Black Transmission Fluid

ARrado15 · 03-20-2016, 10:20 PM

So i decided to change the transmission fluid for the first time i have owned my Z, and when I let her drain, the fluid was dark black/grey and smelt pretty bad. I have no clue when the previous owner changed the fluid, and was just wondering of this was normal.

Array · 03-20-2016, 11:23 PM

Miles?

ARrado15 · 03-21-2016, 03:03 AM

It has 95k right now

jchammond · 03-21-2016, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARrado15

So i decided to change the transmission fluid for the first time i have owned my Z, and when I let her drain, the fluid was dark black/grey and smelt pretty bad. I have no clue when the previous owner changed the fluid, and was just wondering of this was normal.

If it had a grey color/possibly have some water contamination,,,not sure if the M/T's have trans. coolers that pass through the radiator?
I'd fill with proper fluid;drive a couple hundred miles & repeat....can't be too clean & probably never had been changed.

POS VETT · 03-21-2016, 06:26 AM

That's about normal for that many miles. Next time, replace it at half the mileage at the most. Did you replace the gear oil for the diff while you were there?

SouthArk370Z · 03-21-2016, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS VETT

That's about normal for that many miles. Next time, replace it at half the mileage at the most. Did you replace the gear oil for the diff while you were there?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jchammond

... I'd fill with proper fluid;drive a couple hundred miles & repeat....can't be too clean & probably never had been changed.

After almost 100k miles, black and smelly is pretty normal. At this point, I'd go with jchammond's suggestion and do more than one change. If you don't check your fluids regularly, POS VETT's ~50k change interval is a good target.

I'd check ALL lubes (including the diff, as POS VETT suggested) and replace if there is any doubt. As per jchammond, you can't change lubes too often (after the break-in period).

EDIT: While it is normal for trans fluid to look/smell like that after so many miles, the fluid was trashed and you've been running with less than optimal lubrication for many miles. Plus there are all the metal particles that have been floating around (see Rusty's comment below). You may want to do two change/run-a-few-miles in order to flush as much of the metal as possible. If PO didn't change xmission fluid, they probably didn't change anything else.

I'd definitely recommend changing all fluids in the car. The FSM has inspection check lists, lube specs, &c.

Rusty · 03-21-2016, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jchammond

If it had a grey color/possibly have some water contamination,,,not sure if the M/T's have trans. coolers that pass through the radiator?
I'd fill with proper fluid;drive a couple hundred miles & repeat....can't be too clean & probably never had been changed.

No tranny cooler in the radiator for a manual.

The grey color is from microscopic metallic particles. 95,000 miles. You have a bunch.

ARrado15 · 03-22-2016, 01:36 AM

Yes I did change the Diff fluid as well .Its just so expensive for the redline mt-85. I think i payed 104 for the transmission and the diff :/

POS VETT · 03-22-2016, 06:57 AM

Transmission takes a little under 3 quarts and the diff 1.5 quarts, so $104 for 5 quarts of fluids is pretty steep. While the lubricant for transmission is not as easy to find (GL4), the diff needs a common gear oil easily found at almost any auto parts store. I use Mobil1 Synthetic 75W-90 gear oil that costs $10-12/quart for the diff and, for transmission, Amsoil 75W-85 manual transmission GL4 that retails at $15.75/quart; quite a bit less at vendors and resellers.

03-20-2016, 10:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
ARrado15 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 96 Drives: 370z M6 Rep Power: 17	Black Transmission Fluid So i decided to change the transmission fluid for the first time i have owned my Z, and when I let her drain, the fluid was dark black/grey and smelt pretty bad. I have no clue when the previous owner changed the fluid, and was just wondering of this was normal.

03-20-2016, 11:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Array Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: home.jpg Posts: 286 Drives: '12 Pearly White Rep Power: 11	Miles? __________________ 2012 370z 7AT- ES2 with PSS, K&N Drop-ins, LED's all around, Berk HFC, FI CBE non-res, KW V1's 2003 A4 5MT- The Beater

03-21-2016, 06:26 AM	#5 (permalink)
POS VETT Track Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 612 Drives: Z34\|C4LT4\|C6Z06\|V25 Rep Power: 3366	That's about normal for that many miles. Next time, replace it at half the mileage at the most. Did you replace the gear oil for the diff while you were there? SouthArk370Z likes this.

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03-21-2016, 03:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
ARrado15 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 96 Drives: 370z M6 Rep Power: 17	It has 95k right now

03-22-2016, 01:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
ARrado15 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 96 Drives: 370z M6 Rep Power: 17	Yes I did change the Diff fluid as well .Its just so expensive for the redline mt-85. I think i payed 104 for the transmission and the diff :/

03-22-2016, 06:57 AM	#9 (permalink)
POS VETT Track Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 612 Drives: Z34\|C4LT4\|C6Z06\|V25 Rep Power: 3366	Transmission takes a little under 3 quarts and the diff 1.5 quarts, so $104 for 5 quarts of fluids is pretty steep. While the lubricant for transmission is not as easy to find (GL4), the diff needs a common gear oil easily found at almost any auto parts store. I use Mobil1 Synthetic 75W-90 gear oil that costs $10-12/quart for the diff and, for transmission, Amsoil 75W-85 manual transmission GL4 that retails at $15.75/quart; quite a bit less at vendors and resellers.