[Alaura]

1996 Dodge B2500, 123k miles, 318 V8

Hi everyone! I have a friend looking at buying this van, and she went and looked at it, and it drove nicely and everything, but the color of the transmission fluid is extremely concerning. It’s kinda hard to see, but it is brown, to the point where I thought she had sent me a photo of the oil dipstick.

The van has an upgraded suspension so it can tow more, and has been used to tow regularly. Unsure of what. I am concerned that the transmission has had the crap beaten out of it and is on its last leg, but the guy swears it’s just old fluid. No mention of the last time the fluid was changed. He is going to service the transmission today.

What are your guys’s thoughts? I am not good with transmissions, so I can’t 100% tell her what to look out for. I have heard that these transmissions can be hit or miss. She would be towing with this van as well. I told her pass, but she is still thinking about buying it.

[Larry]

If the fluid is brownish red to brown, then the fluid is burnt. It will smell burnt compared to fresh fluid. If it has been towing, then it is likely that is the situation.

A complete fluid change might work, or it might not. The transmission that year (likely 45 or 46RE) has an overdrive section & a TCC and they are sensitive to old fluid.

The only way to tell if there has been physical damage would be to drop the trans pan & see if there is a lot of metal & clutch particles at the bottom.

[Tall]

It’s a B series. It’s the American version of the Hilux. They never die.

[Jason]

The question is: Does the fluid smell burnt?

[Laura]

When driving does it knock around or take a while to shift gears? Try going uphill with it.

[Author]

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