Tranny with 85K Miles
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 818
Likes: 235
From: Bakersfield, CA
Tranny with 85K Miles
Good day,
Tomorrow I will be working on replacing the A4 in my '99. The old fluid I would like to send it somewhere to get analyzed. What to the PHD folks look for when analyzing tranny fluid? Is there a benefit from the analysis? I know it probably doesn't matter since old A4 is getting replaced however, I might learn something as to driving habit and maybe caution me how to have the tranny last longer than 85K. The car is not tracked or a weekend warrior. I do however have my spirited moments especially when entering the freeway or exiting the freeway on our long and extended ramps. Any information on this would be helpful on where to send the old fluid. Cheers!!!
Tomorrow I will be working on replacing the A4 in my '99. The old fluid I would like to send it somewhere to get analyzed. What to the PHD folks look for when analyzing tranny fluid? Is there a benefit from the analysis? I know it probably doesn't matter since old A4 is getting replaced however, I might learn something as to driving habit and maybe caution me how to have the tranny last longer than 85K. The car is not tracked or a weekend warrior. I do however have my spirited moments especially when entering the freeway or exiting the freeway on our long and extended ramps. Any information on this would be helpful on where to send the old fluid. Cheers!!!
Pro
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 670
Likes: 358
From: Windsor, CT
If you're looking for oil analysis, check out BlackStone Labs. https://www.blackstone-labs.com/ It's a fun report that gives you insight to the inner workings of your car.
However I would not test the oil of a transmission that is going to be replaced.
However I would not test the oil of a transmission that is going to be replaced.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
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Likes: 3,694
From: The Sunshine State
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Why are you replacing the transmission? Is it starting to fail or slip? If so, what gears?
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 622
Likes: 169
From: Montgomery Texas
Understanding the failure mode would likely provide better insight than an oil analysis.
I'm not putting down an oil analysis, but a single snapshot is not as meaningful as a series of snapshots. In a series, you tend to see several very similar reports. Eventually you will have a significantly different report that indicates the onset of a problem. Knowing this you can proactively pull the transmission (or engine) apart and potentially repair things before a part failure and expensive damage occurs.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 818
Likes: 235
From: Bakersfield, CA
Sorry for the late response been covid sick for a minute. Apparently the VA doc said I have what is called "long term Covid". WTF? How many types of covid are there? Next we will have "weekend covid", "Tuesday covid", etc. etc. Anyway, Since i was sick I ended up taking my vehicle to the tranny shop here in town. I have used them in the past and they do do quality work as they only work on automatics. So after a few hours there the tech came back and told me that the tranny is shot and I need to replace it. This is exactly what I thought they would say as it is much easier (for them) to just replace instead of repair.
As for slippage, drive to 2nd is good, 2nd to 3rd slips but still goes in and 3rd to 4th works fine. So the estimate I got from the shop was $4500 and that was enough for me to shock the covid out of me. I called AAA and towed her home. I am still thinking of changing the fluid and filter just to make sure that that may answer the problem. Since I have the necessary parts I might as well do the change at this point it wouldn't hurt.
Yes, Blackstone is the name of the company I heard about so thank you.
If I do end up swapping the A4, it will be something in the order of a stage 2 from a reputable company. That's all for now.
As for slippage, drive to 2nd is good, 2nd to 3rd slips but still goes in and 3rd to 4th works fine. So the estimate I got from the shop was $4500 and that was enough for me to shock the covid out of me. I called AAA and towed her home. I am still thinking of changing the fluid and filter just to make sure that that may answer the problem. Since I have the necessary parts I might as well do the change at this point it wouldn't hurt.
Yes, Blackstone is the name of the company I heard about so thank you.
If I do end up swapping the A4, it will be something in the order of a stage 2 from a reputable company. That's all for now.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 4,043
Likes: 342
From: Central NJ
Good day,
Tomorrow I will be working on replacing the A4 in my '99. The old fluid I would like to send it somewhere to get analyzed. What to the PHD folks look for when analyzing tranny fluid? Is there a benefit from the analysis? I know it probably doesn't matter since old A4 is getting replaced however, I might learn something as to driving habit and maybe caution me how to have the tranny last longer than 85K. The car is not tracked or a weekend warrior. I do however have my spirited moments especially when entering the freeway or exiting the freeway on our long and extended ramps. Any information on this would be helpful on where to send the old fluid. Cheers!!!
Tomorrow I will be working on replacing the A4 in my '99. The old fluid I would like to send it somewhere to get analyzed. What to the PHD folks look for when analyzing tranny fluid? Is there a benefit from the analysis? I know it probably doesn't matter since old A4 is getting replaced however, I might learn something as to driving habit and maybe caution me how to have the tranny last longer than 85K. The car is not tracked or a weekend warrior. I do however have my spirited moments especially when entering the freeway or exiting the freeway on our long and extended ramps. Any information on this would be helpful on where to send the old fluid. Cheers!!!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 17,767
Likes: 3,694
From: The Sunshine State
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
Its all relative......The 4l60e has its flaws for sure.....If it was tuned by a shop or owner that can cause issues too if done wrong. My tranny, although 23 years old, blew with 14k miles on it. In my case I added a SC and a previous tuner has my tranny pressure way up....It lasted all of 300 miles after the SC install
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,448
Likes: 1,155
From: Dyer, IN
Sorry for the late response been covid sick for a minute. Apparently the VA doc said I have what is called "long term Covid". WTF? How many types of covid are there? Next we will have "weekend covid", "Tuesday covid", etc. etc. Anyway, Since i was sick I ended up taking my vehicle to the tranny shop here in town. I have used them in the past and they do do quality work as they only work on automatics. So after a few hours there the tech came back and told me that the tranny is shot and I need to replace it. This is exactly what I thought they would say as it is much easier (for them) to just replace instead of repair.
As for slippage, drive to 2nd is good, 2nd to 3rd slips but still goes in and 3rd to 4th works fine. So the estimate I got from the shop was $4500 and that was enough for me to shock the covid out of me. I called AAA and towed her home. I am still thinking of changing the fluid and filter just to make sure that that may answer the problem. Since I have the necessary parts I might as well do the change at this point it wouldn't hurt.
Yes, Blackstone is the name of the company I heard about so thank you.
If I do end up swapping the A4, it will be something in the order of a stage 2 from a reputable company. That's all for now.
As for slippage, drive to 2nd is good, 2nd to 3rd slips but still goes in and 3rd to 4th works fine. So the estimate I got from the shop was $4500 and that was enough for me to shock the covid out of me. I called AAA and towed her home. I am still thinking of changing the fluid and filter just to make sure that that may answer the problem. Since I have the necessary parts I might as well do the change at this point it wouldn't hurt.
Yes, Blackstone is the name of the company I heard about so thank you.
If I do end up swapping the A4, it will be something in the order of a stage 2 from a reputable company. That's all for now.