For example, synthetic ATF is very popular with those who frequently tow a trailer, which puts additional strain on your vehicle’s transmission.īestReviews Prices for automatic transmission fluidsĪutomatic transmission fluids generally come in quart or gallon bottles. The former is often a little cheaper, while the latter has greater resistance to the effects of heat and friction. Whether you choose traditional or synthetic automatic transmission fluid is up to you. But for absolute security, you can’t go wrong with the manufacturer’s recommended brand. We can’t make specific recommendations because there are simply too many car models to cover. You can buy the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended brand from a local dealer (usually the more expensive option), or you can by an aftermarket brand online or from a local auto parts dealer. For cars manufactured post-2006, you can usually choose from traditional or synthetic automatic transmission fluids. So how do you choose?įor cars manufactured pre-2006 – and particularly classics – you’ll likely have limited choice. Some are names used by aftermarket brands – Multi-Vehicle ATF, for example. Some are specific to a particular automaker – Nissan Matic D, K, J, and S, for example. There are 20 or more variations on the four main types of automatic transmission fluids. While you can mix and match traditional and synthetic ATFs of the same type, you absolutely cannot swap grades. This underlines how you must be absolutely sure you get the right grade of automatic transmission fluid for your vehicle.īestReviews Choosing an automatic transmission fluid
The name suggests it’s a traditional ATF, but actually it’s synthetic. Indeed, there’s a lot of confusion around Mercon V. Synthetic ATFs closely resemble the properties of Dexron and Mercon. Popular products ATF+ and 7670 are both HFMs. They are often, though not exclusively, used in European high-performance vehicles. Highly Friction Modified (HFM) Fluids are synthetics. Dexron and Mercon are the basis for many other ATFs sold under different names. The big step forward over Types A and F is the addition of friction modifiers – molecules that coat surfaces, thus reducing friction and heat buildup. Both are very similar and are used in American and imported vehicles. However, there’s a thriving classic and collectors market out there, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding appropriate grades of these automatic transmission fluids.ĭexron and Mercon are arguably the most common traditional ATFs. Type A and Type F are traditional ATFs that haven’t been used in new cars since the 1970s. However, there are a large number of older vehicles still on the road, and there are specific fluids to suit them. As almost all synthetic ATFs are compatible with traditional ATFs (you can mix the two together so long as the synthetic ATF is the same grade), synthetic ATFs are beginning to dominate. Synthetic ATFs are more durable and resistant to the damaging effects of heat in modern transmissions.
Synthetic automatic transmission fluids are man-made chemical polymers that perform the same functions. Traditional (or regular) automatic transmission fluids are made from natural oils that are combined with antioxidants and corrosion inhibitors. There are two basic types of automatic transmission fluids. Unfortunately, names, codes, and packaging can be confusing.
There’s one golden rule with automatic transmission fluid: always buy the grade that the maker of your vehicle recommends. Manufacturers use a variety of approaches, and many American cars can’t use the same automatic transmission fluids as vehicles from Europe or Asia.
The way cars are built and the materials used have changed a lot in the last 50 years. It also needs to be durable – it can’t break down when it gets hot or under extreme pressure.ĭifferent automatic transmissions have different demands. To do these things, automatic transmission fluid needs precise viscosity to suit the transmission concerned. What is automatic transmission fluid?Īutomatic transmission fluid (ATF) needs to do two basic jobs: lubricate bearing surfaces and dissipate heat in vehicles with automatic transmissions. Two, so it isn’t confused with engine oil. Why is automatic transmission fluid dyed red, pink, or green? Two reasons.
0 kommentar(er)
