Burnt ATF Fluid?
 

Need a little help, 160k on my 97 4runner. Previous owner thinks he had the fluid change. "thinks".

Any ways, I dont have the best nose so Im not sure for what to smell for. Here is a paper towel I wiped the dipstick off on to. Am I ok or is it cooked? The darkness might be from the dip stick...

First pick is from the dip stick, second pic is the same paper towell an hour later.

http://4gcivic.net/atf1.jpg

http://4gcivic.net/atf2.jpg

That fluid looks pretty clean to me....

looks ok... but looks can be deceiving.... might want to go get it flushed jsut to be on the safe side

Yeah, I want to flush it. Probably mobil one or red line if I can get the cash. Just wanted to make sure it wasnt burnt.

Nah, that's not burnt... I wish mine looked like that! :)

Remember, that when you get it "flushed" the right thing is that you should also be paying for about 10-12 quarts of tranny fluid. The point being that a real flush is to generally replace everything in the tranny... That's a lot different than getting it "drained and replaced".

I thought it was 16 quarts of fluid to flush the 12 in the tranny?

Ahh.. good point. Yes, you're right, I was thinking about tranny capacity, not the amount of fluid required to do the physical flush.

looks clean and unburnt... as long as it does not have the white flakes, then the atf is not burnt.

Put it on a piece of white paper next to a dab of fresh fluid for reference.
The fluid does look a bit brown to me but it is tough to tell in your pic.

I would defintely change the fluid one way or another.