I'm flaked, but synthetic . . .

4RunnerFever · 07-19-2004, 06:41 PM

Ok . . I changed the entire transmission fluid to Amsoil over the weekend and it was a messy affair. I did the pan fluid, new filter, and then flushed the entire system with 16 quarts.

Then, I managed to read the level wrong and drove about 10 miles without sufficient fluid. Lots of slipping and hesitation.

So now I've got the level right and everything works great (even better than before) but I've got metal flakes in the fluid. They are very small, but visible. Is the transmission doomed? I switched to synthetic to extend the life of the tranny, but now I think I might have killed it.

The fluid doesn't smell burnt and is still bright red.

I went ahead and drained the pan again, but would it be worth it to change all the fluid again?

or is it a lost cause?

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shazaam · 07-19-2004, 06:47 PM

remove your hood, and exchange it for mine .. and I think you'll be fine.

4RunnerFever · 07-19-2004, 06:50 PM

If your hood will save my tranny - its yours bro

shazaam · 07-19-2004, 06:54 PM

pm transdude he the transmission guy on this board .. very knowlegable (sp?) and very helpful. He actually has his number in his sig as well I think so you can call him.

Also Aamco offers a $99 complete power trans flush .. it might be worth it, if for nothing else then just piece of mind.

4RunnerFever · 07-19-2004, 06:57 PM

Thanks for the tip sdastg1. I'm hoping things will be ok long term.

4RunnerFever · 07-20-2004, 04:57 AM

Bump . . .

Anyone else care to help me out with their insights/experience. I'd greatly appreciate it.

EDGE · 07-20-2004, 06:27 AM

Thats normal metal in the pan, I've seen cars drain silver fluid, if it has not been touched for the 1st 15-30k then that all the breakin stuff but in general thats how transmissions are

WolfpackTLC · 07-20-2004, 08:04 AM

Metal flakes, no matter how small, are obviously wear... I'd do a complete drain and flush, then replace the filter.... I doubt it'd hurt much, but it's a safe bet to do so anyway. Big chunks of metal are obviously VERY bad.

4RunnerFever · 07-20-2004, 01:21 PM

These are really tiny particles and they are just here and there on the dip stick. What do you think about waiting a year and then changing the whole thing again. That Amsoil ATF is big dollars.

4RUNR · 07-20-2004, 01:56 PM

Fix it till it's broken camp of thought, ehh?

Drop some SeaFoam in there. Then report back to us where the smoking was coming from.

MvCrash · 07-20-2004, 02:41 PM

Greetings,
You can filter the oil depending on how small the particles are.

4RunnerFever · 07-20-2004, 02:54 PM

MvCrash - do you think the new filter inside the pan will take care of the small particles?

4RUNR - I think you may be right. Perhaps I'm stressing too much about this. You're saying - let it be?

colsoncj · 07-20-2004, 03:04 PM

it sounds like when you changed the fluid you disturbed what might have settled to the bottom... When you had the pan off did you clean the bottom of it, and did it have a magnet down there?

4RUNR · 07-20-2004, 03:07 PM

I'm not licensed to say anything here

And certainly not going to pretend to know everything about transmissions in 3rd gen 4Runners.

But my bet is, if your manual says to drain and refill with Toyota fluids every so and so miles, doing that (mixed in with sensible driving habits) will net you no less trouble free miles than performing some voodoo rituals that you heard online.

4RunnerFever · 07-20-2004, 03:53 PM

I did clean the pan and the magnets, but there could have been particles in the old fluid up in the transmission itself I suppose.

4RUNR - I know what you mean about learning stuff on line. It is hard to know what to believe sometimes. North Pole aye? Cool.

07-19-2004, 06:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
shazaam Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,057	remove your hood, and exchange it for mine .. and I think you'll be fine. __________________ Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, and the lesson afterwards. <-- the artist formerly known as sdastg1

07-19-2004, 06:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
4RunnerFever Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 883	If your hood will save my tranny - its yours bro __________________ 2004 Tacoma Double Cab, TRD Off-Road, PIAA fogs, ARE Shell, Yakima, etc. 4RunnerFever _______ GBNF: 1998-3rd Gen-4Runner, SR5, 4WD, TRD Supercharger, TRD Cat-Back, 3-inch Revtek Suspension Lift, 285/75-16 Revos, 4Crawler Offroad 1" body lift, Sonoran Trac Bar, Hayden Cooler, Hood Scoop, 'Outback' Mod, Optima 34R, Amsoil, Yakima, PIAA, etc. Sold to Mastacox. Last edited by 4RunnerFever; 07-19-2004 at 06:56 PM.

07-19-2004, 06:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
shazaam Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,057	pm transdude he the transmission guy on this board .. very knowlegable (sp?) and very helpful. He actually has his number in his sig as well I think so you can call him. Also Aamco offers a $99 complete power trans flush .. it might be worth it, if for nothing else then just piece of mind. __________________ Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, and the lesson afterwards. <-- the artist formerly known as sdastg1

07-19-2004, 06:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
4RunnerFever Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 883	Thanks for the tip sdastg1. I'm hoping things will be ok long term. __________________ 2004 Tacoma Double Cab, TRD Off-Road, PIAA fogs, ARE Shell, Yakima, etc. 4RunnerFever _______ GBNF: 1998-3rd Gen-4Runner, SR5, 4WD, TRD Supercharger, TRD Cat-Back, 3-inch Revtek Suspension Lift, 285/75-16 Revos, 4Crawler Offroad 1" body lift, Sonoran Trac Bar, Hayden Cooler, Hood Scoop, 'Outback' Mod, Optima 34R, Amsoil, Yakima, PIAA, etc. Sold to Mastacox.

