Tranny Fuild Pink But Smells Burnt.. Flush It?

[stikky_p]

Ok so i was in the dealer today getting an oil change done on my 2001 Tahoe and they noticed that the tranny fluid smelt burnt but was the proper color. I recently purchased this 2001 Tahoe about 5 months ago and am not sure the longterm condition. I'm also not sure if the previous owner did a fluid change just before he sold it..

What should i do??? Should i flush the tranny to see if it goes away? should i leave the oil and continue (flush might loosen up causing tranny failure)?

I've never come across fluid being nice and red but smelling burnt.. It doesnt seem to shift odd or shutter.. I am however having a lack of power sometimes though.. but the rpm's dont go higher.. My lack of power feels more like a fuel problem..

 

[Thumper8302]

how many miles is on it and is it 4wd? if theres alot of miles on it i would just have them drop the pan and change the filter (no flush). but id just go ahead and change all fluids and perform all other maintenance just to have a better piece of mind.

 

[ezdaar]

Do the flush thats posted here.

By unhooking the return line from radiator. It wont kill your trans like a reverse flush will..
Pour in alil trans seafoam, drive it for a day or two then do the flush.. You will notice dramatic improvement to its operation.

It also allows for a clean filter change, none of this pouring a quart of hot trans fluid all over you or the ground.

 

[stikky_p]

They said the diffs and transfer case were good to go. The coolant needs a flush and the tranny is still red but smells burnt so they recomended a flush.

The vehicle has 202,000kms on it and it is 4WD..

 

[fire730]

I don't see how it can smell burnt but still be red. Other tranny fluids do smell wierd compared to Dexron. (Dexron 6, +4, Maxlife). Maybe it was previously serviced and they put Maxlife ATF since it has high mileage. That one smells wierd compared to regular ATF because of the additives in it that allow it to be used in vehicles that require special fluid (imports and some domestics)

 

[ezdaar]

WEhen I flushed mine, it was red on the stick, smelt burnt.

When it was in a bucket in a large volume to see, it was brown... The stick can trick you. if it smells burnt it is burnt.

 

[Freedom Motorsports]

I agree with flushing through the cooler lines, I don't like machine flushes, but **** it through the lines with a fresh filter isn't goin' to hurt a thing.

 

[M3PO]

WEhen I flushed mine, it was red on the stick, smelt burnt.

When it was in a bucket in a large volume to see, it was brown... The stick can trick you. if it smells burnt it is burnt.

Agreed! I used a flush machine with the help of a dealer tech friend. The fluid wasn't too bad, but when the site glass fills up with more fluid, you can see how brownish the fluid is. Luckily in my case my Denali wasn't too bad, but I've done other cars and it was just brown.