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Auto Trans Fluid - whats yer fav flavor

Transmission Fluid

  • Royal Purple

    Votes: 4 12.5%

  • AMSOIL

    Votes: 6 18.8%

  • Schaeffer's

    Votes: 1 3.1%

  • Valvoline/Castrol

    Votes: 5 15.6%

  • Parts Store "House Blend"

    Votes: 10 31.3%

  • Who Cares, bathe in it first.

    Votes: 6 18.8%
  • Total voters
    32
combatmatt

combatmatt

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Location
Crawlorado Springs or Afghanaraq
SO i burnt up the fluid in my 4L60 (700R4) on the last weeling trip of last summer (fluid smells like a bag of burnt popcorn). Didn't do squat wheeling wise for the last year so before I head back to the hills its time to (use big echo voice) SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION.

As of now im just going to use the "loosen the lower trans cooler line and idle all the old fluid out" trick and replace with a trans-fluid-mix of one quart Lucas oil transmission treatment topped off with parts store "house blend".

Any other favorites out there?
 
combatmatt said:
SO i burnt up the fluid in my 4L60 (700R4) on the last weeling trip of last summer (fluid smells like a bag of burnt popcorn). Didn't do squat wheeling wise for the last year so before I head back to the hills its time to (use big echo voice) SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION.

As of now im just going to use the "loosen the lower trans cooler line and idle all the old fluid out" trick and replace with a trans-fluid-mix of one quart Lucas oil transmission treatment topped off with parts store "house blend".

Any other favorites out there?
Click to expand...

I'm sure that 4x4HIGH will chime in on this, but I've heard that if you burn the fluid or it hasn't been serviced in a while, that you shouldn't change all of the fluid at once. If you do they say the trans can fail in short order. :dunno:
 
Oh and I like Amsoil, but I don't think you can go wrong with any high quality synthetic.
 
ChrisPerry said:
I'm sure that 4x4HIGH will chime in on this, but I've heard that if you burn the fluid or it hasn't been serviced in a while, that you shouldn't change all of the fluid at once. If you do they say the trans can fail in short order. :dunno:
Click to expand...

Ive read the same, this one only has about 12,000 miles on it so im not AS worried swapping all the fluid out as i would be if it had 75,000+.
 
combatmatt said:
Ive read the same, this one only has about 12,000 miles on it so im not AS worried swapping all the fluid out as i would be if it had 75,000+.
Click to expand...

Okay, in that case I say drain it and get a good synthetic in there.
 
Cheap stuff and just service regularly or a little more often. Also depends if you hit any deep water at all when wheeling. Install a drain plug to make future services much easier and cleaner, be sure to tack-weld the plug on the inside of the pan so it wont loosen up and leak later. Fixing magnets to the pan or filter will also help increase the life of the tranny.
 
ATF has great cleansing properties. Never fails to remove all the grease and dirt from the crevises of my hands and nails.

Yes, I voted bathe in it.

But, I just use cheap house brand.
 
I use Napa Type F....as recommended by Coan.
 
Woot woot, voted Shaffer's.. wonder why :D

No really I use whatever is cheapest. Orileys Dex/Merc I don't care, change it often. GREAT when ya put in a drain plug :D fluid changes often, filter changes like normal.
 
burnt fluid in a 4l60 / 700r4 = time bomb waiting to go off. even in any auto.

then big fancy fluid priced crazy money in ? ? ? tranny thats been cooked = waste of cash.

always had good luck with store stuff or 55 gal barrel in back room of the shop.

get a gauge and bigger cooler before you realy fry somthing .

and here look n read this .

transtemp.jpg
 
I agree with sweetk30, the fluid isn't going to matter much compared to what temp you keep it at. And putting sythetic fluid in a tranny that isn't made for it could cause more harm that good. If it's too effective at lubricating it can cause the paper clutches to slip more than they were calibrated for and then you get premature clutch wear. I stick with Dex3 in the older stuff. Or Type F if you want it to shift firmer and slip less.
 
sweetk30 said:
get a gauge and bigger cooler before you really fry somthing .
Click to expand...

