6 or 7 years ago a transmission repair guy told me that if My trans was shifting OK with brown burnt smelling fluid, that changing the fluid could create problems (Like slipping). His rational was that the burned fluid contained microscopic bits of friction material from wear,....and that in a tranny with burned fluid,...removing this fluid can sometimes remove a critical friction element on a borderline transmission......so......new fluid creates a slipping condition in a previously non slipping transmission.

I now have 232,000 miles and the trans fluid has been in there since probably about 120,000.,...but,....again, the trans shifts perfectly.

Should I change it or leave it alone?

Brian

I'm no expert on transmissions or transmission fluid;but I would be inclined to say that 120,000 miles is a bit past due for a change.

Your tranny is going to love you when you give it some fresh fluid...

Dont worry, it only smells bad when you pull out the stick and hold it up to your nose and besides, some people like that smell anyway. But, brown color, excellent! I?d say it?s comming along nicely, a nice, mellow, vintage patina look? Yeah your in the sweet spot right now, leave it alone. When it actually turns completely to tar you might unfortunately have to change it because the shifter wont move anymore, but don?t worry thats at least a decade away.

Anyone recall cartoon character Dick Dastardly?s evil dog Muttley and his wheezing, ephysemic laugh? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Your friend has spoken the truth with regards to your trans fluid - a complete fluid change might do more damage than good at this point, but your tranny really should have fresh fluid. I would start by changing a small amount at a time - drain out a quart or so, then top it back up and put several hundred miles on it. If you don't develop any problems, do the same thing again. After 4 or 5 times your fluid should be somewhat less brown and you should be able to tell if you're going to have any problems with it or not, and you can do a complete fluid change. Use the search function - there's a great write-up on here about how to do a thorough fluid flush.

I just recently changed mine using this great technique. After I flushed out maybe 4-5 quarts this way, I simply kept adding 1qt fresh fluid through the dipstick tube, and running the engine just long enough to push out 1qt of old fluid. This keeps it from running dry during the flush. Repeat until clean-ish looking fluid comes out of the return line. I ran through about 14 quarts total.

My old fluid was as black as dirty motor oil and I would be willing to bet it had never been changed in all the 184k miles. I also went through the trouble of dropping the pan and changing the filter, but it was so clean inside the pan that I kind of regret doing all that extra work. Definitely use the genuine Mitsubishi Diamond SPIII fluid. It shifts beautifully now - no problems at all since the change. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />