...watery, black,... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />

Just bought the truck. Flushed and filled with 80/140w; scratchy grindy bearing noise hasn't come back yet.

Is my tranny cooked? Seems to be doing as good as my other two.

I found out why it was low. Just aft of where the shifter goes in, there is a flange that surrounds where the drive shaft comes off. It's wet.

Rear tranny seal? If so, what is it's "real name", and how much $/effort might it take to fix it?

Thanx again for all your help, gang. I've only been yakking with you all a few months now, and already you've saved me HUNDREDS, if not more. Appreciate it.

That's a little heavy, 75W90 GL4 (Redline MT90) is what I use.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. You might have shortened the bearing life, but... they will talk to you if you did.

The FSM details changing the rear seal, its straightforward. That baby would have to leak like a sieve to drain your tranny though, the bottom of your truck would be wet!

I'd say the PO went to Jiffy Lube. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />

Naaah...you don't think? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

Exact thing you mention actually happened to a friend here in San Diego.

Went to one of the quickie lube places, noticed Tyrone jukin' and jivin' to a ghetto blaster, didn't think much of it. Till his tranny blew just outside of Ensenada...DRY.

Contacts a dealer, who tells him his tranny would go about XXX miles without lube.

Confronts the lube shop, employee confesses it was likely that he forgot to fill...

...they write him a check. MIRACLES still occassionally happen. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

That seal is about a 20 minuet job or so. All the auto parts places have em, about $6 maybe. Hardest part it the staked nut that you have to remove then torque back on, air drive works super for removing and installing it, it is a 30mm nut also.

Drain gear oil a bit
Pull 4 bolts on shaft & tie out of way.
Remove flange nut & washer.
Remove seal & wipe clean.
Install new seal, seat flush w/a socket or flat iron or seal tool.
Put some rtv on splines.
Install washer & nut & torqe to 90 ft lbs, stake nut.
Re-attach drive line.
Fill unit till it drips out of rear plug.
Done.
Clean up and put tools away.