u/Different_Ad9543

Hi everyone,

I recently bought a 2008 Mitsubishi Pajero (3.2 Di-D / Automatic Transmission) and I’m currently doing a full baseline service/catch-up maintenance.

I pulled the transmission dipstick to check the fluid condition, and it’s dark brown/black and completely opaque to light, but it does NOT smell burnt and still feels quite slippery between my fingers (not watery or gritty). I noticed a very slight graininess for a split second, which immediately disappeared when rubbed.

How the transmission behaves:

• Under heavy load / Kick-down / Highway speeds: It shifts perfectly, locks up fine, and has absolutely zero slippage.
• The Issue (Low RPM): Sometimes on low-RPM downshifts (like going uphill between 1,000–2,000 RPM with light throttle), there is a slight hesitation or a mild slip/shudder before the lower gear catches. Same thing sometimes happens on downshifts during descents.