44 10-4 Magazine / August 2026 do those two have in common?” First, racecars get abnormally abused, and second, they require good lubricants. Third, he had no dog in this fight, so he wasn’t trying to sell me something. I called him assuming I had a lubricant problem, and his first response was, “Have you drained the oil yet?” He then instructed me not to, for a day or two, until I had more answers. When I finally cracked the drain plug and looked at the oil, it confirmed his diagnosis. In the meantime, I had called a few contacts for additional input. One of my boys suggested a repair/rebuild shop in Wayland, Michigan. He had never used them, but the mechanic (John) was a seasoned rebuilder with many years of experience rebuilding and diagnosing transmission troubles, and he had once spoken to him on the phone when he was having transmission problems. Any good lead is a plus. A wise person may not be able to fix you up, but they may be the source to aim you in the right direction. So, I made the call, asked to speak with John, and 20 seconds later we were chatting transmissions like he had known me for years. I felt very comfortable discussing my issue with John, and he ran me through a basic checklist of symptoms and options that were almost the same as my salesman friend. Isn’t it amazing how experience tends to run in simple directed patterns. He also came to the same conclusion, “Water or antifreeze in the oil.” Once again, he also suggested letting the gearbox rest. This will let the two products separate, which gives an early indication of contamination, before you get an oil sample analyzed. When the dealership did the warranty claim, they simply changed the parts without finding “causation” (the reason). John’s first question, after what transmission do you have, was, “Is it auxiliary cooled and, if so, what type do you have?” I told him I use a heat transfer type cooler (that’s one connected to the radiator for heating capacity in cold weather). These types of setups are common in older manual transmission trucks that haul in the north country. Many newer trucks have intercoolers that work the same way. I have been advised many times to discontinue its use or to change it out for a newer one. Another of life’s lessons: action before distraction can save time and trouble in the end. I previously bought one (oil cooler) and had it on the shelf waiting to install. Guess I never got around to changing it. Well, $6,500 later, I realized how expensive that $400 part was, and I still had to change it anyway. It was during my time talking to John that he explained the material used for the synchronizer brake pad is water soluble. It can stay bathed in oil for years and not break down, but once water (antifreeze) is introduced, it turns to mush and builds up on bearings and slide shafts, wiping out the transmission. They offered an exchange rebuild that could be done over the counter, but since my transmission is under 100,000 miles, I wanted to keep it. Option two: drop the transmission by closing time today and he could have it reconditioned by end of business tomorrow. Time and materials are all in the experience level of the technician. With having to replace all the bearings and any slide shafts or shifting forks needed, it would end up being about the same price as a reman without the core charge. Option three: rebuild the back box, clean the front, check for excessive damage, and then repair and/or replace any damaged parts. All three options were good. Once again, you can never be armed with too much information. I chose option three for now to save a little time and money. I believe it was a good choice. For one, I can readdress later if I notice excessive build up in my oil analysis. John explained if you do not clean the contamination from the gear box it will build up and form a plastic type of material that sticks to metal surfaces. The first time I went to a certified dealership expecting quality work, and they did fix the problem, but not the cause. Lesson learned... seek information before you commit to any available shop. Just because they have a fancy repair bay and a roll around toolbox from some name-brand company doesn’t mean they are knowledgeable to give you advice. Someone once said, “If an empty desk represents an empty mind, what does a cluttered desk represent?” I will choose a cluttered workspace and dirty hands every time. Having the right tools is only part of a solution, but knowing how to use them, that is priceless! Once again, I have let time determine my options and ended up doing it twice. Had I only known the first time the cooler was leaking I could have saved much more than the price of the repair. I also would not have lost a couple of good paying loads while I was down for repairs, not to mention the aggravation of changing out the transmission a second time! As the dog days of summer drag us through August, keep your head up, your eyes on the prize, and don’t forget, “Time is temporary,” as it continues to march on. Another of life’s many lessons... in a few short months we will be wishing for some of this heat to drive Old Man Winter back where he came from. If you’re like me and you need a reminder of our disdain for winter, get your tire chains down now and repair them early so you are ready, 10-4! n
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