Varnished ATF

['00obw]

Had a full service AT flush done recently on my Subaru OBW at ~34500 miles. The tech said everything was looking good except the old atf was slightly varnished. Never heard of that term...varnished fluids. What does that mean?

bgin

 

[MolaKule]

Ask the tech what he was smoking before he changed fluid.

 

[nascarnation]

Varnished is a layperson's version of oxidized.
Probably meaning that the fluid was somewhat darker in color than new.
This is not unexpected, but 30k changes are a good plan. I wouldn't mess with the flusher though, better to drop the pan (if it has one) and take a look inside.

 

[Ray H]

I've always found that "Pledge"(tm) works particularly well in bringing out the patina of varnished internal surfaces in transmissions and engines... (and it leaves no sticky residue!

)

Upon further thought, I wonder whether the tech was shining you on...

 

[nascarnation]

No argument there but depending on where he got the service done, the term "professional" may mean the kid makes $6.50/hr instead of doing it for free.

 

[MolaKule]

quote:

---

Varnished is a layperson's version of oxidized.

---

I understand, but being professional also means knowing the correct words and phraseology to use, which should conform to industry standard usage.

 

[nascarnation]

FWIW looking at a bottle of Valvoline Max Life ATF last night, they use the word "varnish" at least 3 places in the verbiage.

 

[TallPaul]

I don't have a Maxlife ATF bottle to look at, but do they say it regarding "varnished clutch packs" or "varnished fluid"? I think it is common to speak of varnished components, but I never heard of the fluid being varnished.