I have heard that the primary difference is in the friction additives.
The Ford ATF has a bit more than Dextron.
Some of the aftermarket hot-rod tranny builders recommend Mercon to
enhance solid shifts (read harshness)
Rick Morrison
72 MGBGT
74 Midget
On Mon, 05 Jan 1998 13:01:09 -0800 Andy Ramm <aramm@concentric.net>
writes:
>Does anybiody know what the difference is between Dextron ATF (GM) or
>Mercron (Ford) ATFand other versions of ATF? Sorry if this was
>alreadt
>addressed and I missed it.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Andy
>
>John McEwen wrote:
>>
>> Hi Matt:
>>
>> I use ATF for damn near everything on a car except the engine - and
>a quart
>> of it in the oil occasionally will certainly help to keep it clean.
>I use
>> the red stuff for the following:
>>
>> Automatic transmissions
>> Power steering pumps
>> Carburetor dashpots
>> Lever shock absorbers
>> Hydraulic steering systems
>> Jackall systems
>> Floor jacks
>> Bottle jacks
>> Motorcycle primary cases
>> Motorcycle forks
>>
>> It is a superior light oil - 20 wt. - with a high level of detergent
>but is
>> also not too slippery. It is conveniently dyed to assist in finding
>leaks
>> and is inexpensive and readily available. I don't need to purchase
>a great
>> number of different, very expensive "specialty" oils which all do
>the same
>> job - but not as well in many cases. It would also probably make
>decent
>> brake fluid in a warm climate except that it would be a bit too slow
>to
>> release pressure. It might also serve as a good oil in an OD
>transmission
>> if driven in a winter climate.
>>
>> I heartily recommend it to all.
>>
>> On another matter, I fully endorse the use of silicone brake fluid.
>This
>> is particularly important in vehicles which are in storage for a
>> considerable time - as in winter storage on a yearly basis. There
>is the
>> possibility that some LBCs will require the replacement of rubber
>brake
>> parts with newer ones, however if they do swell in the presence of
>silicone
>> fluid they probably should have been replaced long before this. It
>doesn't
>> take too many wheel cylinder/master cylinder/clutch cylinder
>replacements
>> before the logic of this takes hold - not to mention the cost of
>repairing
>> damaged paint when something lets go in the engine compartment.
>>
>> BTW, I'm still trying to get brake fluid out of the carpets of my MG
>after
>> the last master cylinder failure.
>>
>> John McEwen
>>
>> >Having bought my 'B with a leaking front shock, I was going to fill
>it
>> >back up and see if it was a fast leak or a slow PO. As much as I
>dug
>> >through my Haynes, I couldn't find what sort of oil to top up the
>shocks
>> >with. Do the veterans agree with using ATF?
>> >
>> >Matt Kulka
>> >'74 B - only mildly shocking at this point.
>> >
>> >>>> "Mike Gigante" <mikeg@vicnet.net.au> 01/05/98 02:58am >>>
>> >
>> >ATF and power steering fluid are the same thing - I use ATF.
>> >In fact ATF is also perfect to use in lever arm shocks.
>> >ATF, PSF, and shock oil have the magic anti-foaming additives and
>are
>> >almost exactly the same weight.
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >From: Stuart Hellis <health4u@connect.ab.ca>
>> >>Am I the only person using Power Steering Pump Fluid? I was
>taught
>> >that it
>> >>was the best all-round oil for the dash pots, especially in
>extremes of
>> >>temperatures...
>
>--
>
>
>
>
>Andy Ramm
>A silver face in a tweed world.
>Remove obvious spam filter from email address when replying.
>"What we play is the blues, straight from the delta, and I believe
>we'll
>make it on that," B.B. King
>
>
>By US Code Title 47, Sec.227(a)(2)(B), Sec.227(b)(1)(C) and
>Sec.227(b)(3)(C), it is unlawful to send any unsolicited advertisement
>to this equipment. A violation of the aforementioned Section is
>punishable by action to recover actual monetary loss, or $500,
>whichever
>is greater, for each violation.
>
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