Sludge at bottom of NV5600

[magic carpet pilot]

I just changed the fluid in my NV5600 and installed the Fast Coolers. Truck has 173,000 miles on it. Will admit I have not been very good about changing the oil in the transmission. Have only done it twice before. The other times I changed it I did not pull the PTO covers, just drained the oil. Since I was putting the coolers on the covers came off. I was amazed at the amount of silver sludge that was in the bottom of the transmission.

Has anyone else ran into this?

 

[Tuesdak]

Yes. Be careful while cleaning it out as you are likely to get a nasty metal splinter...

The oil on these sheers down quick so changes every 50K are about the minimum. I don't know if the string filter kits are still available. Looks like they do a decent job of catching things.

 

[magic carpet pilot]

Well it makes me feel a little better knowing others have seen the same thing. I had the machine shop at work take 1/2" off the right side Fast cooler. It wouldn't fit with my aftermarket exhaust. I also had them put a 1/2" NPT hole in the bottom of each one. My intent was to put a temp sender in the left side, and a magnetic drain plug on the right side just to make servicing a little easier.

After seeing all that sludge, I thought about using those 1/2" NPT holes to rig up a filtering system. Use a 12 volt pump to pull the fluid from one side, push it through a filter block with a hydraulic filter and back into the other side of the transmission. Extra bonus would be another quart or so of oil. Something similar to the aftermarket transmission coolers I have seen, but would push through a filter rather then a cool. Any thoughts? Or is this silly idea? My intent with everything I have been doing to the truck lately is to extend the life as long as possible.

 

[Slow Six]

When I had the 03 with the 5600 I always pulled the covers and cleaned out the bottom of the transmission, removed the magnet and cleaned it as well. I also lifted the back of the truck so the transmission is closer to level and it is completely drained and cleaned. Changing oil and leaving crud in the bottom is not a good job.

 

[magic carpet pilot]

When I had the 03 with the 5600 I always pulled the covers and cleaned out the bottom of the transmission, removed the magnet and cleaned it as well. I also lifted the back of the truck so the transmission is closer to level and it is completely drained and cleaned. Changing oil and leaving crud in the bottom is not a good job.

How do you remove the magnet from the bottom? I can feel it in there, but didn't know how to remove it. I lifted the back of the truck like you said, and that does help a lot.

 

[Slow Six]

The magnet just pulls/slips out. It is a strip magnet that just sticks to the case.

 

[magic carpet pilot]

Well now that I know that, perhaps next time I change the fluid I will buy a large and strong magnet to stick on the bottom in addition to the factory one.

Thanks for the help guys!