synthetic trans fluid?

[klc317]

I would like to change my trans fluid/filter early (I have 23,000 miles) and would like to get it changed before 30,000. Is synthetic fluid a good idea and where could I get this changed/put in at? I'm pretty mechanically inclined, but its just a pain to get over and under the car to change the fluid/filter. Taking it to the dealer would be useless if I wanted synthetic....any suggestions?

[93GASE3300]

what you could do is buy the synthetic fluid and bring your car to the dealership and request that they put it in your car and they should do it.

[JayDoc]

I found a local tranny shop that had a t-tech and had them flush my tranny and replace the filter after the flush. Have been using Redline D4 ATF since 7000 miles. I wanted to get rid of the dino and start using synthetic after I could be reasonably sure that most of the break-in was done. Haven't had any problems at all with syntheic fluid, and I don't run anything else in my vehicles.

It's doubtful many dealers would put a non-gm tranny fluid in a car still under warranty. I asked the few around here to see what they would say and none of them would. That's probably a good thing because I wouldn't want a dealer to know that I had changed the fluid to synthetic anyway. They already deny warranty work too easily, and I could see them blaming any tranny problems on synthetic fluid. Those unfounded synthetic fluid myths will probably never die.

[Rental_Racing]

I wouldn't use straight synthetic trans. oil, because it is too slippery. Dexron 3 is whats in the trans., I think and it is a synthetic blend. If you do use a synthetic, you need to put something in the oil for traction.

[JayDoc]

Originally posted by Rental_Racing
I wouldn't use straight synthetic trans. oil, because it is too slippery. Dexron 3 is whats in the trans., I think and it is a synthetic blend. If you do use a synthetic, you need to put something in the oil for traction.

That's another myth. If a fluid has a Dexron III rating (regardless of base oil), it necessarily has all the friction modifiers required by that rating in order to meet specs.

[Rental_Racing]

Every single mechanic that I know has said that it will be too "slippery." Theres a guy over on grandamgt.com, who put straight synthetic in and went to the track. He said that his trans. started to slip I believe on the 1-2 shift and maybe 2-3 shift (not sure on 2-3 shift).

[Night Wolf]

hmmm, well think of an answer soon, becuase I am going to be getting my tranny fluid and filter changed :D

really though, I switched to Mobil 1 synthetic engine oil, and would like to get synthetic tranny fluid, but if it's gonna cause problems, then I guess I shoudln't? I'll keep checking this thread for any answers.

[JayDoc]

All the mechanics in the world could line up and say that synthetic ATF is too slippery. That doesn’t change the fact that in order for a transmission fluid to carry the rating of Dexron III, that fluid must meet a minimum coefficient of friction whether dino, blend, or synthetic.

There are many other gagt.com members who, like me, run synthetic (RL, RP, Amsoil, or M1) and have absolutely no problems. If slipping occurs, it’s much more likely due to tranny abuse and/or neglect. I’ve never had any slipping and I don’t expect it to happen.



Night Wolf, your tranny will likely be just fine if you continue to use what’s in it now, maintain it so it doesn’t see high mileage between services (more often if you use a dino and do a lot of city driving), and don’t abuse it. The key is preventative maintenance and minimizing abuse. I run true synthetics because their fluid life is longer due to better thermal stability, lower pour point, and a generally cooler running tranny. Whatever you decide, base it on fact not those hard-dying myths. :thumbup2:

[LoneRangers15]

If it has a Dextron III rating, it will be okay. Believe what you want to. Ahhh, ignorance is bliss.

[SonicTron]

my car seems to slip 1-2, 2-3 sometimes when accelerating light/mediumly......sort of like a brief engine power loss and a lowpitch grumble/grind sound from the transmission and it jumps back up. Not like it normally would from a split-second smooth shift.

possible transmission problem? or normal....