tranmission fluid
- Thread starter LeeSHO
- Start date
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revhardSHO
SHO Member
Standard ATF, Mercon III Dexron works quite well and is inexpensive.
Someone suggested Valvoline Maxlife ATF (I think?) was also a good fluid.
Im currently running one quart Mobil 1 synthetic ATF the 92 and it really hasnt improved shifting as far as I can tell.
Someone suggested Valvoline Maxlife ATF (I think?) was also a good fluid.
Im currently running one quart Mobil 1 synthetic ATF the 92 and it really hasnt improved shifting as far as I can tell.
olympic
SHO Member
You list an 89 and 91 SHO's in your sig. If neither MTX's have been rebuilt with new style blocking rings, Ford recommended Type F ATF for those transmissions.
I use GM Synchromesh manual transmission fluid, available at a GM dealer. So far it works pretty good. I'm tempted to give Amsoil ATF a try since I have a bunch of it lying around for my fleet vehicles.
You'll get a bunch of varied recomendations in this thread, but each transmission seems to respond differently. My advice is to install a drain plug and experiment with it and see what works best.
I use GM Synchromesh manual transmission fluid, available at a GM dealer. So far it works pretty good. I'm tempted to give Amsoil ATF a try since I have a bunch of it lying around for my fleet vehicles.
You'll get a bunch of varied recomendations in this thread, but each transmission seems to respond differently. My advice is to install a drain plug and experiment with it and see what works best.
SW SHO
Boss Man
I just put in the Royal Purple fluid. Smooth like butta! A bit expensive and it was the only brand on the shelf at my local NAPA that had the proper rating needed after my clutch work.
Lorenr
Member
I have an 89 that had been updated by the Ford dealer about 10 years ago under a recall. Some internal parts (bearings, sleeves, etc) were replaced but mainly they replaced a pourous case. I don't think they replaced the brass synchronizer rings. Nothing else was done except for new ATF and some sort of additive Ford puts in to help shifting.
The thing always shifted OK, but nothing great. About two years ago I decided to replace the fluid myself to see if I could improve the shifting. I installed the drain plug as outlined and refilled the trans with about 3 quarts of Unocal Mercon II.
The thing shifted like **** and I could not get it to shift into third gear without grinding. It acted exactly as though the synchronizer was damaged. I recalled a friend talking about the merits of using synthetic ATF in a drag racing transmission and decided to try it. I drained the Mercon II out after about 50 miles and added three quarts of Mobil 1 ATF. It shifted better but after about a week of easy driving (shifting) I found myself shocked at the new way it shifted. After two years without any further fluid changes it has become the best shifting manual transmission that I have driven. I still can't believe the difference.
I rattle on because I know some of you have not had the same experience with synthetic fluids like I have. I'm starting to wonder if the flush with the cheap Mercon may have made a difference. Even after just 50 miles it was discolored, so maybe it removed some accumulations that were present. The synthetic may have worked better once the buildup was removed.
I'm thinking about changing it again to see if there is any additional change.
The thing always shifted OK, but nothing great. About two years ago I decided to replace the fluid myself to see if I could improve the shifting. I installed the drain plug as outlined and refilled the trans with about 3 quarts of Unocal Mercon II.
The thing shifted like **** and I could not get it to shift into third gear without grinding. It acted exactly as though the synchronizer was damaged. I recalled a friend talking about the merits of using synthetic ATF in a drag racing transmission and decided to try it. I drained the Mercon II out after about 50 miles and added three quarts of Mobil 1 ATF. It shifted better but after about a week of easy driving (shifting) I found myself shocked at the new way it shifted. After two years without any further fluid changes it has become the best shifting manual transmission that I have driven. I still can't believe the difference.
I rattle on because I know some of you have not had the same experience with synthetic fluids like I have. I'm starting to wonder if the flush with the cheap Mercon may have made a difference. Even after just 50 miles it was discolored, so maybe it removed some accumulations that were present. The synthetic may have worked better once the buildup was removed.
I'm thinking about changing it again to see if there is any additional change.
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