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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 37
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 37 |
My 1998 Mercury Mystique LS ATX V6 is in the shop getting the flywheel replaced, and they called and said that the tranny fluid is black. I do not know if the previous owner(s) ever changed it, but I have not. What is black fluid generally a sign for? All I know is that it's not good.
Thanks for your help.
Aiwa flip down head unit
Pioneer 6x8 3-ways all around
Two Polk/Momo 10" subs pushed by a bazooka amp
Custom grille
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Autolite 8mm plug wires
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,714
Scourge of the Master Debaters
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Scourge of the Master Debaters
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,714 |
Basically over time the oil breaks down and becomes oxidized. Also, the parts in your ATX slowly wear down and this "grit", made up of metal shavings, gets cycled around in the tranny by the fluid. This combination is basically liquid sandpaper flowing through the transmission with little in the way of lubricating properties.
You could probably try and do the 4-quart drain-n-fill each month for as long as it takes to bring the fluid back to its normal color (probably many months) but I would seriously start saving for a new transmission. BTW, at this point I would highly recommend against a complete flush. That grit has probably built up in the valve body and is filling holes in the seals. If you flush out the grit you'll have a valve body full of extra little holes which will definitely lead to a failure.
EDIT: I'm sure its just a semantic error, but you do know that there's no flywheel on an ATX, just a flexplate, right? Just want to make sure your mechanic isn't trying to screw you over or anything.
Last edited by hetfield; 02/10/04 10:34 PM.
Beer is my Gatorade.
Hooray Beer.
'98 "Sport" Pacific Green
'98 E0 SVT Silver Frost
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Joined: Sep 2003
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Sep 2003
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Since your speaking about transmissions and seem to know a bit I got a question.
I had four quarts removed back in February 2003, with 48,000 on the car. I'm thinking about getting a flush done this year with 58,000 now, but will be at about 65,000 - 67,000 at the end of the year when I want to have it done. Thing is with 4 quarts only being removed once and the rest still original, I'm kind of cautious about doing it. Good idea or not you think?
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,714
Scourge of the Master Debaters
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Scourge of the Master Debaters
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,714 |
Originally posted by HITMANinMI:
Since your speaking about transmissions and seem to know a bit I got a question.
Only because I burned up a CD4E and had to have it replaced in October '02. That, and I've been reading as much as I can about the ATX in the Transaxle forum.
Originally posted by HITMANinMI:
I had four quarts removed back in February 2003, with 48,000 on the car. I'm thinking about getting a flush done this year with 58,000 now, but will be at about 65,000 - 67,000 at the end of the year when I want to have it done. Thing is with 4 quarts only being removed once and the rest still original, I'm kind of cautious about doing it. Good idea or not you think?
People like Roadrunner and unisys will probably be able to give you more intelligent answers than I can, but my question would be, how does the oil look now? If its less than pink and/or smells burned, I'd be wary. I'd hate to say "yeah, go ahead you should be ok" only to have your tranny take a dump on you 20000 miles later.
From what I've read, the 4-quart shuffle is the safest bet when you're not sure about the current condition of a high-mileage tranny. If it had been constantly maintained over its life, that would be a different story.
Beer is my Gatorade.
Hooray Beer.
'98 "Sport" Pacific Green
'98 E0 SVT Silver Frost
Pictures
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