Sludge (???) in coolant tank and trans fluid problems...

[psburtis]

Hey everyone,

Yesterday I checked my transmission fluid because my car has been shifting hard lately, and honestly that's the only thing that I have the tools/equipment to check. I got the trans replaced at 197k, and the replacement had just over 56k on it, so I wasn't thinking it could be the transmission, but I checked the fluid anyway, and it was very brown and had a strong "burnt" odor to it. I am pretty sure you're supposed to change your transmission oil every 30k, but should it be this bad by 27k???

Also, I checked my antifreeze levels, and upon looking into the tank, I found some black sludge type stuff stuck to the side and some small bead-like pieces of it floating around in the tank (you can see one in the pic). Can anyone explain to me what this stuff is and how to get rid of it? Here are some pics of the sludge, in case it helps:

after extraction of some:


in the tank:


thanks in advance for any help!

Parker B

[RogueSSEi]

Hey everyone,

Yesterday I checked my transmission fluid because my car has been shifting hard lately, and honestly that's the only thing that I have the tools/equipment to check. I got the trans replaced at 197k, and the replacement had just over 56k on it, so I wasn't thinking it could be the transmission, but I checked the fluid anyway, and it was very brown and had a strong "burnt" odor to it. I am pretty sure you're supposed to change your transmission oil every 30k, but should it be this bad by 27k???

I would definitely change your trans fluid ASAP. Changing your filter/fluid at 30k is a good rule of thumb. What kind of shape and condition was the transmission that you got in? As in the fluid, did you get a chance after the lower mileage one was put in, to check the fluid level/color or smell? It shouldn't be that bad unless you tow/carry heavy loads or abuse and neglect the trans.

Also, I checked my antifreeze levels, and upon looking into the tank, I found some black sludge type stuff stuck to the side and some small bead-like pieces of it floating around in the tank (you can see one in the pic). Can anyone explain to me what this stuff is and how to get rid of it? Here are some pics of the sludge, in case it helps:

Has you LIM gasket been changed? Do you notice around the lower intake manifold to appear to be wet? Are you still using DEX cool or have you changed anit-freeze types?
Get rid of it.... Take the tank off and clean it really good and check for a possible lower intake manifold leak, you will notice a milky/oily look around it.

[psburtis]

well, I definitely don't abuse/neglect my trans, and I never though to check the fluid because the mechanic who put it in said he put fresh trans fluid in, and I trust him. (my family has bought a few cars from him, he's a good guy). The used trans I got was supposed to be in great shape, and it seemed like it at the time. I never had a chance because it went right to the garage and into my car without me ever getting a look at it. Not that it would have made a difference, I really have no clue what to look for.

Is there a brand of trans fluid/filter that is recommended by anyone? If I can get something better than the garage stock parts I really like doing that.

Last March, Marty (oldblueeyesbonnie) and I changed the LIM gasket and cleaned the top parts of the engine pretty well. I'm not that mechanically savvy, so I can't say exactly what we did, but I know we definitely got in there. I only ask because my engine temp gauge has been going up to 210-220 the past few weeks, where it would usually stay right around 195-200... Not enough to cause problems or anything (that I can tell) but still enough to get me concerned about the cooling system....

[psburtis]

also, how easy is it to change trans fluid? I just talked to my local garage, and they said that they'd need a few hours to do it... no big deal, but I'm just wondering if I could do it myself in less time... thanks

[J Wikoff]

IMO, the best way to do it is drop the pan, let it drain. Put the pan back up, fill it, drive down the block and back, drop the pan and drain again, replace the filter, button it back up, fill it again. Again, IMO, don't do a full fledged tranny flush that the mechanic would want to do. It seems to often speed up any impending failure, and maybe even knock lose chunks that were otherwise harmless that would now be stuck in bad places.

[Madcarpenter]

also, how easy is it to change trans fluid? I just talked to my local garage, and they said that they'd need a few hours to do it... no big deal, but I'm just wondering if I could do it myself in less time... thanks

Here's an excellent tutorial from 'Techinfo' :


http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... 45&t=10193

[RogueSSEi]

well, I definitely don't abuse/neglect my trans, and I never though to check the fluid because the mechanic who put it in said he put fresh trans fluid in, and I trust him. (my family has bought a few cars from him, he's a good guy). The used trans I got was supposed to be in great shape, and it seemed like it at the time. I never had a chance because it went right to the garage and into my car without me ever getting a look at it. Not that it would have made a difference, I really have no clue what to look for.

