Automatic Trans Fluid

Can you run the Dextron 3 in the C4 from 1976 or does it have to be type F?

 

I was told by B&M to run type F for firmer shifts. Dextron III is the recommended type.

 

i don,t know what year they changed, but hughes transmissions in phoenix told me to use castrol type f. that,s all they use in all there trannys.

 

I tried using Dexron III in my Spoiler,, shifted too loose. Put type F in it and now works like it should.
Dan

 

Everyone I have talked to about tranny fluid recommend using the type F............it stands for "fast".......I think

 

I had a problem with downshifting on one of the Mavs. I changed the fluid with new type F and cleaned the screen. It corrected the problem. It is usually better to use what the vehicle originally called for.

 

I have ran my C4 with dextron III before because thats all I had and it was realy close to being 2 quarts low. That has happend more than once and never had any problems with it but I changed the the tranny fluid with in the month, I`m sure there is still a quart or two of dextron III still hanging around in there though. It still ran just fine when my mother parked it and she got a newer better car to drive wich just so happends to be a big PITA to work on

 

what year did ford start rec. dexron?? I thought type F was up through80 or so ??? dunno ..... but the 74 says type F so......Robert

 

I was always under the impression that the type F had a different friction co - efficient . At one time ford was using different material on their friction disks and stated in their service manuals the type F spec . Nowadays I think all the jobbers ( and ford ) are using the same material . So dextron can be used in rebuilt transmissions .


The rub is that ford did change their spec sometime in the 80s . If you dont know the history of a car or transmission it is hard to know which fluid to use .

I always use type F to stay on the safe side if I dont know for sure .

 

ooooohhh

so......if all rebuilts use dexron then that explains the WALL OF DEXRON vs the cubbyhole of type F at the parts house ....... learn sumthin' ever day ....... Robert

 

As mentioned above, I had heard that Type F is known to give you a firmer shift.

 

i would recommend type-f ....it is true that it is a firmer shift,besides if your tranny is original i dont recommend changing fluids now. running dextron in a tranny that has had type-f could cuase alot of slippage. just like switching from oil to synthetic without cleaning out the oil....they just dont mix. about the same quality as water and oil.....and something else to help you decide which to use....my brother-in-law run type-f in his turbo 350 for his top dragster which runs 6.7's at 200 mph in the quarter and his is a chevyman....you decide lol

 

if you run low at the track on type f most of the GM boys use it GM guys i race with use it helps them to keep up with the fords

 

Trans fluid.

Dexron III is designed to pruduce soft smooth shifts that won't frighten old ladies on their way to the tea room.
Type F produces firmer crisper shifts which is why it's not used in anything OEM any more.

 

well thats somewhat true ...the real reason is that ford trannys had powerbands in them and it was used to keep them from slipping.............chevrolet doesnt have bands so there was no need for them............most racers use type-f becuase it helps hold their pumps together