Putting in a cooler - http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BMM-70268/

and a temp gauge - http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BMM-80212/

and after readin another thread on here a drain plug instead of a whole new pan - http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BMM-80250/ (thankyou sweetk30 :thumb:)

Im going to run the cooler AFTER the fluid exits the radiator so;
4L60------>radiator------>aux cooler------->4L60

Now would it be best to run the temp gauge 1)out of the pan or 2)the output line where the cooler feeds back to the trans? B & M reccomends option 2 but i can see reasons to do either. Thoughts????:confused:
 
combatmatt said:
Putting in a cooler - http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BMM-70268/

and a temp gauge - http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BMM-80212/

and after readin another thread on here a drain plug instead of a whole new pan - http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BMM-80250/ (thankyou sweetk30 :thumb:)

Im going to run the cooler AFTER the fluid exits the radiator so;
4L60------>radiator------>aux cooler------->4L60

Now would it be best to run the temp gauge 1)out of the pan or 2)the output line where the cooler feeds back to the trans? B & M reccomends option 2 but i can see reasons to do either. Thoughts????:confused:
Click to expand...

I think you're splitting hairs there, just put it wherever it's easiest for you to do it reliably. I have mine in the pan, and the factory puts their sensors in the harness in the pan. But cooler line is fine too.
 
look at this setup for best cooling option needs. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DER-13011/

lets the fluid heat up in the winter faster and then as needed sends it to the aftermarket cooler till cool.

thats what i will be adding to mine when i finish the truck.

cause to cold is not good also

i have the same temp gauge kit for years in my 1 truck.

and if you search my screen name and tranny temp questions i have posted up lots of links and info to help others.
 
combatmatt said:
SO i burnt up the fluid in my 4L60 (700R4) on the last weeling trip of last summer (fluid smells like a bag of burnt popcorn). Didn't do squat wheeling wise for the last year so before I head back to the hills its time to (use big echo voice) SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION.

As of now im just going to use the "loosen the lower trans cooler line and idle all the old fluid out" trick and replace with a trans-fluid-mix of one quart Lucas oil transmission treatment topped off with parts store "house blend".

Any other favorites out there?
Click to expand...

This will kill the trans pump. You should NEVER let it run low/out of fluid. Before the engine is started with a new trans you should ALWAYS have at least 6 quarts of fluid in the trans with the remainder to be put in IMMEDIATELY after the engine is started and this is so the trans pump doesn't run dry and burn it up.

I've also heard RUMORS about not doing a complete drain and service on a trans with lots of miles or burnt fluid but i've never had a problem doing so and my trans guy doesn't seem to believe that rumor either (he's been in business over 40 years now), not saying that others have/haven't had troubles and that you might/might not.

I also like Valvoline.
 
4X4HIGH said:
This will kill the trans pump. You should NEVER let it run low/out of fluid. Before the engine is started with a new trans you should ALWAYS have at least 6 quarts of fluid in the trans with the remainder to be put in IMMEDIATELY after the engine is started and this is so the trans pump doesn't run dry and burn it up.

I've also heard RUMORS about not doing a complete drain and service on a trans with lots of miles or burnt fluid but i've never had a problem doing so and my trans guy doesn't seem to believe that rumor either (he's been in business over 40 years now), not saying that others have/haven't had troubles and that you might/might not.

I also like Valvoline.
Click to expand...

Nah, not going to run it out of fluid. Going to use the squirt 2 quarts - add 2 quarts till it runs pink. hopefully it works out, heres to keeping my fingers crossed. If not it will be time to learn a rebuild on a TH400.
 
4X4HIGH said:
I've also heard RUMORS about not doing a complete drain and service on a trans with lots of miles or burnt fluid but i've never had a problem doing so and my trans guy doesn't seem to believe that rumor either (he's been in business over 40 years now), not saying that others have/haven't had troubles and that you might/might not.

I also like Valvoline.
Click to expand...

Only time I wouldn't flush it, is if has already started slipping otherwise go ahead. I've flushed many transmissions with burnt fluid and not had an issue.
 
if it was me just grab a can of trans-x or bg systems tranny additive. those 2 are good stuff from what i have seen and read.
 
The only thing I do before I flush is out is dump a can of seafoam trans cleaner in there, let it run for 15 minutes then flush it out.
 
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