person that I am, I changed the fluid. Have always used Valvoline Dextron III in it since I bought it. And that is what I changed it with again today. Once the pan came down...there was nothing out of the ordinary in the pan. Except for the freakin purple. The magnet had minimal sludge on it. Maybe a 1/16th of an inch of gray sludge. From my experiences, I have seen a lot worse. Like a Celebrity that had enough metal on the magnet that it looked like a fur ball and could have filled half of a pop can. There is nothing like that in my pan whatsoever.

I know that only changing the fluid and the filter will not get all of the fluid out of the T/C or the B&M, but I figured that I would try. Result? The fluid did not change color. Still remained purple. Grape Kool-aid purple.

And now I ask of you fine people, what am I faced with?
Old 06-17-2004, 09:21 PM
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If it's changing color it's either picking up load
(contaminant chemicals / particles) or it's
getting cooked (like too much heat in clutches
etc.).

I think if you are driving hard w/ stock program
you are pushing a lot of heat through those
leisurely shift applies. Plus the 3800 stall is a
pretty good heater. What've you got going for
a transmission cooler? Just the stock in-rad
exchanger, with 224F fan settings? While
huffing a big shot of happy? Ouchie....
Old 06-17-2004, 10:04 PM
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isn't royal purple trans fluid purple? i know one company makes it. u sure previous owner didn't put it in there
Old 06-18-2004, 04:25 AM
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Originally Posted by jimmyblue
If it's changing color it's either picking up load
(contaminant chemicals / particles) or it's
getting cooked (like too much heat in clutches
etc.).

I think if you are driving hard w/ stock program
you are pushing a lot of heat through those
leisurely shift applies. Plus the 3800 stall is a
pretty good heater. What've you got going for
a transmission cooler? Just the stock in-rad
exchanger, with 224F fan settings? While
huffing a big shot of happy? Ouchie....

I have a B&M as well. As for the shot of giggle, it only sees that at the track and this year, I've only made it once. []

Oh and the tranny fluid used to be red. Valvoline.

I have some of the fluid sitting in a clear container, trying to let it separate. The fluid does not feel bad, nothing gritty, nor does it smell bad. Comparing it to the smell of a new bottle of tranny fluid to my fluid, I can not really tell the diff.
Old 06-18-2004, 07:06 AM
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when u drop the pan only about 4 of 12 quarts comes out...that why i change auto tranny fluids frequently (twice a year)

...if you have a small converter that builds A BUNCH of heat which is the worst enemy...dark fluid is definately a sign that your tranny is too hot.

Run an additional cooler - biggest one you can find and change fluid frequently.
Old 06-22-2004, 01:57 PM
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its the royal purple fairy.
she thinks your valvoline is crap,
and is doing you a favor while you sleep.

wait..
i run valvoline. =(




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