07-20-2004, 04:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
4RunnerFever Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 883	Bump . . . Anyone else care to help me out with their insights/experience. I'd greatly appreciate it. __________________ 2004 Tacoma Double Cab, TRD Off-Road, PIAA fogs, ARE Shell, Yakima, etc. 4RunnerFever _______ GBNF: 1998-3rd Gen-4Runner, SR5, 4WD, TRD Supercharger, TRD Cat-Back, 3-inch Revtek Suspension Lift, 285/75-16 Revos, 4Crawler Offroad 1" body lift, Sonoran Trac Bar, Hayden Cooler, Hood Scoop, 'Outback' Mod, Optima 34R, Amsoil, Yakima, PIAA, etc. Sold to Mastacox.

07-20-2004, 06:27 AM	#7 (permalink)
EDGE Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: outside NYC Posts: 2,038	Thats normal metal in the pan, I've seen cars drain silver fluid, if it has not been touched for the 1st 15-30k then that all the breakin stuff but in general thats how transmissions are __________________ 2003 ES300 2003 V8 LTD 4Runner 2006 Nissan Maxima SE

07-20-2004, 08:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
WolfpackTLC Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 828	Metal flakes, no matter how small, are obviously wear... I'd do a complete drain and flush, then replace the filter.... I doubt it'd hurt much, but it's a safe bet to do so anyway. Big chunks of metal are obviously VERY bad. __________________ 1995 Land Cruiser -ARB'd, OME'D, Slee'd, Warn'd, lifted, locked, dented, WHEELED.

07-20-2004, 01:21 PM	#9 (permalink)
4RunnerFever Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 883	These are really tiny particles and they are just here and there on the dip stick. What do you think about waiting a year and then changing the whole thing again. That Amsoil ATF is big dollars. __________________ 2004 Tacoma Double Cab, TRD Off-Road, PIAA fogs, ARE Shell, Yakima, etc. 4RunnerFever _______ GBNF: 1998-3rd Gen-4Runner, SR5, 4WD, TRD Supercharger, TRD Cat-Back, 3-inch Revtek Suspension Lift, 285/75-16 Revos, 4Crawler Offroad 1" body lift, Sonoran Trac Bar, Hayden Cooler, Hood Scoop, 'Outback' Mod, Optima 34R, Amsoil, Yakima, PIAA, etc. Sold to Mastacox.

07-20-2004, 01:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
4RUNR Guest Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North Pole Posts: 1,619	Fix it till it's broken camp of thought, ehh? Drop some SeaFoam in there. Then report back to us where the smoking was coming from.

07-20-2004, 02:41 PM	#11 (permalink)
MvCrash Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 342	Greetings, You can filter the oil depending on how small the particles are.

07-20-2004, 02:54 PM	#12 (permalink)
4RunnerFever Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 883	MvCrash - do you think the new filter inside the pan will take care of the small particles? 4RUNR - I think you may be right. Perhaps I'm stressing too much about this. You're saying - let it be? __________________ 2004 Tacoma Double Cab, TRD Off-Road, PIAA fogs, ARE Shell, Yakima, etc. 4RunnerFever _______ GBNF: 1998-3rd Gen-4Runner, SR5, 4WD, TRD Supercharger, TRD Cat-Back, 3-inch Revtek Suspension Lift, 285/75-16 Revos, 4Crawler Offroad 1" body lift, Sonoran Trac Bar, Hayden Cooler, Hood Scoop, 'Outback' Mod, Optima 34R, Amsoil, Yakima, PIAA, etc. Sold to Mastacox.

07-20-2004, 03:04 PM	#13 (permalink)
colsoncj Contributing Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Monett, MO (Springfield) Posts: 2,533	it sounds like when you changed the fluid you disturbed what might have settled to the bottom... When you had the pan off did you clean the bottom of it, and did it have a magnet down there? __________________ Cory Eastern OK, Western/Northern AR, Southeastern KS, or Southern MO area: OZARKS 4ROC Click Here 04 Dodge 2500 Cummins - DD/Tow Rig 02 Z06 Corvette - Weekender 94 FZJ80 - Wheelin Rig. Build in progress: http://ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129727 72 Buick GS - i.e. the project that will never get done.

07-20-2004, 03:07 PM	#14 (permalink)
4RUNR Guest Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North Pole Posts: 1,619	I'm not licensed to say anything here And certainly not going to pretend to know everything about transmissions in 3rd gen 4Runners. But my bet is, if your manual says to drain and refill with Toyota fluids every so and so miles, doing that (mixed in with sensible driving habits) will net you no less trouble free miles than performing some voodoo rituals that you heard online.

07-20-2004, 03:53 PM	#15 (permalink)
4RunnerFever Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 883	I did clean the pan and the magnets, but there could have been particles in the old fluid up in the transmission itself I suppose. 4RUNR - I know what you mean about learning stuff on line. It is hard to know what to believe sometimes. North Pole aye? Cool. __________________ 2004 Tacoma Double Cab, TRD Off-Road, PIAA fogs, ARE Shell, Yakima, etc. 4RunnerFever _______ GBNF: 1998-3rd Gen-4Runner, SR5, 4WD, TRD Supercharger, TRD Cat-Back, 3-inch Revtek Suspension Lift, 285/75-16 Revos, 4Crawler Offroad 1" body lift, Sonoran Trac Bar, Hayden Cooler, Hood Scoop, 'Outback' Mod, Optima 34R, Amsoil, Yakima, PIAA, etc. Sold to Mastacox.

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