Switching to Synthetic

[Lazzman]

After the installation of my upgraded VB I have developed a new respect for my 5r55e tranny, so much in fact that I would like to treat it to a full synthetic treatment.

Since I do not want to do this myself, I am thinking that I will take it to a quicklube place and use their machine. I just have a few of questions.

What is a good synthetic to use besides Amsoil as I have no access to it. I like the looks of Amalie Universal Synthetic ATF. How much of said trans fluid will I need, my manual says the Trans for the v6 sohc takes 10 quarts? Lastly what is a good flush so I can flush out all the current non synthetic fluid? When I had the VB replaced in February- about 5k mi ago they did the filter and fluid, so the filter is still good.

Thanks for any help.

 

[aldive]

You can order Amsoil and have it delivered to your door.

 

[ExplorerDMB]

Just please make sure it's Mercon V compatible. I've only seen Amsoil with compatible stuff to Merc V -- do some research

-Drew

 

[Glacier991]

And you can do a credible flush yourself... only "waste" a couple to 3 quarts in doing so. It's in the stickies.

 

[Lazzman]

Good advice, but I am still looking for a compatible synthetic brand that can be bought at the local auto shack?

 

[celly]

Why wouldn't you want Amsoil? It's GREAT stuff. I won't use anything else from here on in. Mobil1 has an ATF as well. I think Royal Purple might too.

Check your PM.

Brad

 

[Glacier991]

So far the only Full syn I have found clearly advertising it meets Mercon V standards is Amsoil. If you find something else, please share your findings.

I do not know whether it would be acceptable to use the green bottle of Lubegard in a full syn tranny... it probably would. The green bottle lubegard is a highly modified friction additive to make mon Merc V fluids act like Merc V. That may be your ticket... I do not think you are going to find anything on a shelf at the corner auto store.

 

[vervepipes]

Walmart's tech2000 brand states M5 compatability as well if you want a cheepo one

 

[aldive]

Walmart's tech2000 brand states M5 compatability as well if you want a cheepo one

Is that a full synthetic or a blend?

 

[vervepipes]

full synthetic

 

[aldive]

So far the only Full syn I have found clearly advertising it meets Mercon V standards is Amsoil. If you find something else, please share your findings.

The new Mobil 1 ATF is Merc V compatable.

>>Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF is a multi-vehicle formula recommended for use in modern high performance automobiles, SUV's, SUT's, vans and other light trucks requiring Dexron III , Ford Mercon and Mercon V performance levels
Also recommended by ExxonMobil for Chrysler automatic transmissions
Surpasses the off-highway power transmission requirements of Allison C-4
Suitable for Caterpillar TO-2 applications
Recommended for use in any power steering unit where a Dexron or Mercon fluid is recommended <<

from http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENPVLMOMobil_1_Synthetic_ATF.asp?Print=yes

I used the old Mobil 1 ATF for several years in my '99 with no problems ( before going to Amsoil ATF ).

 

[ExplorerDMB]

Interesting about Mobil1. Chris (Glacier991) and I came to a conclusion that Amsoil was the only synthetic when I was changing my t-case fluid (I then thought about changing the trans fluid). I guess Mobil1 and Amsoil are in the running for best full-synthetic that meets MercV standards. That walmart brand - I'd like to see a link on that. And to my knowledge Royal Purple does not make a MercV compatible fluid. Now, I have read in one of these Pennzoil books at work that they have a fully-synthetic ATF fluid that meets MercV, but I can't find it on their website or anyhere.

-Drew

 

[Rhett]

What is a good synthetic to use besides Amsoil as I have no access to it.

If you have a mailing address, you have access to AMSOIL. And it is worth it.

How much of said trans fluid will I need, my manual says the Trans for the v6 sohc takes 10 quarts?

If I recall correctly, when I flush mine I run 15-16 quarts through it. If you are cheap like me, you can start the flush with 2 or 3 quarts of el cheapo trans fluid, because the thought is that those first few quarts will get pumped right back out anyway.

Pump rate with my A4LD is 1 quart every 7 seconds.

Lastly what is a good flush so I can flush out all the current non synthetic fluid?

I would NOT use any flushing agent. Perhaps others more knowledgeable than I can weigh in, but my opinion on this is to simply pump new fluid through the transmission and to NOT use any type of flushing agent. It's not necessary.

When I had the VB replaced in February- about 5k mi ago they did the filter and fluid, so the filter is still good.

The filter is not necessarily good. New fluid has some detergent properties and it will break loose crud when it's first in there. That's why I always like to change the filter a second time (after a week or two or three) if the vehicle initially went a long time without a proper fluid change.

If you've kept up on the routine fluid and filter changes in the past with the transmission, then it's probably ok. But if it went 80,000 or 100,000 without a fluid change then just to be safe a new $10 transmission filter won't hurt anything.

BTW, you can get an improved filter from Makco at http://www.bulkpart.com/
and I think you can thank Mr. Glacier, above, for this nice resource.

 

[vervepipes]

My bad, I saw the full synthetic 4.4L bottle but picked up the similar looking 1L bottle of the tech2000 brand which happened to be a blend. the full synth only states mercon, not V.

 

[BrooklynBay]

What is the difference in the various filters that they make for transmissions? I saw a listing of at least 4 on another parts website. Is there such a difference in the screen (micron ratings)? If a screen has a lower micron rating, I know that it will filter better, but won't it slow down the fluid transfer speed, and clog faster? If a remote filter is used, I guess it wouldn't matter if the main filter is a better one or not, since the transmission is being double filtered anyway.

 

[aldive]

Just please make sure it's Mercon V compatible. I've only seen Amsoil with compatible stuff to Merc V -- do some research

-Drew

There are other full synthetic, Merc V compatable ATFs out there. Maybe its you who should do some research prior to posting

 

[spindlecone]

There are other full synthetic, Merc V compatable ATFs out there. Maybe its you who should do some research prior to posting

Educate us Al, what others are compatible?

 

[Glacier991]

I had tried to find what brands all had Merc 5 compatability late last year, and came up disappointingly empty. Apparently Mobil 1 has changed their advertisements, because back then they did not state M5 compatability. I had shared that with ExplorerDMB at the time and he also did some fact checking, so we DID do some research, it's just that apparently things are changing fast. (Research even to the point of tracking down who makes WalMart's brand and seeing if they claimed to make a M5 compatable full syn (they didn't)) So there was some significant research back then and Amsoil was it at that time per our research.

I do believe that if you had doubts you could add a bottle of Lubegard Green to have peace of mind.

 

[ExplorerDMB]

Thanks Chris!

 

[BrooklynBay]

What is the difference in the various filters that they make for transmissions? I saw a listing of at least 4 on another parts website. Is there such a difference in the screen (micron ratings)? If a screen has a lower micron rating, I know that it will filter better, but won't it slow down the fluid transfer speed, and clog faster? If a remote filter is used, I guess it wouldn't matter if the main filter is a better one or not, since the transmission is being double filtered anyway.

Does anybody have an opinion on the internal filters? I know that Ford had different qualities of filters as well as the aftermarket ones. I have a parts catalog that shows Ford part numbers, and there were a few different types for the same application. I'm sure that there is a difference.