Alexander Posted March 18, 2007 Report Posted March 18, 2007 What would be the recommended alternative fluid to use in a fluid-drive? I understand that anti-foaming properties are important , but need to avoid fluids that have swelling properties? Thank you Alex Quote
Frank M. Posted March 18, 2007 Report Posted March 18, 2007 Hi Alex. Fluid Drive Fluid was a name Chrysler Parts Division gave to what they put in the unit. Petroleum Engineers have said that Dexron II or III is a good replacement. I read this somewhere a while back,and have used it in all three of my cars ,and not had any probs. Thats for the Fluid Drive-----but a lot of times I have had guys asking about that,and really meaning what they should use in the M-5 or M-6 semi-automatic transmission. That ,of course would be 10 WT non- detergent oil. This would only have applied to Chrysler or De Soto as they were the only ones that had the semi-auto. trans offered. Dodges did use the Fluid Drive tho, and in the early fiftys could be had with the semi-auto. also. Plymouth used 80-90 Wt grease in the 3 speed trans, as in the rear axle unit. Hope this helps. Frank Quote
Alexander Posted March 19, 2007 Author Report Posted March 19, 2007 Thank you- Nice article, but it confused me a little. some suggest that dextron has swelling agents that will make the rubber seals leak. But at the same time it has other agents that the fluid coupler needs. Is it type F or Dextron that I should use in the fluid coupler (torque converter) I like the idea of using automatic trassmission fluid rather then 132 tractor oil, -since modern torque converter work using the same principles as the fluid drive. Alex Quote
captden29 Posted March 19, 2007 Report Posted March 19, 2007 alex, i had a 51 windsor with the semi-auto and i used hydraulic jack oil. it is non-foaming and doesn,t swell seals and is not expensive and available anywhere. i never had a problem with mine, but i don,t own it anymore. dennis Quote
Rodger S-11 Posted March 19, 2007 Report Posted March 19, 2007 Hola All I am not in the mood to look for another convertor, so I always use the #134 Tractor Oil in the Fluid Drive. The De Soto has been doing fine since I got it in 1998. The aquiring of the Non-detergent transmission oil for the M6 took about 30 minutes. I wish I had the Fluid Torque Drive Assembly unit that does not run off the engine oil. I would ex-change the convetor and bell-housing this week. Rodger & Gabby Quote
James_Douglas Posted March 19, 2007 Report Posted March 19, 2007 The fluid drive coupling does not have any seals in it other than the one made of solid carbon. So nothing is in the unit that will swell. The most important issue for the coupling fluid is what is called the viscosity Index (VI). Not to be confused with viscosity as we usually use the term. What VI refers to is the ability of the fluid to maintain whatever viscosity it is over a large operating temperature. All organic oils have chemicals added to them to raise the VI. As the fluid is stressed by the turbines in the coupling those chemicals over time break down. So even if your coupling is full and sealed, the fluid needs to be replaced say every 5 years or you are throwing away power. Even in the can the VI additives breakdown and it is recommended that you don't use stuff older than 5 or 10 years old. So, I would use an oil with as high a VI as you can find and change it every five years. I did a test of using Amsoil synthetic in mine and it made quite a difference in the launch of the car. The only problem I can see with a very good oil like I used is that it may lower the stall speed too much as it does such a good transfer of power. Best, James Quote
Alexander Posted March 19, 2007 Author Report Posted March 19, 2007 Thank you all for the input. This is for use in my 51 coronet with M6 semi automatic trans. the guy who rebuilt the car may have used incorrect fluid, as he was unsure at the time. The car was not driven since it was rebuilt (10 years ago). I am about to take her out for the first run and want to change all the fluids. Thanks Quote
bob westphal Posted March 19, 2007 Report Posted March 19, 2007 Not to throw a wrench at any body but I have used everything from hydralic oil to 40W, including F & Dextron II & III in the main gear case on the fluid drive trannies with no problems or difference in operation noted. I used Dextron II or III in the converter. They work great! No leaks either! Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 20, 2007 Report Posted March 20, 2007 I have always used the recommeded oil in the trannys per manufacturers recommendation..not so much that the tranny will not get lubed, far from that. The lighter oil will lube very well, even better because of vicosity..but the difference in the oil is also rated in the SHEAR factor, ability to stay on the wear surface under extreme pressure thus ensuring that the wearing surface is not put in position to accelerated wear. Granted some of the newer manual transmissions do use these lighter oil but then again, they were built with this in mind. Just my opinion... Quote
Alexander Posted March 20, 2007 Author Report Posted March 20, 2007 Thank you all I guess ill try to use type F tras oil in the converter. Ill hope it does not make the ruber seals go Alex Quote
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