Tranny Fluids that improve shifts??

[AlienInv8r]

I just had jiffy lube change my oil the other day, and they told me my tranny fluid is burnt. I figured I may as well change it soon since I dont know when/if the last owner ever changed it. What transmission fluids work the best? I've heard things like B&M Trick Shift can actually work like a pseudo-shift kit since they are thicker or something?? Has anyone had any experience with this fluid, or one similar to it? Or could you just recommend me to a good tranny fluid to use. I have a '98 A4 with about 50k miles on it. Thanks!!

[PiLOTLiTE]

Trick shift can make your car shift firmer, but this comes at the cost of lubrication. It just doesn't protect as well. Pennzoil makes a Multi vehicle ATF that is a synthetic blend. It was tested in Chrysler transmissions for tens of thousands of miles and held up better than regular Dexron III and a few of the sythetics out there. I have and like it.

[AlienInv8r]

ok, I didnt know that about the Trick Shift, my friend just had mentioned the name to me the other day. I'd rather go with longevity and durability over having slightly firmer shifts; I'll keep the pennzoil in mind too. Thanks for the reply! Anyone else have opinions on trick shift or other tranny fluids??

[AlienInv8r]

Anyone else have a favorite tranny fluid to share or used trick shift before??

[snatch]

Hot rod TV did a special on royal purple, i dont know if this will improve shifts but it sure frees up a little HP, heres the link
http://www.royalpurple.com/
Anyone had any luck with this stuff????

[slacker69]

I use TCI RTF tranny fluid it helps cool down tranny fluid alot.

http://tciauto.com/components/transmission_fluid.htm

[Bliggida]

Hey Slacker, Not only with they shift better but the racing or high performance fluids have been shown on the dyno to decrease enough friction to free up horsepower - a 10 horse claim changing engine, tranny, and differintial fluids.

TCI was a good choice, along with the afore mentioned Royal Purple, and B&M TrickShift. A couple others you may want to look at that will do the same thing is Redline and Lucas oil products.

They do protect as good Pilot but you are correct, in order to have less viscosity they must be changed more frequently.

I think it comes down to the price with these oils. To change your fluid (and more often) with the best products will run you nearly 30 bucks in oils to do so yourself...every time you do it (again, more frequently) where as a one time initial price of a shift kit will help to lower your transmission temperatures and hence make your fluid last longer. Another good buy would be a transmission cooler if you don't already have one. I reccomend one of those AND a filter relocation kit/drain plug at the same time. So that changing your fluid becomes as simple as changing your engine oil - pull a drain plug, and spin off a filter. That will lower your tranny temp a solid 25 degrees, and has been shown to double your tranny's life.

I think spending the initial 150 or more for a shift kit, and/or a filter relocation kit would in some way 'pay for itself' compared to a couple years worth of fluid changes using expensive high performance oils.

Whats more, is that if you lower your transmission temperatures - regular AutoZone brand ATF will resist breaking down longer and remain much cleaner. In other words you wouldn't really need those oils. But running them will just make it all that better if you can afford to do so.

[LordoftheBling]

walmart dexron III ATF. its just fine dont try and tell me different.

[AlienInv8r]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. And thank you for the breaking down of things Bliggida, it would make more sense in the long run to buy a shift kit up front. I guess I'll buy whichever one I can afford easiest depending on how much my next paycheck is. Thanks guys!

[TurboKillaZ]

no such thing as a fluid to improve shifts [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[02PewterBird]

Jiffy Lube told me that the tranny fluid in my truck was burnt, but the dealer says it's fine. They could just be trying to get business. They also didn't get a good seal on the oil filter when they put it on, causing it to leak oil and make a big mess on the driveway of our new house. I finally figured it out a couple months later when I wiped all the oil off the bottom and went for a really short drive around the neighborhood. When I stopped, the filter was coated in oil. :mad:

I didn't know what the problem was with the truck yet, but I stopped going there after I took our 02 Trailblazer there the first time. I had to tell the guy it took seven quarts, they overinflated the tires by 10 PSI even after I questioned it. They just changed it on the computer to the correct pressure. That drive home felt weird. Of course when I got home the pressures were exactly what they had said in the first place before I questioned it and asked if they had checked. :rolleyes: There was something else that I can't remember too.

[Guardsman]

Redline D4 ATF.
Oh yeah, if your trans fluid looks and/or smells burnt, there is a problem. However, trans fluid does smell different than motor oil, so don't confuse that with a burnt smell. Basically, if it smells at all like varnish, that's a sign that something is overheating, and cooking the oil.

[ June 24, 2003: Message edited by: Guardsman ]</p>

[Camaro 22]

I like Lucas producst for everything. Works real well