Recent content by westcoaster

The dark brown stains the dipstick leaves on the white paper towel when checking the transmission oil says you are correct. (Edit: fluid is red, there is some other deposit leaving the brown colour) The dealer on the other hand says that's "normal". Says normal operating temp is between 25*c and...

That's interesting. I'll keep that in mind. I have found over time that it is preferable to use 4 wheel drive both going up and coming down to simply cut down on the rear tire wear. The gravel road and the minor amount of tire slip with a heavy load on tends to take chunks out of the rubber. The...

Well, that sucks.... Thanks for the reply!

How is the exhaust brake/transmission supposed to operate? Or, more specifically, operate at slow speed/off road? I load my truck camper in the back of my truck, turn right onto the nearest logging road and up into the mountain to a high altitude lake. Getting up there isn't much of an issue...