Anyone else using this specific ATF ?

I'm installing Pro-Built's Street/Stip rebuild kit in my car and reading his posts he suggests Mobil (non-syn), Aamco, and AC Delco (AKA: GM). I couldn't find regular Mobil ATF anywhere in my town (yes I checked just about everywhere), and Aamco was too difficult to find. The GM stuff I can get right from any local GM dealership parts counter fairly cheap too for the case of 12.

I wanted to use a Synthetic like Amsoil or Red Line but I just can't afford nearly $100 for an entire case.

Anyway, does anyone else here use the GM Dextron III in their 700R4? Can anyone think of a reason NOT to use it? I pride myself on being totally **** when it comes to the parts (always NOS or the BEST aftermarket) and maintence on my cars, I'm using Royal Purple in my engine and diff. but Dana said to definantly NOT to use it in my tranny. I just want to make sure I am in fact using the best (or one of the top 3) non-syn ATF's available so I can sleep well at night knowing I'm not hurting my new tranny. And yes I'm installing an additional tranny cooler.

 

AFAIK, GM doesn't make ATF, instead, they simply put their name on it, just like they do to parts from Bosch, SPX/Filtran, Delphi, Torrington, Timken and Borg Warner to name a few.

All DexronIII should be pretty much the same.

 

Thanks, I know they do not make their own fluid but I didn't know who makes it so I called it what it said on the bottle.

 

I would have to agree with gmtech. I work in a dealership myself and as far as I know Dexron 3 is Dexron 3 no matter whose jug it comes out of. I've used Dexron 3 on my own stuff that you can get in the big jugs at Walmart and have never had a bit of trouble.

 

I don't know of any brand that is better than the other. I purchase my tranny fluid in cases of gallon jugs, and I honestly don't know the brand. I have never had a problem using it though. I'm pretty sure to be called "DexronIII", there are several requirements it must meet, so just about any ATF labeled DEXIII should be OK.

Edit: Gearhead, you must have been reading my mind while we typed at the same time

 

Cool, it sounds like I'll be just fine then. I asked because I know that with Synthetics some are better than others, I wasn't aware that a non-syn Dextron III would be the same no matter what brand.

Thanks!

 

I use the cheapo wal-mart ATF in mine without any trouble. Might be a different kind though--it's called dexron instead of the dextron you are talking about

 

Have you priced B&M Trick Shift?

 

Nope and I don't want to, sorry

 

Not all fluids are created equal. If you cannot find the two aforementioned fluids, then stick with a name brand, or what ever you have had success with over the years (not short term as anything can work). What ever you do stay away from B&M "trickshift" as this can ruin the transmission.

 

I would be curious on how we could find out just what the difference really was??? Maybe we should bug consumer reports to do a study...

 

B&M Trick shift is merely some sort of Type F fluid that's produced at a refinery local to them, which they special-order with blue dye in it. It's nothing special, but nothing bad either; just run-of-the-mill cheap local ATF, like "Coastal" brand or something, which is basically the same thing but with red dye.

We all used to use Type F in everything, back in the PG/35/400 days. In fact when my late little brother worked at TCI, back in the 70s before they got sold when they were still in Memphis, that's all they even had around.... pallets of 55-gallon drums of Type F from the local refinery, which they used in all their racing Powerglides and stuff. Type F is just like Dexron, except that it has more friction modifiers, of the type to make clutches hook up; if you open up an old Brand F transmission, you'll see immediately why it's necessary, they used about half as many clutches as GM and they're much smaller diameter, they need all the help they can get. We all called Type F "shift kit in a can" (before plastic bottles), when the only mfr of shift kits was Fairbanks, and they were $$$$$. But I hear alot of people say that Type F should not be used in 700s and other modern transmissions, I have no idea why.

The fluid specifications for ATF are at least as tight as they are for motor oil. I wouldn't worry about whose brand to use, except of course that anything synthetic has all the specific benefits that come with being synthetic. If it's dinosaur juice, they're all pretty much the same.

 

I've also read (mainly here) that the B&M TrickSh!t is bad for the TH700. I have 5 quarts sitting in my basement right now. A friend of mine bought it from me for my b-day about 2 yrs ago. Anyone want it? :sillylol:

Does anyone have any knowledge of their synthetic version? I don't intend to use it, but I guess I'm just curious. My suspicions would lead me to believe that it's nothing more than synthetic type F, although I have read on the bottle that it meets the Dexron III requirements.

Right now I have Coastal Dexron-III in my tranny and haven't had one problem. Although I'd have to say, do your best to use what Pro-Built suggests. After all, he IS the one that sells the kit.

 

Why do you not recommend using synthetic ATF, I have been using Mobil 1 synthetic in my trans with no problems, but will some problems come around if I continue to use it?

 

I'm using valvoline dexron 3 in my pro-built. Can't find the mobil stuff around here.

 

Type "F" was used in Fords and some Mopars when they had asbestos in the clutches up until 1978, then they all switched to paper type linings, which calls for Dexron type fluids. Synthetics are fine, they cost more though. Type "F" has about 17% less holding power on "dynamic" (shifting) clutches and bands, it has slightly more holding power on static forward clutches (neutral to drive). The reason it feels like it is shifting harder, is that it slips longer (at the beginning and during the shift) and comes on all at once at the end of the shift, thereby producing a bang shift (not firmer).

 

its all the same just someone elses name on the jug use it

 

I'm 99.999% sure the stuff Wal Mart sells is now made by Exxon/Mobil. Why else would the new oil bottles have the same shape as Exxon Superflo and Mobil Drive-Clean?

FWIW about 5 years ago you could get Mobil ATF at BJ's Wholesale Club... There's a site somewhere on the web that used to say who made all of the store brands different places carry... of ocurse I can't find it... if I do I'll post it.