Transmission fluid heads-up

I just had a chat with Castrol about transmission fluid that
meets Hyundai spec for SP-IIM. Because this fluid is also used by
one or more additional brands of auto, I figured that it was only
a matter of time before it appeared on the open market.

The Castrol rep said that they've just introduced a product named
"Castrol Multi-Vehicle ATF." It's being distributed to their
affiliated oil change companies now, and they expect to have it
on the shelves of auto parts stores shortly.

I'm never clear that one fluid can be all things for all cars,
since there is a compatibility issue between the fluid and the
design of the transmission. For example, do we want to retain a
certain amount of friction within the fluid or not? As an example
of this, my Toyota required standard ATF in its power steering,
but the newer Ford Aerostar uses the older Ford "Type F" fluid --
a fluid that's virtually obsolete in its intended application to
transmissions.

I asked, "Do you swear on a stack of bibles that this my car will
perform as intended with this fluid and that there'll be no
damage to the transmission?" She replied with some words that
amounted to "yes."

The reason that I called Castrol is that I trust their products;
they don't seem to play games. I believe that their crankcase oil
is better than any other natural-base oil, and also has a higher
flash point -- it's less likely to burn in the cylinders of a
worn engine, for example. I have other reasons for trusting this
brand that I won't get into. The brand was acquired by British
Petroleum around 1999-2000, so that gets me concerned that the
new owner might drop the quality of the products. The rep said
that at least that the manufacturing has not changed -- it's
still made at the same factories. She also said that even though
there are no "lubritoriums" in my region that are affiliated with
Castrol, that any BP gas stations that work on cars should be
able to fill my crankcase with Castrol oil and perhaps even swap
out my transmission fluid with theirs.

Why this matters to me is that I bought a used Hyundai, and I
have no idea what kind of fluid is in the transmission. All I
know is that it looks pink and that it's very clean. But what if
it's nice and clean, and it's the wrong fluid?

Richard

 

If it's no longer under warranty, you can put ANYTHING you want
in the tranny.

S25

 

That's right!

It provides a never ending source of amusement for the regulars here.
<G>

 

| S25 wrote:
|
| > On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 13:32:38 -0800, "Richard Steinfeld"
| >
| <snip>
| > > ===============================
| >
| > If it's no longer under warranty, you can put ANYTHING
you want
| > in the tranny.
| >
| > S25
|
| That's right!
|
| It provides a never ending source of amusement for the regulars
here.
| <G>

Oh, you all jest.
Man, I hope you're jesting!
Transmissions are real expensive when they've been ruined with
the wrong fluid!

Ford Aerostar transmissions are famous for self-destructing under
load or hard driving. I've noticed that Ford has addressed this
issue with continual advances in fluids -- in fact, Ford has
seemed to lead the field with the introduction of stringent
standards for transmission fluids.

I took my Aerostar in for a real transmission oil change -- not
the usual sissified way: dropping the cover, dumping out the
fluid, and changing the filter. This leaves all the old fluid in
the torque converter (from which car makers no longer provide us
with a 50-cent drain plug -- clever corporate bastards). I had
the entire system pumped out with an expensive machine, and all
the fluid replaced with Castrol ATF. This service has become more
common recently. If you're really crafty, you can do it without a
special machine by using the car's torque converter itself to
pump the old fluid out and the new fluid in.

The difference in the car's performance was amazing. Shifts were
smoother and more timely. There was a very marked improvement in
power (which translates into an improvement in gas mileage). I
attribute this not only to the fluid change, but also to the
superior quality and reduced friction of the fluid.

When it comes to recent Hyundais, a specific fluid is
indicated -- a fluid that's not yet commonly-found. I don't think
that it's ever wise to substitute an older standard fluid in a
case such as this. If it were OK, the manufacturer would
certainly have gone with the cheaper fill at the factory! What
we're dealing with here is a contraption made with greater
precision than heretofore. It requires the appropriate liquid for
its characteristics.

Transmission fluid provides a precise match in characteristics of
both lubrication as well as a desired amount of friction. The
good news is that Hyundai isn't alone in using the special stuff,
so it is only a matter of time before we find the specified fluid
on the shelves of our friendly neighborhood auto parts stores,
and at a more reasonable price, too. That's where Ford's latest
fluid can now be found, and it's become standard for other cars,
too. And that's where we're going to find our Hyundai-spec fluid,
too. Just wait a little longer.

Richard