A guide to ATF's

[macabethiel]

I learn to drive in an Automatic car though I took my test in a Manual back in 1965 when automatic gearboxes were relatively rare in the UK except on high end vehicles

At that time I drove mainly GM designed automatic gearboxes starting with the Hydramatic, then the Powerglide, and the famous GM Strasbourg gearbox patented by GM & used in some R.R. Models back in the day.

I have driven & owned a variety of automatics including the Borg Warner Units as well as early CVT designs as in the Daff 33. In all my years I have never had a gearbox failure in an automatic.

My brother did have a fail in a Manta B. This was due to the kick down diaphragm that was vacuum operated failing, the engine vacuum sucked the oil out of the transmission causing it to fail as it was out of fluid. For some reason he never noticed the white cloud of smoke from his engine when on over-run.

Back in the 1960's ATF's were pretty much the province of vehicle manufacturers with few aftermarket options. My earliest memory of an actual specification was the Dexron type fluids specified by Vauxhall & Opel in the UK.

The below link describes in my view pretty much all you need to know about the history of ATF's on the market.

https://www.cartechbooks.com/techtips/autotransfluid

Nissan generally specify their fluids with a letter designation such as Matic Type D I have mainly used Fuchs 4400 ATF in both Nissan Terrano & our old Hyundai Santa FE. This is a well over designed specification. I have the view that an expensive ATF is always cheaper than a new transmission unit.

It is quite a subjective opinion but I find that using a semi or fully synthetic ATF has a couple of advantages. It tends to feel as if it provides better gear changes when cold and performs better when very hot.

I have used Fuchs Titan 6000 from Opie Oils as well as Fuchs Titan 4000 ATF but TBH I think the 4400 is a sensible compromise.

Many older drivers like myself remember when you could not mix different brands of brake fluid such as Girling & Lockheed and that for some reason has spilled into our Psyche with ATF's

 

[jims-terrano]

It still annoys me that the terrano autobox cannot be drained fully. Instead you drain some of it out, top up again and drain and top it up. Seems a waste personally.

 

[solarman216]

All autos are the same, unless there is a drain plug and an access point to the fluid flywheel which contains a large amount of oil, Rick

 

[macabethiel]

Torque Converter Drain plugs

It still annoys me that the terrano autobox cannot be drained fully. Instead you drain some of it out, top up again and drain and top it up. Seems a waste personally.

I agree the early BLMC Minis had the Borg Warner Automatic 4 speed (?) Gearbox, the Torque Converter had a drain plug so you could change all 16 pints of the shared engine & transmission fluids.

On the later models they discontinued the drain plug talk about penny piching!

 

[jims-terrano]

For all me saying about the wasted oil on the terrano auto, I still love driving it. Did 200 miles yesterday and found it dead easy especially the traffic hold ups, far easier with the auto.

 

[Barrbeast]

Jim, a trick some of the Aussie Trol owners do is remove one end of the rubber lines coming off the hard lines to the trans cooler and stick the end in a bucket of new ATF. You place an empty bucket under the other open end then turn the ignition on.

Once you see clean fluid come out you know you've replaced the lot.

Never done it myself yet as I haven't been due a change.

 

[macabethiel]

Changing the ATF.

Jim, a trick some of the Aussie Trol owners do is remove one end of the rubber lines coming off the hard lines to the trans cooler and stick the end in a bucket of new ATF. You place an empty bucket under the other open end then turn the ignition on.

Once you see clean fluid come out you know you've replaced the lot.

Never done it myself yet as I haven't been due a change.

Not heard of that trick. I tend to do a couple of ATF changes within a hundred miles of each other. Afterwards I change it once a year as part of my servicing - do around 15 k miles a year.

It annoys me that the BMW is a sealed for life unit as was our old BMW Mini !

 

[Davey Boy]

Some time ago I did that on my Pajero. I dont know if its the same with other boxes, but i had to identify the flow and return pipework for it to work.

 

[Barrbeast]

Not heard of that trick. I tend to do a couple of ATF changes within a hundred miles of each other. Afterwards I change it once a year as part of my servicing - do around 15 k miles a year.

It annoys me that the BMW is a sealed for life unit as was our old BMW Mini !

Only reason I haven't done a change yet is because the box was in getting overhauled so it's had a complete fluid change recently!