Warning- Found Redline D4 contaminated with dark settlement

[Fillherup]

I bought a case of Redline D4 ATF fluid, after checking and hearing good things about it. Planning to switch from Mobil 1 ATF to Redline D4. Thinking that I would even use a better oil, I started the multiple drain/refill process with the D4 ATF fluid. While checking the third bottle, I noticed a dark, settlement much like coffee grounds or dirty oil that had a heavy settlement.

Of course, I am quite upset and wonder what damage I might have done to my transmission. Fortunately, I looked at the third bottle, before I did a another refill. All bottles seemed to have the same contamination.

Unfortunately, I let the first two bottles drain out trying to get the last drop. I just hope is was not Folger's last drop and my transmission last.

 

[satterfi]

I've seen that in their gear oils too. I'm not sure its contamination.

They need to put "Shake well before use" on their bottles.

I think an email to Dave over at RL is in order.

[ April 26, 2003, 03:27 PM: Message edited by: satterfi ]

 

[Bror Jace]

Fillherup, how much sediment? In the bottom of MTL bottles I would often see a TRACE of something greenish ... like copper. But just a trace.

--- Bror Jace

 

[Pablo]

I wonder how old the product is?

I have seen high end lubes sit on shelves for YEARS....but D4 is new, no?

 

[Fillherup]

I think the stock was pretty new. I have not opened the bottle to feel the stuff. But I sure hope it is nothing too bad. I did drain, flush 1 qt and then refilled with Mobil 1 ATF. Its bottom of bottle was clean. Make you just want to go back to Jiffy lube!

 

[unDummy]

I've seen settlement in various brands of fluids and oils for years, and have made it a habit to shake the bottle for a minute before pouring. This way you won't have to worry about any additives that settled out.
Quit worrying!

 

[Fillherup]

unDummy, what kind and brand of oils where you using? Any gear lubes? I have never seen this before. But I admit I normally do not look at the empty bottle. I did for the RL to quage the amount left.

Pat worries about the lint on a dipstick. I guess this make me an official member of the super-anal club. I assume that anyone that reads this forum is borderline nuts including this author.

Has anybody else seen the additives drop out like unDummy? Do you agree not to worry?

Thanks

[ April 26, 2003, 09:20 PM: Message edited by: Fillherup ]

 

[unDummy]

Its the gear oils that seem to have the most drop out-Pennzoil, Mobil 1, Valvoline......
ATF and motor oils aren't too bad. But, saw it in the Supersyn M1 and Castrol GTX also.

I always shake bottles. I make the assumption that it is nothing but a bunch of ingredients. I also always warm the bottles to make them pour easier. In the winter, this means leaving the oil adjacent to the vent or baseboard. In the summer, leaving the oil out in the sun will warm it up quick.

Prefilling filters, wetting seals, shaking bottles.... isn't compulsive. I believe that there are two ways to do something--the wrong way or my way. My way is better!

 

[vettenuts]

I saw this in Pennzoil motor oil a number of years ago and stayed away from it for a long time because of this.

I also had a clear jar of leftover RL 75W-90 in my garage for a year or so. I put a question to this forum on it when it looked like it was full of wax. I have since moved the jar into the basement where it is a little warmer and this "wax" has now been re-absorbed into the fluid. I don't think its moisture as the jar is a tightly sealed Mason jar. Never noticed crud in the bottle though.

 

[Fillherup]

Talked to Dave at RL. He says that some batch, esp older stock will sometime settle out. But is nothing to be concerned. I got the dealer to switch out to a new case instead of going with refund.

 

[outrun]

Outrun's theory based on flashbacks from my hell in Chem1301 (Freshman Inorganic I) Sorry, I had to i improvise on the equilibrium symbol here

Redline Additives(soln) ------\ Additives(solid)
/-----

Or hence due to the wonderful solubility equilibria some of the dissolved components simply "come out." And as added by the previous reply a good shake up is the best remedy.

Otherwise in my opinion, due to the quality controls of such bottlers as Mobil-Exxon and Redline respectively, I highly doubt these solids are indeed contaminants

 

[TheLoneRanger]

I noticed this settleing out, back when I used Kendall oil exclusively. When I topped off, the leftover partial quart was kept in a clear plastic bottle. That's how I noticed it. It was a slight syrupy film on the bottle bottom.

This post makes me think of what happens inside an engine, where we can't see. Everyone has seen that gunky stuff on the bottom of removed oil pans that looks like sludge.....maybe it's not sludge at all, but left-over oil additives that have precipitated out of suspension......?