Transmission Flush Findings... Should I be Concerned?

[JMat]

I'm the second owner of 1998 4Runner 3.4l 4x4 Auto with 332k miles on it which I picked up in 2003 with ~40k miles.

Just dropped the transmission pan and installed a new "strainer"(filter) for the first time in 6 years and 70k miles and found some shiny non magnetic(wouldn't stick to a magnet) fragments in the filter. I had had a mechanic do it the last time but am unsure if he actually replaced the filter. About every 30k miles since and before I'd do a transmission flush myself but not drop the pan.

When I dropped the pan 2 of the four magnets were covered and the third and fourth magnet were about half covered and I know it's a little tough to see but the filter had these metal pieces in it.

The transmission shifts nicely but I do take it easy on the old girl... Should I be concerned? Thanks.

[/IMG]

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

Any photo of the magnets, and where there any chucks of metal .

 

[LittleCaesar]

At this point, just keep new ATF in it as much as possible. You may also want to install a Magnefine to catch such chunks.

 

[sleepydad]

I'm the second owner of 1998 4Runner 3.4l 4x4 Auto with 332k miles on it which I picked up in 2003 with ~40k miles.

Just dropped the transmission pan and installed a new "strainer"(filter) for the first time in 6 years and 70k miles and found some shiny non magnetic(wouldn't stick to a magnet) fragments in the filter. I had had a mechanic do it the last time but am unsure if he actually replaced the filter. About every 30k miles since and before I'd do a transmission flush myself but not drop the pan.

When I dropped the pan 2 of the four magnets were covered and the third and fourth magnet were about half covered and I know it's a little tough to see but the filter had these metal pieces in it.

The transmission shifts nicely but I do take it easy on the old girl... Should I be concerned? Thanks.

[/IMG]

The clutch packs are going to wear and the magnets get stuff on them totally normal.

However that long thin piece of metal in the first pic is coming from some thing?

Big chips or long skinny pieces are an indication of a hard part failure. So... I would clean her up real good and put it back togeater, fill it back up and keep going.

If it’s shifting fine without stuttering, drive on.

I have done engine replacements and transmissions now and really transmissions are pretty easy to replace. Lots of work yes but really not that hard.

 

[JMat]

Thanks for your response but Sorry... No photos of the magnets(hands were covered in tranny fluid) but there were no chunks of metal on the magnets... Just the fine dark (clutch material?) that you can see on top of the filter. The only "chunks" were the metallic pieces that were caught in the filter and a few on the bottom of the pan(all non magnetic).

 

[JMat]

I've done engine replacements and transmissions now and really transmissions are pretty easy to replace. Lots of work yes but really not that hard.

Thanks! That's good to know and funny how things change... Back in the day(pre-smog&early smog days) I spent a lot of time wrenching and then I would rather replace an engine any day than a transmission.

 

[thegipper]

I do not see anything to be alarmed about, looks normal to me.

Keep fresh fluid in there and I bet she'll last quite a bit longer.

 

[winkster]

Sounds like you didnt flush the transmission fluid, you just removed the pan and any residual fluid down there which is a good start. You should continue the job by actually flushing the fluid which takes about 12 to 13 quarts.

Example video on the DIY process

https://youtu.be/RumPXivBlk8

 

[JMat]

Sounds like you didnt flush the transmission fluid, you just removed the pan and any residual fluid down there which is a good start. You should continue the job by actually flushing the fluid which takes about 12 to 13 quarts.

I pulled the return line off the radiator and did that as well... This was just the first time I had dropped the pan and R&R'd the filter too in a long time.

 

[JMat]

Thanks for the responses... She's flushed and buttoned back up. Hopefully she'll just keep getting me to where I'm going and home again for another 300K. Well... At least 100k.

 

[bruised]

Order a kit and send a sample to Blackstone Labs oil analysis. They are only 20-30$ a sample and they will tell you if anything is wearing too fast and what it is. Way more informative than looking at the magnets.

 

[JMat]

Order a kit and send a sample to Blackstone Labs oil analysis. They are only 20-30$ a sample and they will tell you if anything is wearing too fast and what it is. Way more informative than looking at the magnets.

Great idea but damn... Didn't think about that and I've already disposed of the oil. Well, next time.

 

[2000se]

Sounds like you didnt flush the transmission fluid, you just removed the pan and any residual fluid down there which is a good start. You should continue the job by actually flushing the fluid which takes about 12 to 13 quarts.

Example video on the DIY process

https://youtu.be/RumPXivBlk8

How completely necessary is this compared to a drop the pan only change? I just hear 50/50 people say don’t mess with a full flush as it could do more harm? What gives. My simple brain thinks that’s not true but maybe there is some truth to it?

 

[BamaDrewski]

At this point, just keep new ATF in it as much as possible. You may also want to install a Magnefine to catch such chunks.

Ditto on the Magnefine. The new Magnefine filters are totally sealed metal "cans" like a fuel filter. The older one were plastic and they could be unscrewed, cleaned and reused. They do a great job. When I broke my older one open to clean it, it had some fine particles on the magnets. (original transmission at 308K+ miles) I replace mine every 30K.

 

[jgue467]

How completely necessary is this compared to a drop the pan only change? I just hear 50/50 people say don’t mess with a full flush as it could do more harm? What gives. My simple brain thinks that’s not true but maybe there is some truth to it?

Well it's not Completely necessary in the sense that Toyo doesn't say in their maintenace manuals to do so but many think it's a great idea. i've done it 3 times in 305,000miles and I've run a magnetfine like this for about half those miles. Knock on wood yet so far it run's great under all conditions.

I believe if you otherwise have a well operating, unabused transmission, whether you do 4 quarts at a time of a full flush, the transmission won't be affected. In the cases you read where it is, it's called a Coincidence - why the word was invented.

Some on here simply drain every other 5000mile oil change, not a bad idea.

Luck and enjoy that Runner! :cowboY:

Oh, here are the 'old' type (cap unscrews) Magnefines at a good price: https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-8-Raybes...h=item2f05c5b890:g:IdYAAOSwi8VZSWkc:rk:1:pf:0

 

[2000se]

Well it's not Completely necessary in the sense that Toyo doesn't say in their maintenace manuals to do so but many think it's a great idea. i've done it 3 times in 305,000miles and I've run a magnetfine like this for about half those miles. Knock on wood yet so far it run's great under all conditions.

I believe if you otherwise have a well operating, unabused transmission, whether you do 4 quarts at a time of a full flush, the transmission won't be affected. In the cases you read where it is, it's called a Coincidence - why the word was invented.

Some on here simply drain every other 5000mile oil change, not a bad idea.

Luck and enjoy that Runner! :cowboY:

Oh, here are the 'old' type (cap unscrews) Magnefines at a good price: https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-8-Raybes...h=item2f05c5b890:g:IdYAAOSwi8VZSWkc:rk:1:pf:0

Got it. I've done the smaller drain and fill twice in 300K miles. I'm getting ready for a third time shortly.