Tuesday, March 19, 2024 How much metal is too much
Metal in Transmission Fluid

Automatic transmission fluid darkens with use and this is normal.  Transmissions also generate a small amount of debris as bushings and gears wear with use. Debris falls to the bottom of the transmission pan and is sucked into the automatic transmission filter.  When a transmission service is done, cutting the old filter open provides insight into the condition of the transmission.

Too much metal in an automatic transmission pan

Judging the level of metal that shows a problem is difficult without experience.  No metal is best, but a small amount of very fine particles may be normal in some transmissions.  Larger pieces as in the illustration above are always a problem.