Final Winterization Question (transmission)

[jasun]

I have a final question about what I need to do before I can call my winterization complete.

I have an 86 saltare with a BB454 1:1 ration transmission.

Is this an external transmission cooler??:

http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/ad38/jasunderland/IMG-20121008-00104.jpg

if so does it mean that I do not need to do anything special to the transmission to winterize it?

Here is a further away pic:
http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/ad38/jasunderland/IMG-20121008-00105.jpg

The hoses go from the bottom of what I am calling the cooler to the top of the tranny and then from the top of the cooler to the bottom of the tranny.

Also what color should the transmission fluid be?

as soon as I get an answer I can put my winterization to bed...

[jasun]

Found my answer to my question. I do think that my oil cooler may have a leek in it though because my tranny fluid has a pink hue to it... I ran RV anti freeze through the engine. Should it look like this:

http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/ad38/jasunderland/IMG-20121008-00112-1.jpg

[CornRickey]

Yes, transmission fluid is red.

[kreckley]

The transmission fluid should be a little more red tan what I am seeing. I would change that. Run you motor and pour 50/50 antifreeze through the intake till it comes out the exhaust and your good Done it 30 years without fail. fog the carb with cleaner while running. Don't kill it Stabilize the gas

[wotan2525]

You've got a little water in your tranny fluid. Could be old or could be a sign that your tranny cooler is starting to go. Suck out the old and put in some new. Check it a few times in the spring to check for "milkiness."

[kvand347]

To piggy back kreckley and wotan...looks like you have some water in there with the tranny fluid. I've heard of people pressure testing their tranny cooler to see if it leaks. Others may chime in on just how to do that. Me? I just bought a new one for piece of mind. Since your tranny fluid is red, that means your PO has switched you away from SAE 30 to ATF which is a good thing. I prefer Valvoline Dex/Merc III ATF for my tranny. If you don't switch out the cooler, then do what wotan suggests: keep an eye on it in the spring.

Oil cooler: http://www.skidim.com/products.asp?dept=1099

[Wylietunes]

Your boat transmission uses standard Dexron/Mercon automatic transmission fluid. It will be a dark pink color when new and will get a little amber hue to it as it ages. But no mater wat, it should be clear. If the fluid is in any way milky, cloudy or frothy, then it indicates water. This can be from a trans cooler that has a small hole or from a bilge that got filled with a large roller over the bow. What I see on the dipstick above, looks like some water. I would drain and refill, run and repeat and see what it looks like.

And as a side note, Marine/RV antifreeze is the only thing that should be used in a boat to protect the engine from freezing and it is best used at 100%. It is not effective when diluted. Also, please never use automotive antifreeze.