Thread: harsh shift + brown fluid.. problem?

Originally Posted by SJAndrew

Brown fluid is a sign of clutch material and heat.

There's no definate "heat" issue based on brown fluid. If you smell cooked fluid, then I'd say yes. Brown though..that's usually the color of the clutches. And clutches do wear...like brake pads. We don't say the dust on wheels is from heat and pads, it's just the pads. In this case.. just the clutches Ma'am. lol

On the 6 vs 3. 6 is the latest and greatest. It's not necessarily the best, it's the replacement that GM has out.

I use the Coastal (Autozone) fluid commonly as it's one of the thicker fluids out there. Works well for me in transmissions. I've only put 6 in a freshly built trans. And the results are similar. Heck..ScottyDoggs brought some fluid from Tractor Supply. IIRC the price was right.

I personally like using 6 cuz it results in cooler running temps of the transmission, and that is definitely a good thing.

Before I did my first pan drop when it had dex 3 in it, my tranny temps were around 205-210.. When I refilled with 6, the temps stay at 190-195... Imo that is proof enough to switch but it is all a matter of opinion.

Odd.. I don't see any cooler temps from running 6 vs 3.

My personal preference is .. if the trans has been running 3 and you are doing a pan drop. Put 3 back in. It's cheaper and likely you won't see any changes based on a pan drop service with replacing about half the fluid.

Yeah it struck me as odd as well bill, oh well though. It did what it did

One and the trans stop slip

Good job! You did it perfect

thats not real bad on the sludge either.

you should have seen the mound in my brothers Yukon magnet, looked like 2 mice.

New filter seals often see too snug. Which is why.. you try your new filter..if it's snug..you don't touch the seal. If you do the new seal..I find that lubing it with trans fluid, then using a large socket to drive it in ... works like a champ

GM suggests 30K. I do it once a year at the least. The fluid had detergents and seal conditioners in it..and there's a filter in the system.

That already happened after you refilled it...lol Because the other half of the fluid was brown already ...right?

Do 30K or once a year...whichever happens first.

You can go back to what you used to do.. not maintain it at all. And again when you come here with an issue, we'll try and help you.

Your car, totally up to you. If you want the spec, advice or normal schedule.. we'll tell you that. From there you're in charge.

Plus..you are in KS, I'm not driving out to give you a hard time on your maintenance schedule. Now...if you lived in Mexico and it was winter..lol

IT IS BACK.......... on my way from work it did the same thing but at a lesser degree. The engine temp was about a quarter higher too.(relevant?)

We just had a thunderstorm so I had to park somewhere else, and I drove it to my usual spot and it did not do it.
I had to drive a short distance (1/4 block) again afterwards, and after starting the rpm surged about twice.. 800-1500-800-1500-then 800 stable. I'm not sure this is relevant as well.

Could a computer cause a hard shifting as well?
I checked the ATF and it still looks pink.