Metal shavings in the transmission

[JCKnife]

I was checking the fluid levels in all my differentials and trans. case and transmission today. The transmission I don't think I had ever checked before. The fill plug has a magnet on it, and there were quite a few metal shavings stuck to this magnet. I cleaned them off as best I could before re-installing the plug.

I know that metal shavings are NEVER a good thing, but how bad a sign is this. Is it normal or "OMG don't drive it!" bad?

 

[Seth_O]

While not deuce-specific, I find that I virtually always have some level of metal 'sludge' on my magnetized drain plugs in my vehicles. The sludge is a mixture of metal filings/shavings and oil. When I rebuilt the transfer case in my landcruiser I had a pretty good sized volume after the first couple of oil changes (done at 100 and 500 miles.) This was very normal and I was prepared for it.

That being said, the metal material is always VERY fine. If you're seeing chunks or larger pieces, you may have a problem. Would be much easier to tell if you have a picture you could post up.

 

[royaltiger1945]

Seth_O is right. Metal parts will always produce some fine filings or shavings when they are new until they wear down to a better fit. Same reason why the first oil change on new engines are recommended earlier than the normal service. When you see large chuncks, its time to worry. I always try to break things in and then switch over to Amsoil. Makes things quieter and don't see anywhere close to the amount that I have with conventional oils. If the trans still shifts with no problems and no excessive noise, I would just change fluids and keep driving.

 

[fuzzytoaster]

Seth_O is correct. I'm doing a tranny fluid replacement on my jeep this weekend. Both napa and Advance-Auto-Parts said expect to find shavings and graphite at the bottom of the pan and the magnet especially if this is your first replacement. "Fine is fine, chunky is funky" I believe is what he said.

 

[TiredIron]

Unless something is big enough to have a part number on it.......
don't sweat it.

TiredIron

 

[velociT]

Unless something is big enough to have a part number on it......

 

[mckeeranger]

We've had metal "shavings" on our M35 and M817. We just keep driving them on.

No part numbers yet though.

 

[JCKnife]

Good deal, thanks guys. Most of it was powdery sludge but there may have been a piece or two getting close to 1/4 pinkie fingernail size. But not quite.

 

[DieselBob]

Unless something is big enough to have a part number on it.......
don't sweat it.

TiredIron

 

[m-35tom]

magnet should be on the drain plug, not fill.

 

[JCKnife]

magnet should be on the drain plug, not fill.

I'd love to see a pic, because I couldn't find a drain plug. At least not one that looked like every other drain plug on the vehicle.

 

[DieselBob]

I have this image from the TM. Lower back of transmission.

 

[JCKnife]

Thanks DB, yeah of course mine does have that but mine is sunk flush with no exposed threads and it's been painted over, so it's harder to ID. But no, that's not the plug I removed. I was nervous because if I HAD removed the drain plug then it would have been clearly low on oil! But no, mine has a magnet on the fill plug.