Question About ATF+4 and My 1987 T & C

I've been reading old posts about ATF+4, and wondered if it's
necessary for me to use it in my '87 LeBaron Town & Country wagon?
I'm planning a filter and fluid change soon, so any insights would be
welcome! Thanks.

Lee

 

No, ATF+4 is not necessary in an 87.

Current generation Dexron is fine.

 

No, it's not necessary. It works very well in the older transmissions (I
use it even as far back as in my '62 Dodge) but it's not necessary.

 

Best BY FAR in the 3-speeds is Type F!

Rick

 

I emphatically do not share your opinion.

Neither does any Chrysler Corp. trans engineer I've ever spoken to.

Not in my trans, thanks -- ever.

 

Richard Ehrenberg

Did you not see that this is a Chrysler group, not a Ford group?

Or do you run a transmission shop and this is your way to drum up business?


Matt

 

Type F was exclusive to Fords?

Yeah, in his spare time.... ;-)

 

And a (very) few imports. Ford quit speccing it in the very early '80s,
and it is growing harder to find as the vehicles calling for it are
retired from daily service. Type F fluid has not evolved or been developed
*at all* since the late '70s, so the notion is laughable that it's "Best
BY FAR!" in anything not specifically requiring its use.

Mr. Ehrenberg apparently buys into the notion that simply because Type-F
is a friction-UNmodified fluid that causes bang-screech shifts, it's "Best
BY FAR!". I suppose that might be true if you want to screech the tires
while trying for shorter 1/4-mile times (yawn), but most of us like our
transmissions to last.

DS

 

Agree 100%, I was just curious as to why Matt felt this post was
better suited to a Ford group since Type F fluid is not exclusive
to Ford transmissions.

He's entitled to his opinion. <shrug>

 

I never said it was exclusive to Fords, but I don't know of ANY Chrysler
product that spec'd it, so I don't think the recommendation to use it is
appropriate to this group.

Well, firm shifts WILL make the clutches last longer typically, but
other parts may not fair as well.


Matt

 

Nor did I say that you did...

So, we should shun all comments about using something other than
what the factory 'spec'd" as OE?
Does that include headlights? Tires? Shock absorbers? Fog lamps?

 

Because it was a stupid comment containing very bad advice.

Matt

 

<snip MW's usual lamebrained piffle>

Neil, this is why I'm so pleased with my newsreader's killfile
capabilities. With just a few keyclicks, I can exclude whomever I want
from my view of whatever which newsgroup. I can set it so that only posts
from a particular individual don't show up but posts *quoting* that
individual do, I can set it so an individual's posts _and_ quotes/threads
of those posts never show up for me, I can filter on content or
meta-content or originating server or whatever...it's really quick and
easy, and has made Usenet a much nicer place. You may want to look into
such capabilities in your own newsreader.

 

I have not seen Type F recommended for CC transmissions - at least not in the
FWD vans from the 1980s.

Ken

"Richard Ehrenberg

 

But in this case Matt was right: the advice to use Type F was
stupid...

 

Actually, though, that's not what Matt said. He babbled about Ford
newsgroups.

 

Hmmm... we must have seen different posts. In the one I read, he
pointed out that this is not a Ford newsgroup, and asked whether
Ehrenberg had a transmission shop he was trying to drum up business
for.

 

Joe, you must keep in mind who you are replying to here. DS has a hard
time following along sometimes.


Matt

 

Apparently you didn't see different posts...

 

Type F has a higher coefficient of friction that the old originial AQ-ATF or
1st-gen Dexron. Reduces slippage, firms shifts, extends life. The expensive
"race" ATF is the same stuff.
'Been using Type F for 35 years in all Chrysler 3-speeds (and 3-speed based
ODs) (904, 727, 518, 413, 500, etc.) since a Chrysler Engineer let me in on
the secret. My recommendation stands. I've NEVER blown a tranny despite high
power levels, high mileage, high RPM and generally abusive driving.

Rick