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Tranny fluid - what do ya'll recommend

badmix

badmix

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'84 K5, 305cid, 700r w/ 130k miles.

Going to service the tranny soon and want to find out what brand and weight of tranny fluid should I use.

I just picked up a billet aluminum pan with drain plug, should make the NEXT fluid change easier but this go around im sure ill be wearing most of it. lol.

Also anything I should do while I have the pan off besides change the filter. I picked up a TCC solenoid but I think I fixed my lockup issue so I dont know if I should mess with changing the solenoid just because.

So what brand and weight?

Thanks
 
I've heard nothing but good things about the synthetic Dexron fluid. As far as brand, I don't have a preferred one yet, but I tend to use Castrol.

Also, my tranny guy (that doesn't sound right!) highly recommends the Trans-Go reprogramming kit. He says it will help the trans last much longer!

Clay
 
Not to sound so basic, but nothing wrong with DEX 3, maybe with the Lucas trans additive.

The synthetics work good, but on a 130K MI trans, the clutches may not like the change.

Id stick with what its had its whole life, Prob DEX 3
 
I was informed about synthetic fluids for a trans, that all you're really gaining is a higher heat accepting fluid, there really is no benefit for it in a trans, if you have a big enough cooler to keep reular fluid cool, there should be no issues.

Never heard of different "weights" of trans fluid either :tongue1:

drop the pan, replace the filter, replace with Dex/Merc good to go.
 
Well when I was researching torque convertor lock up, one thing that was recommended was going to a heavier weight tranny fluid, I agree that ive never heard of it, but thought id ask. Ill just stick with some nice normal stuff then
 
I spend HOURS on the net, couldve been on one of the many thousands of sites I was on when researching TCC lockup
 
Another vote for your favorite brand of DEX/MERC. Add a good cooler and call it done. I'm using TCI's Max Shift fluid in my Camaro because it came free with the converter. Don't know the difference between it and regular fluid but no problems so far.
 
I was guided to use a name brand basic fluid for MY applications (although type F for me), so as mentioned just a good name basic oil change.
 
At my shop we just use napa atf and on high temp or severe duty applications we dump in the red bottle of lubeguard. Stuff works great on higher milage stuff as well. I use it lots on 700r4s it helps free up the tv valve and keeps the gov from hanging up. They claim on the bottle that raises the boiling temp of the trans fluid to 300 deg or something like that seems to work pretty good to me imo.
 
what color is your fluid now ?

this is the first step to keeping tranny alive before you service anything on a highmilage 700r4.
 
some drag racers use type F, that would be the only fluid "weight" differnce out there. NOT Recomended for stock and off roading rigs tho.

stick with and DEX/MERC, and I go through cases of napa and cheep fluid each year with out failures.

Lubeguard is real good additive also.

in my other truck I have TCC shutter, and when i change the fluid and add Lucas it goes away for about a 30,000 miles.

im just buying time until i can afford a TQ converter and possible rebuild while its out. but if im spending $$ on rig im not spending on projects
my .02
 
My fluid looks good on the stick, I can read through it. It got changed about 4-5 years ago. Was just thinking about changing it and putting new filter in.
 
o.k. you prob be fine.

just didnt wantto see all fluid swaped that was black and tranny go south in week.

you shuld be fine.
 
GM uses dex 3. The newer stuff uses dex 6 which is a full synthetic. Most books are switching everything over to dex6, but there is no advantage except higher temp fluid as stated before. Change the fluid and add a red bottle of lubegard. Good stuff. It will keep your tranny living longer and help the TCC to lock up.
 
Just picked up my fluids and filter. Napa had the lubeguard, they raved about it as well.
 
Run standard Dex/Merc ATF. I'd rather run non-synthetic, and change it more often.

Now that you have a drain plug, changes will be cake. Get a GOOD pan gasket too, not a rubber POS one from the parts store.

Do you have an aux cooler? Now might be the time to add one.
 
yea ive got a cooler. this will be my last ATF change that will be messy. I shouldve gotten the pan last go around. oh well. Im thinking of just getting a cheap kiddie pool and put it under the truck and drop the pan. There is no way im going to get the fluid in a normal oil change pan. lol
 
badmix said:
yea ive got a cooler. this will be my last ATF change that will be messy. I shouldve gotten the pan last go around. oh well. Im thinking of just getting a cheap kiddie pool and put it under the truck and drop the pan. There is no way im going to get the fluid in a normal oil change pan. lol
Click to expand...


I have a fluid extractor like this (but different brand).
http://www.jegs.com/i/Motive+Products/715/1708/10002/-1

For the cost of getting ONE trans fluid change done, its paid for itself.

It freaking rock. Have changed trans fluid on GM trucks probably 5-8 times with it. Suck 90% of fluid out through dip stick hole, then drop pan and don't make a mess :woot:

Totally worth the cost.

Wish i had added a drain plug to my pan when i added a fluid temp sensor though.....
 
I use the big green pans Autozone sells, they were meant for water, but the top is completely open, just start loosening bolts in a sequence, pull the pan down alittle on one corner and it will mostly flow that direction, and into the pan. It's a slow tedious process though, remove all but 4 bolts, one on each side, remove one on the side you want to drain to, then loosen the others alittle at a time, you will see how the pan reacts when you do this.

It's a slow tedious process, but doesn't make the mess typical of a fluid change.
 
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