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Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Is there a consensus on best type of tranny fluid? (transmission fluid)
Is there a consensus on best type of tranny fluid? [message #88750] Tue, 15 June 2010 19:51 Go to next message
ldone is currently offline  ldone   United States
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Is the pan gasket reusable? If not, is there a napa number?

76PB
Re: Is there a consensus on best type of tranny fluid? [message #88752 is a reply to message #88750] Tue, 15 June 2010 20:06 Go to previous messageGo to next message
psakw is currently offline  psakw   United States
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Your first questions was whether to re use the pan gasket. I say no,, in fact it's better not to use a pan gasket, just clean it real good and use red, blue or black silicone RTV.
Secondly you asked about which tranny fluid. My transmission is quite old so I use Max Life by Valvoline, red container. I has additives to stop small leaks, improve the seals and make the clutches grab better. It helped my trans a bunch especially the way it shifts.

Paul A
73 Sequoia
Key West, Florida
Re: Is there a consensus on best type of tranny fluid? [message #88763 is a reply to message #88750] Tue, 15 June 2010 21:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
fred v is currently offline  fred v   United States
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when you remove and clean up the old pan put the edge on a flat plate and tap down the bolt holes. they get bent up from too much tightening and need to be brought back to level.

it has been recommended here to use Mobile 1.


Fred V
'77 Royale RB 455
P'cola, Fl
Re: [GMCnet] Is there a consensus on best type of tranny fluid? [message #88771 is a reply to message #88750] Tue, 15 June 2010 21:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
emerystora is currently offline  emerystora   United States
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On Jun 15, 2010, at 6:51 PM, Louie Diamond wrote:

>
>
> Is the pan gasket reusable? If not, is there a napa number?
> --
> 76PB

I feel that the cork gaskets are useless.
I have had good experience with the fiber ones from NAPA
1-4525

That last time I bought a couple they were only about $3.00 each. But that was a couple of years ago and the price may have gone up a liltle.
If they don't have it in stock they can order it from their warehouse and usually get it in a day or two.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM


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Re: [GMCnet] Is there a consensus on best type of tranny fluid? [message #88780 is a reply to message #88771] Tue, 15 June 2010 22:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ldone is currently offline  ldone   United States
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Kudos to all responders

76PB
Re: Is there a consensus on best type of tranny fluid? [message #88800 is a reply to message #88750] Wed, 16 June 2010 07:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
fred v is currently offline  fred v   United States
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ldone wrote on Tue, 15 June 2010 19:51

Is the pan gasket reusable? If not, is there a napa number?

ask for a gasket for a Toronado.


Fred V
'77 Royale RB 455
P'cola, Fl
Re: Is there a consensus on best type of tranny fluid? [message #88801 is a reply to message #88800] Wed, 16 June 2010 07:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Keith V is currently offline  Keith V   United States
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Back to tranny fluid...

I'm a firm believer in Amzoil. I have it in my 97 Dodge caravan and I have 211,000 miles on it and it's still going strong. And I'm not nice to it either.

I use amzoil in my engines too, they stay clean and tight.


Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
Re: Is there a consensus on best type of tranny fluid? [message #88807 is a reply to message #88801] Wed, 16 June 2010 08:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mike miller   United States
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Keith V wrote on Wed, 16 June 2010 05:38

Back to tranny fluid...

I'm a firm believer in Amzoil. I have it in my 97 Dodge caravan and I have 211,000 miles on it and it's still going strong. And I'm not nice to it either. ...


