Trans dipstick color blackish at first

**CyxRyan** · 06-07-2014

So when ever I check my trans fluid "dipstick" the first couple times it comes out blackish with red in it. Usually its 2-3 times with black stuff on it but then its just red after so what does that indicate?

**Russosaur** · 06-07-2014

How long since the fluid has been changed.

Sent from the Milky Way

**REDCRAPGP** · 06-07-2014

Drop the pan and change that that fluid boy

**02NavyBlue** · 06-07-2014

If the fluid is red but you get blackish stuff off the dipstick, the fluid is okay but the black stuff is clutch material. If that much gets on the dipstick it's probably time for a pan drop.

**CyxRyan** · 06-07-2014

The fluid was changed twice last year. After first is started to slip I think then 2nd I put lucas trans fix and it helped a lot.

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 06-07-2014

The clutch material likes to "bond" to the metal stick, hence why when you take the pan off all the clutch material is always on the bottom of the pan. It's pretty normal to see some black/grey on the stick when first pulled, even more so if you use a white rag to wipe it off. But if it was slipping last year, it's still likely going out quicker than normal and using up more clutch material.

**Russosaur** · 06-07-2014

Sounds like the trans is on its way out if that much material was on the dipstick and it was slipping.

Sent from the Milky Way

**CyxRyan** · 06-08-2014

Well I don't know if it was actually slipping or not but I do now that this is what was happening to it... I was thinking about dropping the pan again and adding a shift kit.

http://tripleedgeperformance.com/Harsh-Shift-P1811.html

**CyxRyan** · 06-12-2014

You think lucas trans fix because its thicker? I mean it shifts really good just sometimes harsh but its 1-2 that it does it when going between 1700-2400 RPMs . I know my trans is on its way out but im sure it will last a little while before I need to replace. I will wait until I start losing gears then get another trans or maybe find one from a junk yard and rebuild and swap it.