Powerflite oil or fluid?

[rocknroad]

I was looking at my fluids and they all look good except the transmission. I'm thinking of changing the fluid out since I have no idea when it was changed last. It looks like really dark oil. One of my manuals says it takes 30wt. Is there a better option? Synthetic....ATF?

I know its air cooled so I was thinking there was a fluid that may have been developed in the last 50 years that's better for it. Los Angeles is hot though and if a different fluid kept the heat down it might last a little longer. The pan is leaking a little anyway. The car has about 60,000 on it and it works fine.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Factory recommend service period is every 20,000 miles and the oil touse is Automatic Transmission Fluid Type A

General consensus amoung the Chrysler owners and a talking paper form Ma Mopar in the early '80's is to use the Dextron/Mercon..closest thing to type A friction properties you going to find..they are better oils today due to detergents and anti foaming additives..I use the Dextron

[rocknroad]

Is there a filter that works better with the Dex/merc fluid? I'm trying to get this car running and driving. There are only 64k miles on this car and hoping if I make some smart decisions about fluids it could last 40k more before a rebuild.

Thoughts?

[54Illinois]

Filter? Sure you do not have a Hy Drive? They take 30wt oil.

[rocknroad]

Its definitely a powerflite. Just bought a 1960 shop manual...I hope it has some updates. I'm worried that someone put oil instead of trans fluid in it. Any damage possibility?

[54Illinois]

My tranny fluid in my PowerFlite looks like dirty oil too...but it does not smell like oil!

I was just checking.

[Rusty O'Toole]

For some reason back in the 60s California Hiway Patrol insisted on using 20W20 motor oil in their automatic transmissions. Chrysler's were the only trans that would stand it.

If I suspected motor oil in the trans I would change it as soon as possible.