Lol I wasn't saying that you abuse or neglect it, saying that it could've been before it was put in. Never know with a donor car (unless its from a car that you know personally.) The shape that I was trying to get at was the fluid/color/level smell, not the actually transmission being in bad shape or damaged.
Yeah like J said, pretty much do that to get a good flush then finally add a clean filter with around 6.1 qts of ATF (Prefer DEX III, what come in the car, but some would chime in on the use of DEX IV.)

Is there a brand of trans fluid/filter that is recommended by anyone? If I can get something better than the garage stock parts I really like doing that.

NOT Fram!! AC Delco, Napa, Wix, ATP for filters.
Fluid I would recommend using DEXIII ATF. Valvoline high milage ATF DEX/MERC, I use this, as this was recommended to me.

Last March, Marty (oldblueeyesbonnie) and I changed the LIM gasket and cleaned the top parts of the engine pretty well. I'm not that mechanically savvy, so I can't say exactly what we did, but I know we definitely got in there. I only ask because my engine temp gauge has been going up to 210-220 the past few weeks, where it would usually stay right around 195-200... Not enough to cause problems or anything (that I can tell) but still enough to get me concerned about the cooling system....

You could try and do a coolant flush to rid the system of any debris (if not already done so).
This could be a bad coolant sensor, air in the system, sticking thermostat due to debris.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

I really like Valvoline MaxLife ATF for these transmissions. I'd definitely change it.

If you have a Harbor Freight nearby, spending the $10 on a fluid transfer pump will make the job much less messy. About 5-6 quarts will be pumped out, leaving less than a quart left in the pan when it's dropped.

[01bonneSC]

They didnt have DexCool in 96 correct?

[Madcarpenter]

They didnt have DexCool in 96 correct?

I think 95 was the last year w/o that crap.

[Merrillspontiac]

Could the trans cooler in the rad be leaking?

[RogueSSEi]

Could the trans cooler in the rad be leaking?

That's a good question. I would assume that if it was, the trans would be losing fluid, vice versa?
Hmmm...

[94SilverSSEi]

I really like Valvoline MaxLife ATF for these transmissions. I'd definitely change it.

If you have a Harbor Freight nearby, spending the $10 on a fluid transfer pump will make the job much less messy. About 5-6 quarts will be pumped out, leaving less than a quart left in the pan when it's dropped.

Just stuff the extractor tube down the dipstick tube or what?

I never thought of this before. It would make it a lot less messy.

[01bonneSC]

Or you could just be man and drop the pan with fluid in it lol.

[94SilverSSEi]

Or you could just be man and drop the pan with fluid in it lol.

True but it's a biotch when 1/2 goes in the drain pan and 2 gallons poor on the ground and then I have to clean it up

[01bonneSC]

Or you could just be man and drop the pan with fluid in it lol.

True but it's a biotch when 1/2 goes in the drain pan and 2 gallons poor on the ground and then I have to clean it up

The trick is to drop the skinny end of the pan first into the drain pan. Minimal after that.


Waaaaaayyyyy off topic now lol. Let's tighten this ship up!

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

I really like Valvoline MaxLife ATF for these transmissions. I'd definitely change it.

If you have a Harbor Freight nearby, spending the $10 on a fluid transfer pump will make the job much less messy. About 5-6 quarts will be pumped out, leaving less than a quart left in the pan when it's dropped.

Just stuff the extractor tube down the dipstick tube or what?

I never thought of this before. It would make it a lot less messy.

Bingo. I went all fancy after going through 3 of those pumps and got a MityVac 7201 fluid extractor. It made ATF changes dirt-simple, and refilling the LIM bubble-free was a snap too.

If somebody topped it off with Dex at some point, Dex doesn't play well with regular green coolant. It also doesn't play well with open-air containers like that coolant tank. I'd check the radiator itself for signs of sludge/oil to see if the problem is confined to the tank, or is more widespread.

[J Wikoff]

Get one of those plastic tubs that is supposed to fit under a bed. I've got one and it's fantastic for oil changes and coolant drains. Especially since the G8 has over two gallons of oil.