tranny fluid

[FASTPIRE]

How often should tranny fluid be changed, what type do you recommend?

[darkdan]

I personally recommend synthetic ATF or Speciality Formulations MTL-P

http://www.specialtyformulations.com/index_files/Page457.htm

[CryptokiD]

$10 a quart for that shit hahaha

[darkdan]

Considering how often it needs to be changed.....what's $30 for extra piece of mind?

Synthetics offer better cold protection, better heat protection, offer 2x to 3x the drain intervals, better shear protection, 3x to 7x the film strength of conventional oils....how can you afford to not use the best?

[FB71]

Hey DD,

I finally got the MSDS for XT-M5. There's not much on it about the make-up. What info are you looking for?

[CryptokiD]

i agree with what ya said dark dan, but what i disagree with is the price of that oil compared to more reasonable synthetic brands and the fact that it comes with NO warranty guarinteeing it doesnt wreck youre transmission. all the name brands have guatintees and such that they wont wreck youre tranny.

[darkdan]

If you've ever read the warranties by other companies you'll see you'll never get anything fixed.

SF also gives a money back guarantee. Their products are extemely good considering this is a guy that has been a tribologist for many many years. They also formulate to give the best product instead of trying to be Mobil1 and formulate for the best profit.

The XT-5M isn't anything special. It's basically ATF with more friction modifier and perhaps more AW/EP additives. It provides no benefits in any transmission other than what it's specified for. The XT-5M is purely a chemical solution to a design problem.....sort of how Mercon V got started. So if we had a contour it'd be nice to have it, but otherwise not.

Basically, the MSDS info I'd need is the "ingredient" list which will most likely not say anything because it will be filled in with "proprietary" stuff.

I also made the wrong recommendation in my previous post. I meant to type MTFGlide. I'm just used to recommending MTL-P. However, I'm sure both would work just fine.

[FB71]

you're right, it just says 'paraffin - based' next to 'proprietary'

[CryptokiD]

dan, are you implying that sf blends oils for non profit? you said mobil blends for profit and sf doesnt?

that doesnt make sence, can you clairify before i comment any further.

[darkdan]

Mobil (like all corporations) is looking for maximum return for their dollar.

When you move a few million gallons of oil products a year...$0.01 per quart is someone's salary.

SP obviously isn't doing this out of the goodness of their heart. Like all companies they don't want to go bankrupt. However, they have the consumer in mind more than other companies.

AMSOIL is this way too. That's why they don't try to get many of their oils API approved. To meet API standards (especially now) certain good things are restricted because they might harm the enviroment (zinc and phos). AMSOIL realizes that the customer seeing better results, having less wear, and getting a better oil is more important than an API donut on the bottle. They do in house testing to make sure the product passes as many tests as possible. Since their additives are outsourced through Lubrizol they have their standards (Lubrizol says this additive package meets this specification, etc).

That's why I'm a firm believer in local small mechanics. They live and die by the quality of their work.

With all the downsizing, outsourcing, moving jobs overseas, and corner cutting you have to understand that large corporations have their shareholders interests in mind more than your well being.


Look at WalMart. They're the playground bully of the retail industry. Motorcraft (conoco) wouldn't keep their price low enough for WalMart. So WM said....then sell it else where. What's more important to WalMart? Offering the best products at the best prices or increasing their profit margin?


SP makes wonderful products from what I understand. I've talked to the guy that owns it. Before getting into the normal consumer market he's been making special formulations for special applications for years.

I'm not affliated with SP in any way shape or form. I'm just looking out for yalls best interests.

[FB71]

That's why I'm a firm believer in local small mechanics. They live and die by the quality of their work.


Not trying to pick a fight.... Do you have something against Dealer technicians?

They eat or don't on the quality of their work as well. I know, I was one before I started teaching. And I'm not saying all independent techs are morons. I've taught and worked with some who were above exceptional. Just remember, they do not always have access to the same data, tools, and training that dealer techs do. And believe me, I know what you're thinking. I've also worked with some dealer techs who should have never been allowed near a wrench. Inevitably, though, they don't last long.

My only real bitch with independent and chain store techs, is when they can't fix a problem and have already sucked a customer dry by replacing good parts, they send that customer to me. "You'll have to take it to the dealer, we can't figure it out". Now that customer comes to me, screaming how they just spent $1200 at Joe Blow's Fix-em-up Shop and Soup Kitchen, the problem still isn't fixed, and they're not spending another dime on it, but I'd better fix it. Obviously, there are several problems here. Number one, the dumbass customer who thinks all techs are interconnected or something. Number two, the, dare I say it, thieving/crooking/dishonest outside tech who sucked the cust dry with his "parts-till-it-starts" mentality. If you don't know what you're doing, don't touch it. When a Friend or relative comes to me with a non-Ford product, I tell them I'll look at it, but can't guarantee anything, because I'm not trained on that product. Not that I can't or haven't fixed them, but I'm honest with them up front.

Again, I'm not attacking you or anyone else here, just venting....

[darkdan]

Exactly.

Independent mechanics live and die by their work. Ones like that people shouldn't go to in the first place. It's not hard to ask around to see if a place is good or not.

My experience with dealerships has always been negative. I seem to find the ones that do try to suck me dry.

I found a good Midas once....once.

The local goodyear shop in Owatonna screwed me a few times.

I'm not saying all dealerships are bad, but I seem to be unlucky and never find the good ones. The only time I've had remotely good experience with them was body work, but the insurance company was paying for it anyways.

[FB71]

Well, then, you have my deepest sympathies. It pisses me off when I hear someone has had a bad experience at a FLM dealer. I ingrain in my techs that the way they get and keep good customers is to give them the best value for their dollar. That does not mean selling every friggin' BG or Wynn's flush in the book every 20k miles. I have to stop short of giving them a "Louisville tattoo" when I find out they've done that. Some of these guys get greedy, and ruin it for everyone there.