On all street C4s (built with Borg Warner or Raybestos "factory" replacement friction materials) I ALWAYS use and recommend type F. It is a limited slip fluid that can operate at slightly higher temps than Dexron. Motor oil's #1 job is to lubricate then clean then cool. Your transmission's friction materials don't need lubrication unles you want it to shift like an old powerglide in a 1960s Belair. (slip-n-slide Powerglide) I recommend Mercon V when Kevlar friction materials are used for racing applications. They need the high heat protection and some lubrication because Kevlar frictions have a higher dynamic friction coefficient but a lot lower static friction coefficient. (they slow down real fast but never quite stop as long as power is applied) Carbon and carbon/Kevlar materials are somewhere in between the first two. Type F is OK for these on the street as long as you use lots of cooler and low converter stall speeds but if you race or have to use higher stall speed converters then you are better off with Mervon V. Motor oil (5w-20) is a lot higher viscosity (thicker) than ATF, It lubricates better but it does not cool as well as ATF. It is made to run hotter (nominal operating temps near 250F) than ATF (nominal operating temps near 180F) but all that lubrication will lower the coefficient of friction that is vital to long transmission life. Allison and other commercial transmissions use metalic friction materials. (bronze, aluminum, Iron and graphite) and work well with engine oil - a C4 will not. We used to use metalic clutches in the old cast iron ford and cruise-o-matics made by Borg Warner but that was back before type F fluid and we used a 5w mineral oil based fluid - I don't recall the brand name.
Beat me to it paul! Type F was the recommended fluid for a typical build for a reason, and the additives found in newer fluids are uneccesary. Biggest complaint i've seen with C4 and C6 owners we service is sloppy or soft shifts, where they are supposed to have a nice positive shift. Nine times out of 10, it's the type of fluid they've topped it off with.
Paul, what fluid would you recommend for a c-4 rebuilt with the Broader Performance 500 hp kit ? I have this kit to rebuild my c-4 and I do not know which friction material the kit uses. All this talk about the correct fluid for the correct friction material has me wondering. I was just planning on using some good type F. Thank you in advance for your reply.
Hughes Performance Transmissions in Phoenix reccommended Castrol type F tranny fluid in my tranny. I get it at Autozone.
Same question I was thinking about asking Paul. I believe I initially got a recommendation for Type F and that's what I used in the Broader Perf Street/Strip 500 HP transmission. When I recently asked them for a recommendation for a brand of Type F the answer I got back wasn't too clear. Said I could use Type F if I wanted to but they said "We normally recommend the Dex/Merc type 3." Now I'm not sure what to use.
The safest thing to do is ask the builder - or in this case the supplier of the parts. I know that Jay is fairly flexible in what fluids to use with his transmissions but only he knows what type of frictions he uses. Give him a calll and use what he recommends. I can tell by looking at the lining material most of the time but then I have been doing this a long time. Do what Jay recommends - he knows his stuff better than anyone else.
I just sent Jay, at Broader Performance, an e-mail concerning this issue. Maybe he will contact me back in a couple of days. When he does contact me, I will copy and paste the e-mail here on the forum.
Good deal. I didn't get around to calling him yet. Hope he settles it. I'm going to put a pan in with bungs for temp gauge and drain. I want to refill with whatever is best. Thanks. Jim
Here is the e-mail that I sent Jay @ Broader Performance and the response he gave me. Quoting Charles West <clwjesusfreak@yahoo.com>: > Sir, I purchased a 500 hp c-4 kit from you a few months ago. There has been some discussion on the Maverick/Comet forum about using the correct fluid for the friction material that is used. Now, I know that you use Type F in the 70s Ford transmissions, but my question is: What fluid do you recommend that I use in my c-4 rebuilt with your 500 hp kit? I am unsure what friction material is used in the kit that you sell. Paul S. said that you should be contacted to find out for sure what type of fluid I should use after my rebuild. I was planning on using Castrol type F unless you recommend something else. Thank you for your time and response on this matter, > Charles West. We recommend Dex/Merc 3. Type F is ok.
Yeah, that's the answer I got in an email. This seems like a good price for Dexron III/Mercon. [ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CQ4DG4/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000BOYCN6&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1V25ZX984JX2GJZHXAVP"]Amazon.com: Valvoline VV353 Automatic Transmission Fluid DEXRONIII /MERCON, Pack of Twelve 1 Quart Bottles: Automotive[/ame]
