Does anybody know much about these filters?
Are they all the same?
Is there a brand that is better than others?
Are they all the same?
Is there a brand that is better than others?
Transmission Oil Filters
- Thread starter Kevin in Texas
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Just trying to see if anybody has knowledge on the bolt in trans filters that are in our transmission's?
One of mine has no filter the other a screen. Screen is not worth changing. Clean it and clean the magnets and pan but that's about it.
SPX Filtran are definitely superior transmission filters--Carquest carries them. Just bought one for my Monte Carlo.
It varies by transmission. Some just use screens. Most are still felt or similar over a rigid core.
Many aftermarket filters work fine. I've had good luck using cheap ATP filter/gasket sets in Chrysler & TF transmissions.
That said, I've heard several cases of cheap filters changing flow enough to affect performance.
Biggest variety I've noticed is in the gasket. Some use rubber or fibrous material while others still use cork. Avoid cork. They're a pain to remove next time.
If in doubt, buy OEM. It's not a job you want to re-do.
David
Many aftermarket filters work fine. I've had good luck using cheap ATP filter/gasket sets in Chrysler & TF transmissions.
That said, I've heard several cases of cheap filters changing flow enough to affect performance.
Biggest variety I've noticed is in the gasket. Some use rubber or fibrous material while others still use cork. Avoid cork. They're a pain to remove next time.
If in doubt, buy OEM. It's not a job you want to re-do.
David
Kevin,
The worse thing is no ATF filter. My Ford C-6 is a little bit better than nothing. My GM turbo hydromatic is a little better than the Ford C-6. None of them are any good. I use absorbing type filters on all of mine. The C-6 and turbo hydromatic have old Frantz filters on them. The Subaru has a Gulf Coast 0-1 jr on it. The Camry has a Motor Guard M-30 on it. I never have to drop the pan.
I put my first filter on a Buick dynaflow in 1967. I was a Motor Guard M-100. I thought I invented the idea of keeping ATF clean
Actually people were doing it when I was still in grade school. Stock ATF filters are even more useless than engine full flow filters. Some are better than others. The misleading thing about ATF is it usually looks good on the dipstick because there is no soot to turn it dark. It is loaded with wear particles off the bands, clutches and gears. Most of the contamination a magnet can't touch. The tiny abrasives are what get your seals. Dirty fluid also effects shifting. Too much heat is just as bad.
Awhile back I was at an oil change place in Denton, TX waiting to get a safety inspection. People were actually paying to get their transmissions flushed. I'm thinking haven't these people ever heard of proper filtration. The best thing to flush a transmission is clean ATF. It's hard to believe that people can get sucked into that system.
I got a call from a guy in San Clemente, CA yesterday needing a Frantz ATF adapter for his Frantz oil cleaner. I sold him the one off my Chevy powered Farmall H. Now I have to make up a new adapter for the tractor. It's a tough way to make a living.
Ralph
The worse thing is no ATF filter. My Ford C-6 is a little bit better than nothing. My GM turbo hydromatic is a little better than the Ford C-6. None of them are any good. I use absorbing type filters on all of mine. The C-6 and turbo hydromatic have old Frantz filters on them. The Subaru has a Gulf Coast 0-1 jr on it. The Camry has a Motor Guard M-30 on it. I never have to drop the pan.
I put my first filter on a Buick dynaflow in 1967. I was a Motor Guard M-100. I thought I invented the idea of keeping ATF clean
Awhile back I was at an oil change place in Denton, TX waiting to get a safety inspection. People were actually paying to get their transmissions flushed. I'm thinking haven't these people ever heard of proper filtration. The best thing to flush a transmission is clean ATF. It's hard to believe that people can get sucked into that system.
I got a call from a guy in San Clemente, CA yesterday needing a Frantz ATF adapter for his Frantz oil cleaner. I sold him the one off my Chevy powered Farmall H. Now I have to make up a new adapter for the tractor. It's a tough way to make a living.
Ralph
Ralph,
One place I believe a trans flush is reasonable is for a change of fluid type. That job can be messier than many are willing to try. As for those who pay for it with an oil change, shame on the quick-change shops who push it along with their synthetic blinker fluid & muffler bearings.
I agree completely about secondary in-line atf filtration. The cost of 12-15qts makes it common sense.
David
One place I believe a trans flush is reasonable is for a change of fluid type. That job can be messier than many are willing to try. As for those who pay for it with an oil change, shame on the quick-change shops who push it along with their synthetic blinker fluid & muffler bearings.
I agree completely about secondary in-line atf filtration. The cost of 12-15qts makes it common sense.
David
Trans engineers never recommended that we install an external filter. There's a kit available from Ford that allows you to install an external trans filter (MANDATORY for rebuilt transmissions).
However, the transmission engineers never said anything about adding external filters for new transmissions. If you just change the fluid every 15k-20k with the stock filter/screen and have an adequately sized cooler you will be fine.
However, the transmission engineers never said anything about adding external filters for new transmissions. If you just change the fluid every 15k-20k with the stock filter/screen and have an adequately sized cooler you will be fine.
Ya and they still build houses out of wood.
