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09-10-2014, 03:33 PM
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#1
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Mega Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 66
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Flakes in Transmission Fluid
Today while routinely checking the fluids in my 2004 Sunseeker 3100 (E450) I noticed some debris on the end of the transmission dip stick. It almost looked like someone had crushed a dried up leaf and sprinkled the residue on it. I wiped it off, inserted and removed the dip stick again and there was a little more. Two more swipes and nothing else seemed to be on the stick. The coach has less than 30,000 miles. So....I am seeking advice and trying to determine if I need to be worried. I looked at a few on line posts that seemed to suggest a little debris was normal...but I have never noticed it before. I have had the RV for less than 2 years. Thanks!
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09-10-2014, 05:36 PM
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#2
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Average Joe
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Mechanicsville, MD
Posts: 689
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Not being familiar with the newer transmissions, used to be ANY debris in the fluid was trouble. If it were mine, it would be going to a trusted transmission shop for a look-see.
Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums
__________________
Joe and Karen
2014 Sunseeker 2450sf
Southern Maryland and Beyond!
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09-10-2014, 05:56 PM
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#3
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H2oski
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Hartford, AL
Posts: 639
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X2 on the transmission shop, but you might also try getting an oil sample tested. They would be able to tell you what the contaminate is made of, if any.
Blackstone Labs
Good luck
__________________
Wife
2007 Chevy 2500 HD 6.6
2012 Sabre 31RETS
(LA) Lower Alabama
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09-10-2014, 06:11 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Keller, Texas
Posts: 6,090
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Quote:
Originally Posted by h20ski
X2 on the transmission shop, but you might also try getting an oil sample tested. They would be able to tell you what the contaminate is made of, if any.
Blackstone Labs
Good luck
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Good advice - military used to call it SOAP for Speckometic (sp) Oil Analysis Program. Operators of jet engines such as aircraft operations,irrigation operators,etc. use it. We would pull aircraft engines that SOAP said were going bad with excessive bearing wear etc. and SOAP results were right on each time.
Just draw a couple ounces of oil out using a plastic tube attached to a collapsible plastic bottle and send it to a lab.
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09-10-2014, 06:23 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Franklin County, MO
Posts: 2,652
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With any luck, you might get by with a transmission filter and fluid change and not have a serious transmission problem. Good luck
__________________
Mike and Yvonne
and Sophie, the little white dog
2017 Columbus 320RSC
2021 Chevy Silverado 3500HD DRW 4X4 Duramax
“It's not how old you are, it's how you are old.” ― Jules Renard
"It's not the years...it's the mileage." - Indiana Jones
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09-11-2014, 04:50 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Eastern Ontario
Posts: 4,167
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Do you have the V10 engine in your Sunseeker? If yes, look at the automatic transmission filling tube bracket where it is attached to the exhaust header and see if the tube is rusted out.
PS: the V8 might have same problem
__________________
Fonzie
2011 Rockwood 8319SS with ProPride 3P hitch/GoodYear Marathons/TST TPMS 507
2019 F350 Ruby Red 6.7l diesel 3.31 axle electronic locker
Yamaha 3000iseb generator:Progressive Ind. EMS-HW30C : Eastern Ontario
Nights Camped: 2014 (18) 2015 (18) 2016 (36) 2017 (32) 2018 (42) 2019 (28) 2020 (35)
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09-11-2014, 07:47 AM
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#7
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Mega Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 66
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fonzie
Do you have the V10 engine in your Sunseeker? If yes, look at the automatic transmission filling tube bracket where it is attached to the exhaust header and see if the tube is rusted out.
PS: the V8 might have same problem
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I do have the V10. I will look....thanks.
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09-11-2014, 11:06 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Georgetown, TX
Posts: 337
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Automatic transmissions have bands and clutches that are faced with non-metallic material. If the material is not metallic then it is probably "bits" of this material.
The most typical failure, if you have a lock-up torque converter, is the the clutches in the converter. Next would be the bands which will flake off material as they wear.
It would be wise to drop the transmission pan and take a look - Band or clutch wear can sometimes be observed once the pan is off.
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09-12-2014, 02:06 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Eastern Ontario
Posts: 4,167
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I changed my auto transmission filler tube today, took about 1/2 hour, it was rusted through in two locations.......cost of new tube $40 (CAN) at Ford dealership.
__________________
Fonzie
2011 Rockwood 8319SS with ProPride 3P hitch/GoodYear Marathons/TST TPMS 507
2019 F350 Ruby Red 6.7l diesel 3.31 axle electronic locker
Yamaha 3000iseb generator:Progressive Ind. EMS-HW30C : Eastern Ontario
Nights Camped: 2014 (18) 2015 (18) 2016 (36) 2017 (32) 2018 (42) 2019 (28) 2020 (35)
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09-12-2014, 11:47 PM
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#10
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Incheon, S. Korea
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Incheon, South Korea
Posts: 1,142
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Quote:
Originally Posted by h20ski
X2 on the transmission shop, but you might also try getting an oil sample tested. They would be able to tell you what the contaminate is made of, if any.
Blackstone Labs
Good luck
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X3
__________________
Me, Julie, Lil' Barry, Faith, and OSD Fang
2012 Coachmen Clipper 126 - Don't even have a TV anymore.
I don't know when we'll be able to go camping again...
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09-17-2014, 05:03 PM
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#11
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Mega Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 66
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Flakes in Transmission Fluid
Thanks for all the information. Took it to the dealership and they determined that it was just some nonmetallic debris in the fluid. Even though the RV only has 24K miles, it is 10 years old and apparently age can be an issue as well as mileage. They flushed it, cleaned the screen, etc., and replaced the fluid. It never had a problem driving...it was always smooth shifting and so forth, so I can not really tell a difference. However, the peace of mind that all should now be OK was worth the 190.00. Again, thanks!
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09-17-2014, 05:19 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Keller, Texas
Posts: 6,090
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rgarner
Thanks for all the information. Took it to the dealership and they determined that it was just some nonmetallic debris in the fluid. Even though the RV only has 24K miles, it is 10 years old and apparently age can be an issue as well as mileage. They flushed it, cleaned the screen, etc., and replaced the fluid. It never had a problem driving...it was always smooth shifting and so forth, so I can not really tell a difference. However, the peace of mind that all should now be OK was worth the 190.00. Again, thanks!
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That's good news. Some of you might remember ( as I do) when automatic transmissions (AT) first came out and for several years after how troublesome they were. A common problem was slipping and you were told the "bands needed to be adjusted." True or a rip off,I'm not sure.
I remember driving a 1950ish Chevrolet straight six equipped with a "PowerGlide" (Chevys name for the AT at that time) AT and how sluggish it was between shifts.
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