Tranny oil drained and has metal flecks in it?

[xirdneh]

I drained a tranny today and the oil has a fair amount of tiny metal specks and flecks in it. Was wondering if this is the beginning of the end for this tranny. I was thinking about refilling it with new oil and drivng it around till it warmed up then drain it again.
Could a person salvage the oil by letting the metal settle to the bottom of a plastic pan and use a magnet to capture the metal?

[ARCHINSTL]

Aren't bearings (or synchronizers) brass/nonmagnetic? Or does my question hearken back to Model A days?
Tom M.

[animeracing]

Small metal dust particles in the fluid as the tranny components wear is actually perfectly normal.

If it's never been drained before, or hasn't been drained in a loooong time, getting a lot of metal dust in the drained oil is probably to be expected.

It's not really an issue unless there's a LOT of metal dust after a normal maintenance interval, or there are larger metal shards in there.

Usually the drain plug has a magnetic insert, or you can get one, so the metal sticks to it rather than floating around in the fluid during use, and so it's easier to get most of the stuff out at the next change.

If you want to do a DIY flush, you can get some cheap fluid and fill, drive it for a few days/weeks, then drain, and refill with whatever you want to run. Usually synthetic is a good choice to prevent wear. I've found that just doing more frequent changes seems to be the way to go over the flush method, at least for normal maintenance.

If it's the first time you've drained it or you aren't familiar with the history of this particular tranny, flushing out with new fluid might be just the thing to clean up the inside and remove any metal still in there, without having to take it apart.

[takza]

That was the case when my trans failed. You can usually see the metal best after the foam settles off the oil and in sunlight or with a good flashlight. You will always probably have some steel on the magnets...but when you see "fines" in suspended in the oil...my guess is that a bearing is self destructing.

My old trans made a lot of "white noise"....and it gradually got worse.

My be a good chance to try a can of Restore?

Check here....

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1016

[sdoan]

XirdneH,

I drained some gear oil and it had a few silvery metal flecks and a lot of black fines. These all settled to the bottom of a glass I used to check exactly this. The oil never got clear (translucent) and I probably wouldn't reuse the oil in the trans. I was able to drag the black fines around with a magnet and looked at them with a 10x hand lens so was convinced they were steel. Most of the particles had no discernible shape, but there were a few flakes that were bright silver and looked a little like steel spalled off a bearing. Also found one small chip that was probably the tip of a synchronizer ring.

Tom,

Did Model As really have synchronizers? I think the days of brass synchonizers are gone. I remember being amazed the first time I saw steel synchronizers and that was a long time ago.

[ARCHINSTL]

sdoan -
You are correct - the Model A did not use synchronizers. I've only ridden in an "A" a couple of times, and these were restored to the nth-type vehicles; either the operators were extremely smooth in their double-clutchng or they used later-adapted transmissions which did use synchronizers.
My Morris Minors had some brass and tin internal gizzies - but not synchronizers.

OT a bit, but the Post Office sold its used Model A delivery trucks to employees - one of my Dad's mail carrier comrades drove one into the early '50s. These looked like green wooden station wagons.
Tom M.
EDIT -
This is really OT, but I could not resist...here is a link to a photo of an "A" Mail truck: http://www.funstuffforgenealogists.com/ ... ltruck.htm
In looking for this - I found a number of clubs dedicated solely to Model A Mail Trucks - who'da thunk it!

[Petros]

if you do the tranny flush, use half and half cheap gear oil and ATF, it will clean out all the old glaze, sludge and metal shavings, get the trans good and warm with a high speed run, drain it warm. Than fill with quality gear oil. If you go synthetic I suggest use half and half regular quality gear oil and synthetic. All synthetic is too slippery and the syncros do not work properly (they suddenly act like they are worn out).

[Petros]

if you do the tranny flush, use half and half cheap gear oil and ATF, it will clean out all the old glaze, sludge and metal shavings, get the trans good and warm with a high speed run, drain it warm. Than fill with quality gear oil. If you go synthetic I suggest use half and half regular quality gear oil and synthetic. All synthetic is too slippery and the syncros do not work properly (they suddenly act like they are worn out).

fine metal particles are normal in an old tranny, a lot of them are a sign that the tranny is wearing out. putting in 50/50 gear oil and synthetic will usually nearly stop any additional wear. Hopefully it is not too late.

good luck

[takza]

As long a the stuff settles...you're probably OK. Might do a flush with some engine oil or ATF...driving it very easy...or just dino gear oil for a while. I'm going to go with full synth Mobil 1 75W90 soon.

[SynthDesign]

If the trans fluid has been contaminated by water, crud or metal, DO NOT REUSE IT! Fresh fluid with a bit of shavings can be filtered using a coarse screen or coffee filter( takes forever), then reused.

As for a bit of metal flakes... not worries. I concur that it's normal if the trans hasn't be serviced normally. It's the big pieces I'd worry about.

A mix of ATF(red) and 80w90 trans fluid is good for flushing out loose particles. Just don't leave it in there too long(maybe 50 miles), as ATF has detergent in it and can cause galling on parts inside, particularly on the main shaft and syncros.

I do not recommend Restore. Just person opinion from previous attempts. Seafoam is another option to be used to flush the system as well.