Put a good external filter on your trans put in good synthetic lubricant and you will not have to change it out for over 100,000 miles easy. Not to mention your trans will probably outlast the rest of you car!!!
Any opinions on the Magnefine in-line filter for an automatic transmission or power steering?
http://www.emergingent.com/subpage1Magnefine.htm
Or how about this filter mount for a full-flow engine oil filter for the ATF?
http://www.bmracing.com/products/acc_tranCoolers/remoteTranFilter.html
Ken
http://www.emergingent.com/subpage1Magnefine.htm
Or how about this filter mount for a full-flow engine oil filter for the ATF?
http://www.bmracing.com/products/acc_tranCoolers/remoteTranFilter.html
Ken
MolaKule
Staff member
"Put a good external filter on your trans put in good synthetic lubricant and you will not have to change it out for over 100,000 miles easy. Not to mention your trans will probably outlast the rest of you car!!! "
You forgot about Chevy's 700R4. I have two that Used Amsoil ATF and fluid replacements at 30,000 miles and am now on the third one for each.
You forgot about Chevy's 700R4. I have two that Used Amsoil ATF and fluid replacements at 30,000 miles and am now on the third one for each.
David,
I've been on the road. All I've ever used on ATF is Frantz, Motor Guard, and Gulf Coast submicronic bypass filters. I don't see any reason why you couldn't use any submicronic bypass filter on the ATF. Submicronic bypass filters are restrictive so you need a special fitting in the fluid line to the radiator. All the special fitting is is a 1/8" orifice. Upstream from the orifice a line goes to the filter. The clean fluid returns to the adapter downstream of the orifice. The origional Amsoil bypass filter would also need the adapter. You could use a full flow filter on a remote full flow filter mount and run the fluid through it. A good full flow filter would filter about 10 times better than the internal filter in the transmission except when the transmission has a screen like my C-6 then it's about 1000 times better. About 1967 I didn't know about the adapters. I looked in my Motors Repair Manual and found a test plug that had 80 PSI at the high accumulator. I returned the clean fluid from the Motor Guard to the oil pan. It only filtered when the transmission was in drive but that was enough. It was a 1961 Dynaflow Buick. I was a kid so I had to have a gauge on the dash for the fluid pressure. I don't change the bypass filter very often. The little one qt capacity filter can handle a lot of abrasives. I don't see much large contaminants when I change the filter on my Ford C-6 which means it's a very good transmission.
The little filters that you use in the line to the radiator are low resistance but don't work very well. When it comes to filters it's hard to have your cake and eat it too. Little filters have a tough time competing with larger filters, especially if the bigger filter has 4" of cellulose. Transmission makers know the advantage of clean ATF. They have nothing to gain from installing filters that make the transmissions last past the warranty. I know the old 700 R 4 s were no good but I thought the newer ones were better.
My Farmall 1951 model H tractor has an older Chevy engine with the Chevy 4 speed automatic. So far so good. It has a Ford one ton front end with power steering.
Ralph
I've been on the road. All I've ever used on ATF is Frantz, Motor Guard, and Gulf Coast submicronic bypass filters. I don't see any reason why you couldn't use any submicronic bypass filter on the ATF. Submicronic bypass filters are restrictive so you need a special fitting in the fluid line to the radiator. All the special fitting is is a 1/8" orifice. Upstream from the orifice a line goes to the filter. The clean fluid returns to the adapter downstream of the orifice. The origional Amsoil bypass filter would also need the adapter. You could use a full flow filter on a remote full flow filter mount and run the fluid through it. A good full flow filter would filter about 10 times better than the internal filter in the transmission except when the transmission has a screen like my C-6 then it's about 1000 times better. About 1967 I didn't know about the adapters. I looked in my Motors Repair Manual and found a test plug that had 80 PSI at the high accumulator. I returned the clean fluid from the Motor Guard to the oil pan. It only filtered when the transmission was in drive but that was enough. It was a 1961 Dynaflow Buick. I was a kid so I had to have a gauge on the dash for the fluid pressure. I don't change the bypass filter very often. The little one qt capacity filter can handle a lot of abrasives. I don't see much large contaminants when I change the filter on my Ford C-6 which means it's a very good transmission.
The little filters that you use in the line to the radiator are low resistance but don't work very well. When it comes to filters it's hard to have your cake and eat it too. Little filters have a tough time competing with larger filters, especially if the bigger filter has 4" of cellulose. Transmission makers know the advantage of clean ATF. They have nothing to gain from installing filters that make the transmissions last past the warranty. I know the old 700 R 4 s were no good but I thought the newer ones were better.
My Farmall 1951 model H tractor has an older Chevy engine with the Chevy 4 speed automatic. So far so good. It has a Ford one ton front end with power steering.
Ralph
This bypass filter is going to be factory installed by ford in a upcoming ford transmission
I am told by Al Parker it is a variation of the ATF-09
Click on Ford/NTZ press release.
NTZ Canada
I am told by Al Parker it is a variation of the ATF-09
Click on Ford/NTZ press release.
NTZ Canada
Molakule: What is the failure mode of your 700R4s? Seem attributable to wear or mechanical failure? Are you using them to plow snow or some other marginal use?
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