Background info: 2002 Accord SE 4 cylinder with 57,120 miles. I'm going on a 800+ mile road trip next week, so I thought a fluid change was a good idea... I bought the car used last August, and I'm assuming that this is the first time the fluid has been changed...

The fluid was browninsh, with just a hint of red remaining... It didn't smell burnt at all, but definitely didn't have any off-smelling odors, but didn't smell like new, either...

Anyways, when I pulled the drain plug and found it coated with this epoxy-like substance... It wasn't sticky (probably because it & my fingers were coated in ATF), but it was soft...Like toothpaste consistency or a little thicker. It was also coated with a layer of fine metal shavings... Pics are below...

I didn't wipe the shavings/epoxy off, but I may do another fluid change in 50 miles so I can wipe it off then if it's suggested...

Is this normal after 57k on the original fluid?? Am I just being paranoid???

The car shifts great (nice & smooth) all the time, and I took it out for a drive after I put in 3 fresh quarts of Honda ATF, and it really didn't shift much different...

Thoughts???

Pics:

 

So wait, when you reinstalled the drain plug you didnt clean it off first?

 

thats normal