Gearbox problem maybe

[Aussie Frontier]

Just dropped the oil out of the gearbox to change it and when I was getting rid of the old oil I checked the drain bucket. At the bottem was what can be described as metal flake paint. Not overly heavy flake and 95% brass in colour. there was the odd bit of silver metal.
Gearbox seems to still change gears as usual, second has always been a bit grabby when cold to get into but nothing too hard.
What you guys think. I have 92,000kms on the clock and just wondering if a little metal flake so to speak in the oil is ok or should I start saving for a rebuild ?

 

[joe2006]

IMO metal wear is normal. That's why the oil in the trans is changed. Some boxes have magnetic drain plugs to try to remove the metal particles from suspension.

No chunks and all is good.

 

[Aussie Frontier]

nah nothing bigger than a pin head and the rest like when you have been filing with a fine file on alloy. Like a dust really but its brass suspended in oil

 

[tweak'e]

steel is normal but brass is probably sycrons wearing badly.
either your hard on the shifts or have an oil problem.

 

[Aussie Frontier]

MMMMM actually am pretty gentle on the shifts and slide it into gear rather than push it if that makes sense. Dunno bout the oil as I didnt ghange it last time .
I put in Pentrite full synthetic as per their reccomendations so fingers crossed.
It could actually be steel and its the colour of the oil making me think its brass.
Syncro on second has always been rough when cold even when new
I try to be gentlish on the box most of the time and no thrashing through the gears

 

[DaveHAT]

I'm not a transmission specialist but do my on servicing & every auto trans I've ever serviced has had what you describe to varying degrees.

Has it been serviced previously in those 92000km or is this the original fluid from new?

 

[Aussie Frontier]

As far as I know this is the second change for the gearbox .
I think they get done every 50,000 so am a bit early but figured what the hell get everything over on Penrite oils

 

[Aussie Frontier]

Well I have a funny feeling I made a bad choice with using the penrite oil in the gearbox. I took it for a drive this morning so everything was cold. Second gear was almost impossible to select.Once it warmed up it was reasonable but so far not overly impressed with the oil. And as for is saying its smoother gear changes am not thinking so smooth at all.
Anyone got any suggestions on what other oil might be better?

 

[tweak'e]

what spec oil did you put in ?

 

[Aussie Frontier]

Penrite Full synth Pro Gear 75w-80

 

[tweak'e]

no 75w-80 listed. sure its not 75w-85?

 

[Aussie Frontier]

Yeah my bad its 75w-85 as recommended on the Penrite site

 

[tweak'e]

i can't see any thing wrong with the specs.
its a little thin at high temp but that won't be the problem.

maybe give it a good thrash. the oil might be to good and not allowing the syncro to grip.
could be a double wammy if that was brass flakes from worn syncro's.

 

[Aussie Frontier]

Yeah I havent taken it for a hard drive yet just a trip up the shops. Ill go for a drive long enough to get the gearbox hot and see how it goes.
First time I ever worried about going all 1 brand . Normally just went with whatever was cheap but then it was only a toymota lol .
Ill see how it goes after a few 100kms on the clock

 

[tweak'e]

if that doesn't work throw some mineral 75-90 in it. gulf western and fuchs has some.

 

[Aussie Frontier]

Done deal
Thanks Tweak'e
Ill contact the guys that changed the gearbox oil last time and ask what they used .

 

[Aussie Frontier]

I took the truck for a longer run and in the higher gears its fine .Lower gesrs still not keen on being selected at under 2 grand. At 3 they seem happy.
I spose that just means I have to drive it a little harder lol
2nd is definately the hardest gear and then 3rd but the rest just fall in.Maybe the syncro on 2nd n 3rd are not 100% but wouldnt say its an issue at this stage. Happy going back down the gears but going up they arent as smooth as the rest

 

[Aussie Frontier]

Well the Penrite just wasnt doing it . I spoke with some guys at work ( rather large network with heaps of different 4x4 drivers. Anyway I posed the question to them and just about all came back with use CASTROL VMX-M 75W-85. So I rang the guys who did the last change and they used Valvoline Duragear 75w-80.
Decisions decisions decisions
I ended up with the CASTROL VMX-M 75W-85 and so far all seems back to normal. Will be inyerresting to see how it goes in the morning