so I've been planning on changing my transmission and transfer-case fluid for some time now; not because it's been making any sort of noise or anything, but simply because I don't know how old the fluid is since I bought the truck.

well today on my way home, I got all into the mood to do it, so I stopped at the parts store, got some fluid, some thread sealant, and a new 24m wrench

rolled under the truck, popped the fill plug out, then pulled the drain plug out, and aside from the normal fine metal shavings on the magnet, looky what else I found...









and then after I wiped my drain-pan down, I found 2 more bigger peices!







no I didn't find a dollar in my trans, that's just for size comparison...


a few more could have easily been flushed into the pan too (it's one of those capped ones so you can close it up and take is some where to drain the fluid)


much to my surprise, the fluid actually looked pretty good too


the transfer-case drain plug...



...it had about as much as my diff one did about 3 weeks ago when I changed the gasket and fluid on it; no chunks on that one...


so, what do you guys think?

I don't know what their from; almost looks like the edge of a tooth or something maybe, I dunno


I just wander if the trans can go anoth 300k minus these metal shavings

the thing drives fine and will go into any gear very easily, and stays in that gear never the less, so I'm at a loss of words...

 

Like they say, if it isn't broke, don't fix it. If it drives well I would leave it alone. After 288K miles it looks like you have it broken in.

One question, do the magnetic drain plugs come stock or did you add them? I am going to do this fluid change before winter and if the stock plugs are not magnetic I will get some before I do the fluid change.

 

I don't know if every previous owner of all of my toyoters have added magnetic drain plugs (they all came from owners who happened to be mechanics lol), but they've all had em!

 

well, I've never touched em, so I don't know to be honest. the rear diff had a magnetic plug, both the trans and transfer-case had a magnetic plug, and when I go to do my front end rebuild which includes all the tie-rods, ball joits, wheel bearings, hub rebuilds, and diff fluid change, I wouldn't be surprised if I find a magnetic plug on it too...

but yeah, it's just stange. I've never heard any popping noise or grinding noise from the trans. the only incedent I can recall with the trans was once upon a time playing behind my father's buddie's shop. there was a storm drain, I tried to climb it, I kept spinning all 4 tires less than a foot from the top, so I figured I could get it with a rolling start. so I rolled back to the bottom, put er in 4 HI (as apposed to 4 LOW from before because I was trying to creep up it at first), stepped on the skinny pedal and popped the clutch... then BANG, REV-LIMITTER... I though I had seriously broke something... what I really did was underestimate how hard the truck was going to hook traction on pavement in 4wd, and the jolt pushed my hand back while it was still on the shifter and I pulled it out of gear by accident, lol. but it had me worried...

I'm glad I don't treat my truck like that anymore; I'm surprised it's lasted this long