C-3 tranny oil

[kimcrwbr1]

Hey after about 7 yrs of adding ATF to my ranger I decided to pull the tranny and reseal it. I am putting a new torque converter, seals and filter in. After I flush the tranny cooler lines and put it back together is it recommended to use the regular ford ATF or can I put in synthetic oil in the gearbox. It shifts just fine for a 28 year old tranny and my inclination is go with what works. Any suggestions on a good sync or just stick with the Dexron II.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Should be Type F fluid in there should it not?

 

[adsm08]

Should be Type F fluid in there should it not?

That's what I'm thinking as well.

Also, I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that there isn't really any such thing as a "synthetic" transmission fluid. It's all mineral oil anyway.

 

[LearjetMinako]

That's what I'm thinking as well.

Also, I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that there isn't really any such thing as a "synthetic" transmission fluid. It's all mineral oil anyway.

I don't know about that. Mineral oil base, synthetic processed maybe. But for what I put into mine, I know its synthetic base.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

http://www.valvoline.com/products/brands/maxlife/automatic-transmission-fluid/37 Has anyone used this oil in their tranny with negative effects. I have always used dexron II in this tranny and all the research so far has said dexron II in the C-3 and the A4LD. The maxlife is a sync base oil and thinking I might give it a shot.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I guess you're right after looking around a bit....seems 76 was the last year they used it in transmissions. They did use it in the powersteering up until the 90's IIRC.

Any regular Mercon trans fluid should be fine. Synthetic if you wish I guess....

 

[kimcrwbr1]

I believe the C-5 uses the type-H. The dex/merc also looks like a good oil for your transfer cases and differentials. All the older ATFs were made from whale oil making them more suseptable to breakdown from high temps of the newer engines. Anyway I am going to give it a shot by resealing the tranny and rebuilt torque converter if it works it adds up to a difference from $150 to at least $800 for a rebuilt tranny. I can go through a standard shift tranny blindfold but when I look at the schematic of a auto tranny I would need a really big bench.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Not too much inside that little C3.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Yea it shifts so good I`m hopeing just a rebuilt torque converter and seals is all it needs. If I get a couple years out of it I will be tickled pink. If I put a different tranny in it it will be the upgraded A4LD. My theory is with a good torque converter and synthetic oil it will get better fuel mileage and be a little snappyer off the line. I will be looking for a donor truck in the meantime with the tranny and shift parts in need for the upgrade from what I have read the A4LD is just a C-3 with a bunch of extra parts. Besides it is plug and play!

 

[adsm08]

I don't know about that. Mineral oil base, synthetic processed maybe. But for what I put into mine, I know its synthetic base.

Yeah, but I was looking into this for a customer a while back and we couldn't find any transmission fluids that were labeled as "synthetic".

 

[snake]

Yea it shifts so good I`m hopeing just a rebuilt torque converter and seals is all it needs. If I get a couple years out of it I will be tickled pink. If I put a different tranny in it it will be the upgraded A4LD. My theory is with a good torque converter and synthetic oil it will get better fuel mileage and be a little snappyer off the line. I will be looking for a donor truck in the meantime with the tranny and shift parts in need for the upgrade from what I have read the A4LD is just a C-3 with a bunch of extra parts. Besides it is plug and play!

You mean plug and PRAY?

 

[adsm08]

You mean plug and PRAY?

Aren't most mods?