Gray Sludge in my Automatic

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Got home from my trip to Colorado two weeks ago, and haven't driven the truck since. Today, I finally got around to dropping the pan to change the filter and see if there was any crap in the pan to be wary of. You bet there was!!

The magnetic drain plug on the Mag-Hytek pan I put on just before the trip (with fresh filter and fluid) was COVERED with about 1/8" to 3/16" of gray crud, and underneath it were black shavings.

Once I drained the rest of the fluid out of the pan, the bottom and sides of the pan were lightly coated in gray sludge also.

The filter isn't clogged, but it's dark from the gray stuff. The metal edge around the filter is gray too. The fluid didn't smell burned... just smelled like ATF.

I knew something was up due to the shuddering I'd get in fourth gear with the TC locked up, regardless of it being on level ground, going uphill, or slowing down against the exhaust brake.

The truck is a '96 3500 4x2 with 51,000 miles on it. The TC is a BD extra-tight unit, and I also have the BD valvebody in there. The TC has been in for 18 months, the valvebody for one year.

So... how bad does it sound? I was kinda hoping I could get a couple more months out of it so I could work out the financial details about getting a tranny from Bill Kondolay, since it's just not in the budget right now.

Rob


[This message has been edited by RobG (edited 10-01-2000).]