dark tranny fluid

[sandramatrix]

Has anyone else had this problem? I have 11,000 miles on my Matrix , 8 months old and my tranny fluid is dark brown and smells burnt. I'm concerned about a bigger issue than just needing a change. Toyota doesn't recommend a change until 60,000 miles. Why would my fluid be dark already?

[Zrain]

ATF? or gear Oil?

Just a Note: if u want to see this in action i recomend you actualy try this....

if you changed the oil on a car and then instantly drained it.. you would be suprised to see "dirty" oil coming out.. and actualy think there was a problum if you wernt a grease monkey. mettal is dirty! oil is ment to be able to stick to things. like mettal.. dirt stick's better. and as a result. puting oil into anything and then taking it out will yeald dirty looking oil, you dont chage oil BC of dirt.. you chage oil BC it gets wiped into the consistancy of watter. Oil preshure guadge's make good oil change reminders.

as for your 11k on the clock with dirty fluid - i asume ATF id say its probobly allright.... altho there is a posibility is over heating. if this is the case change the ATF and check in 1k or so miles. its going to be dirty.. but if its still mostly red your all right.. just keep checking for say 5k and if slowly browns.. then its just ageing... remeber ATF is more of a hydrolic fluid then it is a lubercant. its the other way around with gear oil..

if its gear oil, i wouldent have to answer this BC if u can check your own gear oil, i dont think i need to tell you if brown is good or bad.

(i dont know with trix's but if there is one, pull the trany magnet and check for mettal file's)

[AznFuman]

bring it to ur dealer if its dark so fast...
if i remember correct...
its suppose to be redish if its clean.....