Hey guys,

Had the VR-X Trans Serviced today. All good. One thing is I thought the previous owner changed the trans fluid. The guys said it seems to be a common thing with Mitsubishis in that the fluid comes out a big yellowee if its old.

He used the Genuine Mitsi fluid as well (expensive stuff) and its all Red like it should be etc. Is this coloration an age thing? I remember my Camry as it died in the Gearbox, the fluid was burnt and really really black etc. So I was told this is quite normal, and even when you change the power steering fluid its the same sort of thing as well, a yellow kind of fluid.

I've never changed Power Steering nor Tranny fluid before, is this something others have experienced? Other than that, shifts fine, drives well and he said its all good to go.
PS This guy builds race transmissions and is one of the best in Adelaide so he has never spoke BS to me in the past.

I was also asking about the Wave Spring issue these boxes tend to suffer. He said its more earlier TJ prior boxes but its much more common amongst the 4 speeds as opposed to the 5 speed boxes. Thoughts on this?

Boosty

If you don't have a transmission cooler fitted, the fluid can get way hotter than it's ever supposed to and burn if the car is under a lot of heat load (towing, stop start traffic). Post 2000ish, Mitsubishi stopped fitting an external filter, which didn't do the transmissions any favours. Trans fluid is a bit like engine oil, it absorbs particles from the clutches and changes colour over time. In every Magna trans that I've ever drained, the fluid has been very dirty, so I wouldn't say it's abnormal. How much did he charge you for the fluid?

WRT the wave spring, my parents 5sp KL Verada shed a few pieces of the wave spring when I changed the fluid. The 4sp cars that we have have been bulletproof.

Yeah I dont have a trans cooler, but the car doesn't tow ever and is not driven hard. Therefore a cooler is not required. But I've smelt bad burnt oil before and this oil was completely fine, just yellow in color. I've spoken to a few other folk who say the oil in Mitsi's trans is yellow, even in the new cars as well, ie Lancer etc.

In terms of a charge, the whole job was $250, its normally $220 for the 4 speed, the 5 speeds cost a little more, which I found was consistent where I went and shopped around.

The wave springs were improved/fixed from TJ Series 2 onwards, so if your car is newer than 2002 your probably safe.

Then again, nothing is unbreakable I guess.

Boosty.

Stock fill on the Magna/380 auto gearboxes was red fluid, exactly like the stuff you put in.

I'm pretty sure the wave spring wasn't fixed till late TL/TW.

Yeah I dont have a trans cooler, but the car doesn't tow ever and is not driven hard. Therefore a cooler is not required.


Boosty.

Your car does have a transmission cooler - it is located in the radiator and is pretty efficient.