Thread: Transmission Cooler Questions

So I recently bought a WIX transmission filter because I'm planning on changing the fluid and filter on Friday. I know my transmission already has a shudder issue only going from 1st to 2nd at high RPM and when the transmission is warm, but it hasn't done it recently. I just went to go check the fluid and found this:





Yeah, basically black. Now I was recommended by a member on here about a product to add that will prevent slippage and shudders. This is what that product is: http://www.lubegard.com/~/C-230/Instant+Shudder+Fixx. I will be buying one of those, but after seeing how black my fluid was with clutch material, I'm having second thoughts about it. It's only gonna be a pan drop so it's not like all that fluid is gonna come out. But I don't know, is there anything else I should add in addition to the Lubegard product to prevent and slipping? If my transmission slips after this, it's bye bye to the top swap project. Thanks a bunch guys.

Black fluid could be the cause of the shudder.

Is that the original dex 3?

Fresh dex 6 could help. Need someone more edumacated to respond about how to check for the metal flakes.

The fluid is still a brownish color, it's just the clutch material that likes to stick to the dipstick.

Lube guard or some lucas can be used.

Originally Posted by EJOUIE

Black fluid could be the cause of the shudder.

Is that the original dex 3?

Fresh dex 6 could help. Need someone more edumacated to respond about how to check for the metal flakes.

Yes, it's the original DEX III to my understanding. And I will not be using DEX VI since it's a thinner fluid and I need a thicker fluid to ensure nothing goes wrong.

Originally Posted by Fivefingerdeathpunch

The fluid is still a brownish color, it's just the clutch material that likes to stick to the dipstick.

Lube guard or some lucas can be used.

If I can do both of those at the same time, I'll go that route. I didn't know that the clutch material stuck to the dipstick. That explains why the entire thing was black. I'll go ahead and change the fluid then. Thanks!

Clean your dipstick first then re check the oil color.

Dex3 is good for what you're doing

Originally Posted by CrazyGuy03

Clean your dipstick first then re check the oil color.

Dex3 is good for what you're doing

Car's put away for the night. Going to be going to bed shortly anyways. I will do that tomorrow, thanks for the tip.

Do not mix additives into the trans, you could cause more damage doing that. Some of those additives don't play nice together.

Originally Posted by Slick2500

Do not mix additives into the trans, you could cause more damage doing that. Some of those additives don't play nice together.

So which do you think I should put in?

I'll probably give Lubegard or Lucas a call sometime and see what they say.

Never heard of Lubeguard before, so I can not tell you anything about it. My 97 had ~155k miles on it when I got it with a bad trans, I dumped out all the old brown fluid and put in all new Dex III and a bottle of Lucas. The trans lost 4th gear at 181k miles. Idk if the Lucas helped or not but getting almost another 30k miles out of a bad trans isn't too bad.

Originally Posted by Slick2500

Never heard of Lubeguard before, so I can not tell you anything about it. My 97 had ~155k miles on it when I got it with a bad trans, I dumped out all the old brown fluid and put in all new Dex III and a bottle of Lucas. The trans lost 4th gear at 181k miles. Idk if the Lucas helped or not but getting almost another 30k miles out of a bad trans isn't too bad.

Nor dif I before I looked them up. And they seem very legit with a variety of products. But I'll still call them and see what they say about mixing them.

I hear that the newer trannies use gender fluid ....

Originally Posted by CrazyGuy03

I hear that the newer trannies use gender fluid ....

Yeah, and you can use either gender fluid in the tranny .

I have had dex 6 in my 4t60e (97 GT) for a couple years now.

It is the most reliable part of my car.

I have had the same 1-2 shudder issue since buying the GP 5 years ago. Did the shift kit in year 2 and change the fluid at least once a year, if not twice. I did throw in half a bottle of Lucas last year, but never noticed a difference. I think I'm one of the lucky one's, as my tranny has acted and stayed the same over the years.

Oh, and my last tranny service (last month) I put in Dex 6. So far no issues.

There is nothing wrong using dex6. Some people decide to switch to it AFTER a new build or rebuild.
But just doing a pan drop, dex3 would be the CHEAPEST route

I'm sure it will be fine, but I usually don't put newer types of fluid in my older applications. Newer stuff is more synthetic, which can be an issue on tired parts.

That is another valid point I been searching for a while. I wanted a FULL syn dex6 and only valvoline brands states that on their bottles.
No other dex6 I seen says that.