'95 Monte Carlo W/4T60-E Transmission - Dark Fluid

mark4444mark4444 Member Posts: 7
edited March 2014 in Chevrolet
I recently flushed the transmission oil cooler and changed the filter and fluid in my '95 Monte Carlo, and now after 6 weeks, the fluid is very dark again. The car shifts fine, with no slippage, but I am concerned that trouble is coming soon. The fluid does not smell burnt, I suspect the dark coloring is caused from metal particle contamination. There was some metal in the pan when I did the flush -&- filter change 6 weeks back. Is this transmission prone to problems? The vehicle has 75,000 miles, and has not been abused.
Thanks

Comments

  • alcanalcan Member Posts: 2,550
    When you replaced the fluid it mixed with what was still in the torque converter, valve body, and internal passages, discolouring the new fluid. 4T60-E capacities are as follows:
    Dry...................................... 15.0 quarts
    Overhaul.............................. 12.6 quarts
    Bottom pan and side cover.... 8.0 quarts

    If you didn't add 15 quarts, there was some mixing with the old fluid.

    As far as fluid discolouration, oxidixed or overheated fluid is usually brown. Very dark brown or black (and smelly) is a result of suspended carbon particles from burned compressed paper clutch facings, band linings, or torque converter clutch. Metal hard part failure usually results in silvery, gritty specks in the fluid.

    The 4T60-E is a generally reliable transaxle. One of the more common problems is wear in the torque converter clutch regulator valve bore in the valve body, allowing leakage past the valve and causing converter clutch hunting at higher speeds.
  • gmlover1gmlover1 Member Posts: 60
    If you want to clean your trans fluid you can buy a small pump and go in through the filler tube. I do that with my Bonneville, I get 2 quarts that way, if you do that once a week for a month or two your fluid will be like new.
  • jrosasmcjrosasmc Member Posts: 1,711
    Is the GM 4T60-E transmission in the Lumina/Monte Carlo the same thing that was found in the 1994-96 Caprice/Roadmaster/Fleetwood? If that is so, why in the world would GM put a FWD tranny in a heavy-duty RWD chassis?

    p.s. Did Cutlass Cieras and Centurys use the 4T60-E also?
  • alcanalcan Member Posts: 2,550
    GM RWD applications use the 4L60-E or 4L80-E transmission. Model designations are:

    3, 4 or 5 = forward speeds (5 speed in BMW 3-Series E46 (M90), 3-Series E46 (M82), and 5-Series E39 (M82)
    T = transverse mount (transaxle, FWD in all GM except Pontiac Fiero)
    L = longitudinal mount (RWD)
    40 to 80 = torque capacity range
    E = electronic control

    The 4T60-E was the evolution of the original Hydramatic 440 transaxle. It was replaced by the 4T65-E in most FWD applications in the 1997-1998 model years.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Let's keep questions like this in our "Transmission Traumas" discussion, so that we don't have lots of transmission discussions going on with only 4-5 posts in them. If any of you have more to say on this subject, bring them over to the Tranmission topic, please. Here's your link:


    Transmission Traumas


    thank you!


    Host

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