Engine oil in trans?

[Illini22]

I bought 4 gallons of dex 3 at Walmart last Sunday. Went home and proceeds to flush 2003 4x4 3/4 ton suburban by taking trans line off the cooler. Everything went well, I didn't worry with low reading on dip stick as I will keep checking and adding Daily until full. Test drove and shifted normally. Later my son dropped me off at my buddies house and I heard a slight knock. I told him to take it home and park it until I came home.
This knock resembled one I had 5 years ago under warranty. After changing oil pump they then narrowed it down to a crack in the flywheel ( the knock would come and go as the steel would heat up). This new knock did the same thing so I figured it maybe the flywheel again. The next day checking and adding more dex 3 i only counted 2 of the dex 3 containers along with 5-6 5w30 oil containers ( the Walmart brand containers look identical). Now I'm wondering if I accidentally picked up 3 dex3 and 1 5w30 at Walmart ( one of my containers still had 2 qaurts for topping off). Last night I bought 5 more gallons to reflush system. Should I drop pan and change filter first? Or after the flush or not at all. I may of misplaced the missing container and didn't make a mistake but don't want to chance it. Or should I have a shop do a professional shop.
I bought truck new. Did a flush at 28000 miles ( shop). The miles were 87000 when I did it last Sunday. Thank you for the replys. And the lashes!!

 

[Diamondpilot]

So let me get this right??? You think you may have put in about 10 qts of Dex3 and 2-3 qts of motor oil?

No matter what I would drop the pan and drain, install a new filter, then do a bucket flush and hope for the best.

Do not drive it until you can accomplish this. I hope it all works out for you but I have a bad feeling here.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Just so things dont look so grim, I know a guy who ran hydraulic oil in his tractors engine by mistake for 50 hours.

He had bought 5 gallons of AW32 Hydro oil and 5 gallons of 15W40 at the same time and planned on changing both. He got busy and only got around to changing the oil. In the spring he went to change the hydro oil and realized what he had done since the 15W40 was still sealed and the hydro oil was missing 6 qts.

He still has this tractor and put lots of hours on it. I guess he just got lucky.

Chris

 

[Illini22]

Chris, thank you for the reply. Close, I put 14 of the 16 quarts I bought in the vehicle with the 2 quarts remaining in one of the dex3 containers. When I looked over in the corner where I put the used fluid I only saw 2 dex3 containers along with 5-6 containers of used oil. So I either purchased a 5w30 on accident or put the other ( the 4th gallon ) dex3 used container somewhere else. I must be losing my mind. Anyhow I just dropped pan, changed filter etc. And reflushed 14 quarts of dex3 again. The new old fluid looked very red with no signs of motor oil but new motor oil should be pretty clear if it's only 3 days old. Better safe than sorry. As to the knock? I'll have to wait and see if it returns or not, if it doesn't itmay have been because of my screw up. Although I don't have the knowledge to know if transmissions can make those type of noises.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Chris, thank you for the reply. Close, I put 14 of the 16 quarts I bought in the vehicle with the 2 quarts remaining in one of the dex3 containers. When I looked over in the corner where I put the used fluid I only saw 2 dex3 containers along with 5-6 containers of used oil. So I either purchased a 5w30 on accident or put the other ( the 4th gallon ) dex3 used container somewhere else. I must be losing my mind. Anyhow I just dropped pan, changed filter etc. And reflushed 14 quarts of dex3 again. The new old fluid looked very red with no signs of motor oil but new motor oil should be pretty clear if it's only 3 days old. Better safe than sorry. As to the knock? I'll have to wait and see if it returns or not, if it doesn't itmay have been because of my screw up. Although I don't have the knowledge to know if transmissions can make those type of noises.

Good luck, I hope it all works out for you. You did right by draining and putting in a new filter and then the flush for nothing more than piece of mind.

You still have me confused though. You keep switching between QTS and GAL's in your quantities. Did you buy QT containers or GAL containers the first time around? I guess it does not matter at this point since you changed it all out again.

Chris

 

[Illini22]

I bought the fluid in gallon jugs, 4 gallons, a total of 16 quarts. After flushing I had 2 quarts left (in the gallon jug). The motor oil containers hold 5 quarts, they are the same height, just slightly wider. I have a hard time believing I made these mistakes. 1 picking up wrong product at Walmart, 2 in the process of flushing not noticing the label being different than other 3. And 3 when pouring product down funnel not noticing the slower flow and clearer color of product. I apologize on my writing, many times I don't make it clear when transferring my thoughts to paper.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I got you now. It could just be me and the way I was reading it that confused me.

Either way you did the right thing and flushed it all out. Thats the only way to have piece of mind.

Chris

 

[Illini22]

I found my mind and the missing container! I always have ( save) a empty one for the next oil change. I remembered saving the one in particular because it had the sight line on the side to know how much is in or left in it. I then remembered I put it in one of the plastic bags to keep the residual fluids from tracking everywhere when put it down. Now I have to figure out how to check the flywheel for a crack. I have limited automobile knowledge. Not sure if it's possible without removing the trans?

 

[Diamondpilot]

I found my mind and the missing container! I always have ( save) a empty one for the next oil change. I remembered saving the one in particular because it had the sight line on the side to know how much is in or left in it. I then remembered I put it in one of the plastic bags to keep the residual fluids from tracking everywhere when put it down. Now I have to figure out how to check the flywheel for a crack. I have limited automobile knowledge. Not sure if it's possible without removing the trans?

Glad you found it. Can you or a tech check the fly wheel by removing the starter and rotating it with a pry bar or long handle screw driver?

Chris

 

[puckgrinder85]

When flex plates crack they normally break in between bolt holes for the crank connection, not easy to check at all. Basically if you cant see it you'll have to shift the transmission rearward (if possible) if not, you'll end up removing it to service the flexplate.