If my tranny fluid is very dark after only 20,000 miles since my last change...

[beer]

is there any reason this could be besides signs of pending transmission trouble? I have not noticed any changed in shifting patterns, but this might be an early warning of some sort perhaps?

98 Ford Contour, ATX
System drain interval is 40K

 

[Rage187]

Did you change the filter?


If not its no surprise its dirty again.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: Rage187
Did you change the filter?


If not its no surprise its dirty again.

I don't have the invoice, I'm 1700 miles from home right now. I'm sure it was done, I do remember paying for a complete system change, and it was a good garage.

 

[Alchemist99]

I hate to tell you this but you're probably in trouble, we had two contours as delivery vehicles at work and put in three trannys between them, they're junk IMO.

 

[Heisenberg]

Does it smell burnt?

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: Alchemist99
I hate to tell you this but you're probably in trouble, we had two contours as delivery vehicles at work and put in three trannys between them, they're junk IMO.

I didn't buy it. It was my first car, and given to me. This is gonna be a problem

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Does it smell burnt?

Not that I could tell.

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Does it smell burnt?

as long as the fluid doesn't smell overly burnt, the fluid may just be dark from use. IMO, i don't think color is a very accurate way of telling if ATF is good or not, however, if it drains like a light chocolate/red/brown and smells burnt, then the fluid is overdue, or I would suspect something amiss in your transmission if you changed the fluid recently. Good idea to replace the filter about every 50k imo. Regular drain and refills will will make less of a need for a complete (t-tech) flush.

ATF is cheap, chevron is like $1 per qt at costco, and usually on sale at kragen for cheap (like $.69 after rebate). I'd change the ATF every 15k-30k depending on conditions, but at the price its at, 15k is what i've been using recently on the toyota in the family, as well as the 94 honda I service (honda didn't officially only reccomend honda atf until 1996).