Atf

Alaska Jim

Alaska Jim

Well-known member
what has everyone here with a c4 trans using for fluid. I used to use Dexron 2 . drained the pan on the coupe today, went to the store and lo and behold there are more different types of trans fluid than you can shake a stick at. my C-4 has had a rebuild within the last few years, so I know that Dexron 2 should work. any suggestions, or recommendations?
 
I have a B&M built c-4 in my 32 with factory rebuild tag attached, most recently called them to check recommended fluid... they said type 'F' or the B&M fluid for racing use. I assume the only difference in an original c-4 might be valve body shift points & clutch pack for snappy shifts. Ron
 
Ford C3, C4, and C6, use type FA fluid. Type F fluid is for cast iron Cruiseomatics, FMX, and MX transmissions. The modified anything transmission specify type F or Trick shift is because the friction plates have been changed so that type F can be used. There are almost endless types of transmission fluids because the manufacturers are constantly searching for that "perfect shift" that can't be felt. Mixing them is not recommended for a reason. They are not interchangeable. THERE IS NO UNIVERSAL FLUID. PERIOD. You can damage the transmission! Also, adding a snake oil additive will change the properties of the trans fluid no matter what type, and now what do you have? It's anybody's guess.
Most, or all of the "quick lube" places use a "universal fluid". DON'T DO IT!!!!!!! Sometimes you will get away with a different fluid, many times not. At the cost of a trans repair, why take the chance?
 
I've used Dextron II and III for 15 yrs. No problems so far. Mine is a '80 C-4. I've found type F and FA extremely hard to find
 
Ford went to dextron in '77 or '78 if I remember right. I was a Ford Trans man back then. Prior to that we used type F. In the mid '70's, I worked as a mechanic for the Border Patrol in El Centro, CA Ford would use our parking lot to set up cars for Trans testing in the hottest part of summer and then would run them up Mountain Springs grade on I 8 towards San Diego. Candid conversations with the Ford guys revealed that the testing was to find out the limits of type F. Seems that type F had superior friction modifiers was not temperature tollerant. Hence cook transmissions under high heat and load situations. Then in '77 I move back to San Diego and Ford is now using Dextron I I in everything new. Friction modifiers are not as good but much better heat tollerance. Racers like type F because of the friction modifiers and don't worry about the heat. We used to service used cars of all brands earlier in my career at Ford and people that had GM cars serviced by us got type F because that is all we had. Several customers remarked how much crisp the shifts were after our service. I'm glad that they all lived in San Diego and we're not climbing Mountain Springs grade. If you have a good
cooler than type F will improve your shifts in everything . but since retiring, my roadster is a stick and my F250 diesel Trans uses that special fluid that costs a little less than a house payment to service and I have no idea what the composition of that is. Hope my rant helps explain the differences.
 
I have used dextron in the past in other ford vehicles, but I ended up using type F in my coupe. I doubt that I will have any severe heat problems here in Alaska. Thanks to everyone who replied to my question.----Jim
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top