That is VERY impressive. Especially considering the transmissions are the weakest part in the Caravan/Voyager mini-vans. When my Voyager's transmission went out at 80K, the tranny guy said "You got a lot of miles out of it!" Shocked


Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo' http://m000035.blogspot.com
Re: Is there a consensus on best type of tranny fluid? [message #88825 is a reply to message #88807] Wed, 16 June 2010 11:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Keith V is currently offline  Keith V   United States
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Mike Miller wrote on Wed, 16 June 2010 08:27



That is VERY impressive. Especially considering the transmissions are the weakest part in the Caravan/Voyager mini-vans. When my Voyager's transmission went out at 80K, the tranny guy said "You got a lot of miles out of it!" Shocked


This winter the tranny started making noise on the way home from work, it sounded like a power steering pump that was low on fluid. I checked them both and they were ok.
when I dropped the pan I could tell the filter was very clogged, causing the pump to cavitate. There were a lot of little specks of aluminum in the pan from the pump!

Now this was after hauling a quad snowmobile trailer about 120 miles loaded with wood 3' high, a couple of heavily loaded vacation trips and using the transmission as a brake going down 7 levels in the parking ramp for work everyday for 6 months.

I changed the filter and fluid twice and it's still going...
I'm hoping for 250,000 miles Very Happy


Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
Re: Is there a consensus on best type of tranny fluid? [message #88836 is a reply to message #88825] Wed, 16 June 2010 13:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Carl S. is currently offline  Carl S.   United States
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I personally like using a dry gasket in this application. The premium ones are "self sealing" meaning that they swell up around the pan screws and between the pan and the mounting surface of the transmission. The gasket is available in a kit which includes the filter. If you use a self sealing gasket, make sure the pan is straight around the mounting holes, and do not over-tighten the screws, you should not have any problems with leaks. Using RTV will make for a lot more clean-up next time you have to change the fluid. JWID

Carl Stouffer '75 ex Palm Beach Tucson, AZ. Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
Re: Is there a consensus on best type of tranny fluid? [message #88850 is a reply to message #88836] Wed, 16 June 2010 14:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
midlf is currently offline  midlf   United States
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The instructions for my aluminum pan (Caspro) say not to use a gasket, just RTV. (IIRC)

Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
Re: [GMCnet] Is there a consensus on best type of tranny fluid? [message #88856 is a reply to message #88850] Wed, 16 June 2010 15:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
emerystora is currently offline  emerystora   United States
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On Jun 16, 2010, at 1:04 PM, Steve Southworth wrote:

>
>
> The instructions for my aluminum pan (Caspro) say not to use a gasket, just RTV. (IIRC)
> --
> Steve Southworth
> 1974 Glacier TZE064V100150
> Palmyra WI

I didn't realize that Caspro had an aluminum pan. i just went to their site and see the picture of it. It looks just like a Ragusa aluminum pan. I wonder if they are just reselling Ragusas.

Anyway, I am using the NAPA fiber gasket with my Ragusa pan and it works well. I really prefer it to using RTV as it is so much easier to change the fluid without having the extra work of having to scrape off the RTV from the surfaces. One also doesn't have to wait for the RTV to cure before using the GMC.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM


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Re: [GMCnet] Is there a consensus on best type of tranny fluid? [message #88860 is a reply to message #88856] Wed, 16 June 2010 15:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
midlf is currently offline  midlf   United States
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emerystora wrote on Wed, 16 June 2010 15:03



I didn't realize that Caspro had an aluminum pan. i just went to their site and see the picture of it. It looks just like a Ragusa aluminum pan. I wonder if they are just reselling Ragusas.

Anyway, I am using the NAPA fiber gasket with my Ragusa pan and it works well.

Emery Stora



Mine was put on by the PO and has been on a long time. I have the Caspro instruction sheet. Is it a resell of Ragusa or a Ragusa copy of a Caspro? I don't know and, to me, it doesn't make any difference. What I know is I can drain the ATF without ending up wearing a quart of it.

Thanks for the info on the pan gasket.


Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
Re: [GMCnet] Is there a consensus on best type of tranny fluid? [message #88865 is a reply to message #88860] Wed, 16 June 2010 15:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
midlf is currently offline  midlf   United States
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I have a recollection that someone knowledgeable recommended not running synthetic ATF unless the trans had been newly or recently rebuilt. I believe it was because the synth ATF could loosen up some crud and cause problems. If pressed to say who I would say Manny as that is one of the few I would accept such a comment from. The reason could also be there was not enough benefit from the synthetic in an old trans.

