Transmission Fluid (WS) Blackstone Labs Report
- Thread starter timbo_slice
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green_manalishi
New member
What's your total mileage and transmission service history?
And what do you make of all the copper?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
And what do you make of all the copper?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Drunner97
New member
I've got some 120k sitting in the garage from a drain/refill I did. Not sure of the service/towing history (I got it at 88k) but it's black. I'd be scared to send it in, I don't wanna know. hahah.
Dooo eeeet!
Here's a report from 140,000 miles. After a single drain/fill (7 quarts, I think), the metal content dropped to about 1/3 of what's shown in this report. The original fluid was black, but Blackstone indicates the actual lubrication properties of the oil were not compromised.
I've since done another 7 qt drain/fill, and will have Blackstone do an analysis in another 10K miles or so.
These reports cost $28. Just send an email to Blackstone asking for a sample kit and they'll get you started.
I've since done another 7 qt drain/fill, and will have Blackstone do an analysis in another 10K miles or so.
These reports cost $28. Just send an email to Blackstone asking for a sample kit and they'll get you started.
Drunner97
New member
Well that's good to know. I really do need to finish up 2-3 more drain and refills. I'll be doing one this weekend.
03v8raleigh
New member
Cool! My 2003 has the Toyota type IV fluid with dipstick and I just did a drain and fill (4qt) on it. At 150k, I was attempting to drop the pan, clean the magnets, replace the filter and gasket, and reinstall. However, I snapped a pan bolt trying to get it off, so I determined it wasn't worth it, and just did the drain and fill instead. My pan is now held on with one less bolt.
timbo_slice
New member
Great Question!
It is a 2008 v6 auto with a 130k miles total.
Trans fluid was serviced at around 60k by a Toyota dealer. In the dealer description I pulled up (I was not the owner at the time) they noted it was dark and used 12 quarts of fluid so I assume they did a flush.
If you read Blackstone's report description they said high copper could be worn bushings, clutch plates, or something from break-in. :noidea:
This is why I posted up, thought maybe someone would chime in with more knowledge of the tranny.
I took this sample almost by chance... I had everything ready to do a flush (just by using the trans fluid pump and a hand pump) and first decided I should check the level first.
Upon checking the level I found the trans fluid spewing out, so I tightened the overflow bolt and got a sample jar. Filled the sample jar (about 5 oz) and then proceeded to let it flow to a trickle as stated in manual.
I estimate I got about 1-1.5 quarts until it was slowly flowing out of overflow.
At this point it seems to be a no brainer, I am going to complete the flush I intended to perform. I may overfill a tiny bit so that at around 38k-60k I can take another sample to compare to my initial sample report.
AuSeeker, Blackstone completes these tests for $28, I added an additional 10 dollar test to get a acid reading (TAN for transmission). Check out their website and give them a call if you have questions. I actually called in to tell them my plan and ask about TAN, first had a helpful admin who then transferred me to a lab tech.
https://www.blackstone-labs.com/
They will even ship you a free test kit, I just used a similar glass sample container I had lying around at work.
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timbo_slice
New member
Hey Ron, Thank you for posting this! it would be cool to compare our results, you doing a drain and fill and me doing a full flush. I know our mileages are a little off but there could still be some solid info to help folks decide on what method to take on.
PS Most of the posts I have been reading say a drain of the pan will net you 3-4 quarts, did you jack it up somehow to get 7?
Does anyone have some original power steering fluid? That stuff gets gross by around 100k miles. Mine was black and smelled burnt.
I should have sent in the oil from my dad's lawnmower. I don't think he ever changed it in 10 years until I did it for the first time a while back. He's not very good at maintaining things sometimes. It was gray and metallic. The lawnmower still works fine, but I'm sure it has had some time taken off its life.
AuSeeker
Elite Member
The "Universal Averages" are a little bit different, not much, but still different on some of the metals on the OP's report compared to yours, wonder why that would be?
I wouldn't think this would change from one report to another using the same transmission fluid, unless one of you does use a fluid other than the WS fluid.
My 4Runner has 166K miles on it, and I am getting ready to do a flush. Not sure when or if it was done before. I am the third or fourth owner. We'll see how clean or black it is, before deciding, but it may be worth it just to see how the tranny is wearing in.
I don't understand how this helps without a side by side result from brand new unused oil as baseline comparison?
or is that easy to find online somewhere, and if it is then why doesn't the report show these baseline new foil vs what was found?
I mean, when I look at a report like this it tells me nothing because I have no idea what the "healthy" numbers should be vs "bad" numbers
.
or is that easy to find online somewhere, and if it is then why doesn't the report show these baseline new foil vs what was found?
I mean, when I look at a report like this it tells me nothing because I have no idea what the "healthy" numbers should be vs "bad" numbers
.
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Drunner97
New member
When I did a drain/refill I got exactly 4 quarts out and then refilled with 4.
timbo_slice
New member
Good question Keakar, I will try to answer it.
New fluid should not have any of the metals or contaminants listed with values in the lab results. So baseline would be 0.
For fluid properties, the baseline for new fluid or acceptable ranges are detailed in the left column (viscocity, flashpoint, etc).
One factor, the total acid number (TAN), would be the only one that I am not positive what new WS fluid would have.
timbo_slice
New member
Another good question that I will email to Blackstone. I would take a guess that either they need to get consistent on baselines, or that they simply have more data on averages at this time compared to a few years ago.
I did a full flush on transmission oil over labor day weekend and sent out some sample for analysis as well. Here is the result.
I am pretty sure this is original fluid from the factory, unless the previous owner replaced it before I got it at around 36,000 miles. I also got high copper content, but I don't think there is anything to worry about.
I am pretty sure this is original fluid from the factory, unless the previous owner replaced it before I got it at around 36,000 miles. I also got high copper content, but I don't think there is anything to worry about.
