# Transmission fluid is black and smell burnt, and I think my transmission is slipping **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [October 5, 2014, 11:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-fluid-is-black-and-smell-burnt-and-i-think-my-transmission-is-slipping/87524 "2014-10-05T23:58:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![new\_bie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d6d6ee/32.png) [@new\_bie](https://community.cartalk.com/u/new_bie)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 11:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-fluid-is-black-and-smell-burnt-and-i-think-my-transmission-is-slipping/87524/1 "2014-10-05T23:58:59Z")
I don’t know if the previous owner ever change the transmission fluid, but my car has 100k miles already. Today, I took the transmission fluid dipstick out, it look black and smell burnt, but I don’t see any metal. I don’t know how to take out the pan and check for metallic pieces, is there any auto shop that would do it for free? When I accelerate to 40mph from a complete stop, the RPM goes up the 3000 and then quickly drop to 2000, then gradually drop to 1300. My car speed up really slowly even when I keep holding the gas pedal down with my feet. Is my transmission slipping? Sometimes when I start my car or when I change gear, my car jerk a little. I’m afraid it too bad already and my transmission is depending on the broken metal pieces, so I don’t know if I should flush it? Will changing the transmission fluid fix the problem? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 12:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-fluid-is-black-and-smell-burnt-and-i-think-my-transmission-is-slipping/87524/2 "2014-10-06T00:03:56Z")
Remove transmission pan and check for metal filings for free. Absolutely not going to happen. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 12:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-fluid-is-black-and-smell-burnt-and-i-think-my-transmission-is-slipping/87524/3 "2014-10-06T00:17:17Z")
Changing the fluid may fix the problem,and it might not. It works sometimes. Since it is 30 times less expensive than replacing the transmission, I suggest you try it. If you can do it yourself, it costs maybe $30 to $40. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 12:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-fluid-is-black-and-smell-burnt-and-i-think-my-transmission-is-slipping/87524/4 "2014-10-06T00:39:38Z")
If the tranny fluid is burnt, take it to a shop that has a tranny fluid exchange machine and have ALL the tranny fluid replaced. Then cross your fingers. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-fluid-is-black-and-smell-burnt-and-i-think-my-transmission-is-slipping/87524/5 "2014-10-06T02:47:22Z")
They also need to drop the pan and change the filter…Figure about $100 for this service. year, make, model of vehicle?? ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-fluid-is-black-and-smell-burnt-and-i-think-my-transmission-is-slipping/87524/6 "2014-10-06T02:50:25Z")
I have resurrected more than one vehicle by dropping the pan and replacing the filter and fluid. It’s worth a try. If you do then repeat the same in a couple of weeks. Your transmission could recover from poor maintenance practices. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 2:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-fluid-is-black-and-smell-burnt-and-i-think-my-transmission-is-slipping/87524/7 "2014-10-06T02:55:03Z")
I think you’re going to be needing a new transmission. The only question is whether it’s now or very soon. A lot of that black and burnt material is the friction material from the clutches; the rest of it fried fluid. ---
**Author:** ![new\_bie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d6d6ee/32.png) [@new\_bie](https://community.cartalk.com/u/new_bie)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 4:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-fluid-is-black-and-smell-burnt-and-i-think-my-transmission-is-slipping/87524/8 "2014-10-06T04:19:06Z")
My car is a Toyota Camry 2003, automatic transmission. If I drive gently, how many more miles can I drive before I need to replace the transmission? A local auto shop there charge $160 for change the transmission fluid, replace the filter, and clean the pan. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 4:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-fluid-is-black-and-smell-burnt-and-i-think-my-transmission-is-slipping/87524/9 "2014-10-06T04:47:32Z")
The question is not ( how far can I drive ? ) but do I want 80000 lbs of semi-truck behind me when it fails?