So I changed my transmission fluid and transfer case fluid today. I ended up going back with OE Mopar ATF+4. I found it at Wally World for $4.42 / quart. Any way when I dumped the trans the plug has a little magnet in it. The little magnet had shavings and sludge stuck to it. The magnet is about 1/4 inch in diameter and with all the stuff stuck to it, it was about 7/16 inch in diameter. The fluid was a little dark but not too bad. Don't ask how it smelled, cause my nose doesn't work, I can't smell a thing. Any one here ever change their G56 fluid out? What did you find on the plug?

BTW, the Mopar ATF+4 said it was a full synthetic fluid. I didn't know that.

 

Not uncommon for transmissions to make metal during break in. Is this the first time the fluid had been changed?

MikeyB

 

Also ATF +4 darkens as a normal part of use and it does not indicate the oil is bad like it does with older style oils.

 

Yes this is the first change. All my maint is done by the book (owners manual). First trans and transfer change at 60K.

 

I have always seen metal when changing the oil in trannys. It's just part of the deal. It might become less with each change, but don't count on it. The hardened gear teeth have a very small contact area and there is a Cummins pounding away on them. Man, that oil has a job!

It's amazing that all that hard facing can wear off the teeth and they can still be fine. The poor bearings are just bathed in that stuff.

It would not hurt to change the oil more often. Reminds me of my KTM, I changed the oil every day for a while. It was dirty in that short of time. Finally it started coming out cleaner so I kept extending the change interval.

John

 

I changed my G56 to Amsoil ATF. I get a little sludge on the magnet but nothing a little rag doesn't clean right up. I agree on the changing of it sooner. I change mine every 20,000 or so.. GOod insurance I guess since I tow heavy and lets me look at things before they get out of hand..

 

The magnet is there to catch the metal filings and other crap. Did a good job of keeping the metal from going through bearings and failing them.

 

as long as no big chuncks in the pan. I have a manual with 340k and every change shows the paste and a nice metalic glow in the pan.

 

Stick shift, any time you grind a gear when shifting that is exactly what you are doing, grinding gears.

 

When I did the NV5600 on my last truck there was a fair amount of metal muck on the magnet in the bottom of the case.

I just did my G56 and it also had some fine muck on the magnet.

As long as there aren't chunks of bearing or anything, and the transmission sounds OK and shifts fine, I'd say no worries...

 

Thanks guys, I'm gonna dump it again after another 10k miles to see what's there. Hopefully it will be less and I'll feel better.

 

I like to put magnetic FILL plugs in my manual transmissions and differentials. That way I can check and clean the fill plug more frequently without having to drain the oil.

 

Small metal shavings=normal wear and tear

Big chunks=bad

 

.........and automatic transmissions typically produce even more shavings.