Auto trans fluid refill?

[trinket]

I am ready to flush my father-in-law's Ford 1/2 T pick-up, automatic transmission, after a cleaning period with Auto-Rx. He wants me to refill it with a synthetic fluid and I'm trying to find the most economical one to use. The cheapest I can find Mobil 1 is $5.00/qt plus shipping. What other brands compare with Mobil 1 and the price?
Thanks.

 

[Flash]

Trinket,

Since the torque converter in auto transmissions hold so much fluid (several quarts), you may want to drain, fill with conventional fluid and then drain again to get most of the old stuff out first. Not sure what you want to accomplish by running the autorx here, but simply doing two flushes has worked well for me in the past.

Most auto transmissions are practically indestructable as long as you keep the fluid changed. You could run synthetic if you like, and lots do. However, I would submit that you're still going to get a build up of wear metals in the fluid that float around and cause wear even faster, synth or not. I tend to be of the camp that simply replaces filter and fluid annually and just use a good quality conventional. Haven't lost a transmission yet!!!

Best of luck,
Ashley

 

[Big Jim]

You may want to check to see if the torque converter has a drain plug. Some of the transmissions used on Ford rear wheel drive passenger cars and 1/2 ton trucks do have torque converter drain plugs.

If it does, you can do a full fluid change without doing a flush or a partial drain.

 

[Ken2]

Does his F150 transmission require Mercon® ATF or MerconV® ATF? Check his owner's manual or the reference book at an auto parts store. If Mercon is called for, Mobil 1 is an excellent choice. If it needs MerconV, you can buy a MerconV product or add a bottle of Lubegard green ATF supplement to the Mobil 1.
http://www.lubegard.com/automotive/trans_atf_mv.html


Ken

 

[pitzel]

There's always SuperTech Synthetic ATF at Wal-Mart if you're desperate for a lower-cost solution.

Sure would be nice to know if the stuff is Group III or group IV though. Then again, not much is really known about the Mobil-1 ATF either in terms of its composition.

 

[T-Keith]

quote:

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Originally posted by pitzel:
There's always SuperTech Synthetic ATF at Wal-Mart if you're desperate for a lower-cost solution.

Sure would be nice to know if the stuff is Group III or group IV though. Then again, not much is really known about the Mobil-1 ATF either in terms of its composition.

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In Canada maybe, but not down here.

 

[trinket]

Thanks for the comments and ideas, everyone. I haven't been to a Walmart well over a year, so I guess it's time to venture to the city and see what Wally World has nowadays. Oh, how I hate box stores. I'm putting a remote filter on the transmission, too, so a synthetic will be the choice, depending on how much my f-in-l wants to spend.

Thanks again,
Trinket