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        General >> Problems >> Gearbox fluid brown!!!!!!!
        
(Message started by: Tony_E on Oct 12^th, 2008, 1:51pm)

Title: Gearbox fluid brown!!!!!!!
Post by Tony_E on Oct 12^th, 2008, 1:51pm

I have been out to the car today and cleaned my MAF it was very dirty does seem to have made the gearbox perform slightly better though :) but i checked the gearbox oil and it was brown didnt seem to have any bits in it but deffo brown i have read that brown fluid is bad and can be terminal for the box is this the case? also i dont think changing the fluid is a job i can really do so do i need to get this done asap?

Thank You

Tony

Title: Re: Gearbox fluid brown!!!!!!!
Post by gozz on Oct 12^th, 2008, 3:20pm

Tony.
Brown or beige fluid is not a good sign but need not be terminal,a filter and oil change is always worthwhile and can make a difference,it's definitely a lot cheaper than having the box out.
GOZZ

Title: Re: Gearbox fluid brown!!!!!!!
Post by Highlander on Oct 12^th, 2008, 9:02pm

If the gearbox is behaving itself then theres no panic, i'd leave the gearbox removal until its necassary. the oil change isnt too difficult if you can get it up on ramps, can be a bit messy though ;)

Title: Re: Gearbox fluid brown!!!!!!!
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Oct 13^th, 2008, 6:20pm

Tony,
I wouldn't panic - so long as the gearbox is working fine and the ATF does not smell like burnt toffee and does not have debris in it I would say it is far from terminal. A fluid and filter change should however extend the life of the autobox.

The ATF in my gearbox is a pale brown ( it was like it when I bought the car ) but the gearbox works very smoothly without any issues and with 134k on it I accept that it probably has more miles behind it than in front. Some discolouration of the fluid is not unusual with age and mileage according to a mechanic friend of mine.

I had the fluid changed last year as a precaution but bear in mind that you can't get it all out as some remains in the torque converter you will end up mixing some old and some new fluid so a fluid change will not give you nice pink fluid on the dipstick, rather a paler, more pinky brown.

I will just run mine until it packs up - I was fortunate enough to recently get hold of a spare autobox from another 2.3 Scorpio with a good pink colour ATF which I have stashed in my garage ready for when the day arrives...not looking forward to that as it is rather heavy.