After finishing up my d16a6 swap and auto>manual I noticed a slight dragging or spinning metalic sound coming from the trans area when I touched the shifter or while putting it in gear. It is not hitting the exhaust. I decided today that since the motor sat for 4 years it would be a good idea to change the fluid again. The 10-30 oil in the tranny only had 200 or so miles on it. When I pulled the drain plug I couldnt believe what I saw, the tranny fluid was GREY / Clay colored. Its like nothing ive ever seen before and I do not know what to attribute it to. Has anyone else ever seen anything like this ?

 

could be that moisture got into your transmission and mixed with the oil, or you could have some sort of bearing failure in the transmission. best thing to do is to refill it, drive it for a little bit then re drain

 

I think thats what it was. While the engine and tranny were out we pressure washed it and I think some water got in through the diff. After draining that clay colored fluid I flushed half a quart of oil through. Hope I got it all !