Dilemma with "new" engine and transmission?

FARGOV57

MEMBER
2001 LEXUS LS 430
4.3L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
220,000 MILES

So, I purchased an engine with transmission attached and that supposedly only had 45 to 60 thousand miles on the engine and tranny, from a dealer that sells Japanese motors and transmissions out of Chicago. While I was preparing the "new" engine and tranny for installation, I had pulled the pan from the "new" transmission, and the fluid was thick and really dark. Not red. What would be the cause of the inch and a half thick sludge at the bottom of the tranny pan if the "new" tranny and engine had only 45,000 to 60,000 miles on it? Would the engine be toast too?

Should I take my chances and just put in the "new" engine and the "new" transmission or rebuild my old transmission and put that in with the "new" engine?

If the "new" transmission is toast, wouldn't the engine be toast too?

3 Replies

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,573 POSTS

From the description I would say that there was a serious lack of maintenance on the transmission at least. I would open the engine and check it as well. If it also has sludge, then I would probably return them if possible. Not worth doing the swap and then having either one fail because they were abused. Then I would go to www. Car-part. Com and see what ones are available around you.