Does anyone have a better recall or better information on synthetic use in an older trans?


Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
Re: Is there a consensus on best type of tranny fluid? [message #88866 is a reply to message #88750] Wed, 16 June 2010 15:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
RickOH is currently offline  RickOH   United States
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One thing to remember when changing tranny or oil pan gaskets is to clean the lip of the pan thourhgly and then inspect it for irregularities. Most of them have had the bolts overtightened which causes a wavy irregular mating surface. Lay the lip on a hard flat surface or hold a flat steel block under it and use a small hammer to straighten it.

I used a filter kit from Advance Auto which came with a black rubber type gasket. Used the foam type RTV form a gasket stuff from Permatex on the pan side ONLY. Don't over tighten !

Now you can remove the pan as often as you like for inspection and just keep using the same gasket over and over again.(it stays on the pan like it's part of it)

By the way, before I remove the pan,I remove the lower cooling line from the radiator, start the engine and let the fluid pump out in a bucket. (saves making a mess when taking the pan off)
and it drains about six quarts from the system instead of the normal three when just droping the pan.

I've done this five times in order to completely flush and replace ALL of the ATF in the system.

Rick Little
78 Royale
Re: Is there a consensus on best type of tranny fluid? [message #88868 is a reply to message #88807] Wed, 16 June 2010 15:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Chr$ is currently offline  Chr$   United States
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I got 120K out of my Lebaron's tranny...

... It was a manual, however, and still going strong when I sold the car.

It was a V6 convertible and I was not nice to it, never changed the oil, and never the gear oil. New Process tranny was pretty stout.

I have Coast ATF in my GMC. It is what Manny used.


-Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
Scottsdale, AZ

77 Ex-Kingsley 455 SOLD!
2010 Nomad 24 Ft TT 390W PV W/MPPT, EV4010 and custom cargo door.
Photosite: Chrisc GMC:"It has Begun" TT: "The Other Woman"
Re: [GMCnet] Is there a consensus on best type of tranny fluid? [message #88870 is a reply to message #88866] Wed, 16 June 2010 15:58 Go to previous message
powerjon is currently offline  powerjon   United States
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Lets get back to the original subject.

Bob Drews recommends and uses John Deere Hy-Gard Hydraulic/
Transmission Oil in his transmissions. It is the same formulation
that many racing transmission shops sell as High dollar fluid.

See:
http://www.deere.com/en_US/parts/partsinfo/oils_and_lubricants/oil_hydraulic.html


J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
TZE Zone Restorations
77 Eleganza Custom (For Sale)
1975 Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan

On Jun 16, 2010, at 4:34 PM, rick little wrote:

>
>
> One thing to remember when changing tranny or oil pan gaskets is to
> clean the lip of the pan thourhgly and then inspect it for
> irregularities. Most of them have had the bolts overtightened which
> causes a wavy irregular mating surface. Lay the lip on a hard flat
> surface or hold a flat steel block under it and use a small hammer
> to straighten it.
>
> I used a filter kit from Advance Auto which came with a black rubber
> type gasket. Used the foam type RTV form a gasket stuff from
> Permatex on the pan side ONLY. Don't over tighten !
>
> Now you can remove the pan as often as you like for inspection and
> just keep using the same gasket over and over again.(it stays on the
> pan like it's part of it)
>
> By the way, before I remove the pan,I remove the lower cooling line
> from the radiator, start the engine and let the fluid pump out in a
> bucket. (saves making a mess when taking the pan off)
> and it drains about six quarts from the system instead of the normal
> three when just droping the pan.
>
> I've done this five times in order to completely flush and replace
> ALL of the ATF in the system.
>
> Rick Little
> 78 Royale
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

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J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
GMC Eastern States
GMCMI
78 30' Buskirk Stretch
75 Avion Under Reconstruction
Michigan
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