Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Is transmission "glitter" OK

[Tinman]

I serviced the trans in the 01 yesterday. While I was cleaning the pan I noticed some small metal flakes on the rag. Looked kinda like glitter. I've serviced this trans many times and have noticed a little of this but it seemed to be more this time (but I may have just paid more attention). This is a full DTT trans with about 80K miles since DTT'd. It's been at about 350hp the whole time and rarely tows. Trans is working perfectly.

 

[Joe Mc]

As you noted glitter, or like a metal-flake, is typical. The older the trany gets the more typical this becomes. What you're seeing is probably more of a brass color than silver, yes, this is wear material from bearings. As long as there's not a great deal of it I'd be more concerned with black power like material in the bottom of the pan. There's always going to be some of this, which is band material, but you shouldn't notice a great deal of either the brass-like, or power-like materials.

As long as you're adjusting the bands like DDT spec'd and the trans if working well you should be fine. If you're really concerned give the good folks @ DTT a call and here what they've got to say.

 

[Tinman]

That's what I figured. The friction material in the pan seemed about the same. The metal may have been a little more since I actually noticed it this time, but it wasn't a lot by any means. Of note, I switched to ATF+4 after +3 wasn't available. My builder used Dextron III in the 06 when it was build so I ask if I could go switch to Dextron in the 01 which I did at this change. They don't like +4 too much as it is "too slick" and some people have had shutter (I never did). I wonder if that had anything to do with it.