I took my 98 manual neon to get the oil changed and they told me that my transmission fluid was a milky color and to take it to the dealership. I want to avoid doing that because I am not having any trouble with my transmission.

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHY TRANSMISSION FLUID WOULD BE MILKY?

 

welcome to df.
you said the car was a manual shift transmission ?
and they said there was milky white in the engine oil, or in the manual transmission oil ?
if in the transmission, how did they know that ? did they check the transmission fluid ?
if so, you got a very thorough engine oil change.

milky white is water in the oil.

i don't know anything about neons, but water inside a manual transmission seems unusual to me...
been driving in deep water ?
lots of rain ?
have you got any transmission leaks ?

are you sure they didn't say milky white in engine oil ? that would be a head or a head gasket and a fairly expensive repair.

i'd get a second opinion.

 

Seem to recall transmission fluid getting milky when it is cold, but that could be wrong. When was the last time your transmission fluid was changed. Depending on how you drive, should be changed about 4-6 times a year. Say every third or fourth oil change.

 

manual tranny fluid should last 100k miles.

ive never heard of a oil change place even checking it. you should get a second opinion.

 

the place i get my oil changed does a 20 point inspection (oil can henry's for anyone from the nw). nope, they said it was definitely the transmission fluid, the oil is brand new and good. last time i got the transmission fluid changed was last march...so maybe i need to have it done again? also, it rains a lot here, could that be it?

 

For those that ONLY do normal driving, perhaps. Seeing how many member are wheels-spinning junkies, it may be wise to change more often.

 

i just don't see how water would get inside a manual transmission unless you had bad seals and drove through a river (i do that some in my truck).

i don't want to throw off on Oil Can Henry's, but sometimes items like this are 'discovered' during extensive inspections. but, usually, they offer to do the work, and run the bill up. (see Jiffy Lube) in this case they told you to go to the dealer. hhmm.

now i'm really curious....

so where did you get your manual transmission oil changed last year ?
why did you have it changed ?
how much did it cost ?
how many miles have you put on it since ?

 

i had it changed because my ex drove it through a giant puddle and the whole engine needed to be replaced. it didn't cost anything to have put in because a friend who works on cars (although mainly subarus) did it. I know he put the right kind of fluid in for my car though. i haven't put too many miles on it since then...maybe only 2000 miles?

 

Now im not positive, but almost positive, I dont think the mtx neons have a transmission dipstick. How would they be able to tell that? Another thing, again im not too familiar with mtx's, but do manuals use a radiator cooler like autos do? If so then you may have a busted radiator, causing water/coolant to go into the transmission.

 

no cooler on the mtx... they no longer make the right transmission fluid for our mtx's, if you were to go into a dealer and tell them you want mtx fluid they hand you ATF+4...matter of fact thats what lots of us are using... works just fine... you will also be able to identify a leak.. due to ATF+4 being red and all...

IMHO I would drain the transaxel and let it set for about an hour to get everything out and fill it back up with ATF+4