Why would anyone use Type A in a modern car?

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occupant

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Apr 30, 2005
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Columbus, OH
People are stupid.
People are cheap.
People don't know any better.

I don't care about the reason, I'm just upset that this car I bought yesterday had two empty bottles of Type A ATF in the trunk because convenience stores continue to sell this useless garbage for $1.99 and people who suffer from any of the afflictions above buy that instead of spending $3.89 or whatever on Dexron III/Mercon/Universal/Whatever.

So knowing that this swill is in my TH125 that slips in all gears unless locked in converter lockup above 45mph...

Should I just drop the pan and top it off with Maxlife? Is it worth changing the filter on a 135K mile TH125 that probably hasn't been serviced, ever? I know this car was nice when it was new (1990 Ciera SL) but the previous owner (2005-2010) abused it badly (was living in it and not caring for it).
 
If you are planning on keeping the car I would do the following:

1. Drop pan, replace filter, and fill with new correct fluid.

2. Drive it around 200 miles then take it to your favorite place and do a complete transmission flush using the correct fluid.

I have my reasons for asking the following question. The person living in the car didn't happen to look like Santa did he, or also have his crazy sister living with him?
 
Well, the TH125/3T40 in my cav died at 120k with no changes till 100k. I'd do a pan drop, replace filter, fill with Dexron VI, and add a bottle of Lubegard red, and hope for the best.
 
I agree with people are stupid. I would also say penny wise pound foolish. Cars are throwaway applicances, and people do things that keep them poor and stupid. THis is just another example.
 
It's a '90 olds cutlass probably previously owned by a penniless person - at least they put SOME fluid in there. Is type-A fluid made from Whale blubber? I hear that's the good stuff
wink.gif
 
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Yes you should dump it, if for no other reason than to reseal the pan gasket that's probably leaking.

There's nothing magical about TC lockup when it comes to bands or clutches slipping, so maybe your diagnosis is a bit off. Yet it will not hurt to drain and fill with generic "Dex3" or that maxlife if you're feeling ritzy. Also adjust the TV cable a little tighter; they stretch.
 
Your 20 year old car may have a non perfect trans, and not the fault of the fluid.
It may have been used because a slipping or leaking problem was there, and this tried to fix it.
Most people don't carry fluids unless they are leaking/using them.
 
You glad you find those bottle in the trunk, if they clean it out, you will never know, that they put in a wrong fluid. I would do a complete flush, but im not sure if it do more damage to flush older car, most shop around here refuse to do flush on any car that have over 100k miles. Second option is, drop pan and change filter, install the drain plug on the pan, and drain it out after 100miles, and drain it on next oil change again. do this if shop refuse to flush your car, the key here is try to get much out ASAP.
 
The TH125 is actually a very dependable trans.Change the fluid and filter and get as much of the type A out as you can.Drive it for a couple hundred miles,if it isnt slipping really bad,and change the fluid again.One thing you need to know if you have never changed the fluid on a car with the 125,some model years have one of the pan screws that need a sealent on its threads or it can leak fluid.You may need a Haynes or Chilton manual to find out which one it is.
 
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
It's a '90 olds cutlass probably previously owned by a penniless person - at least they put SOME fluid in there.

it's a TWENTY YEAR OLD economy car; what'd you expect? what did you pay for it, a hundred bucks???
I'd be glad it ran at all.
 
Just hope, that if the empty bottle were used in the vehicle, they were not used in the transmission fluid. I would drop the pan to be safe. Just hope, that these empty bottes found in the trunk, were not used in the power steering unit, crankcase, radiator or brake fluid reservoir.

Today you just don't know....
 
I agree that a lot of car owners are a morons when it comes to maintaining their car.

I wouldn't fret too much over a few quarts of Type A fluid used to top off a transmission. I suspect it would take a lot more to radically change the properties of the fluid charge.

But OTOH, we don't know how long he was topping off the fluid. Are there any leaks?

I also agree with a complete fluid exchange.
 
Originally Posted By: mpvue
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
It's a '90 olds cutlass probably previously owned by a penniless person - at least they put SOME fluid in there.

it's a TWENTY YEAR OLD economy car; what'd you expect? what did you pay for it, a hundred bucks???
I'd be glad it ran at all.


X2 no I mean X3,
 
There is also some Havoline Universal ATF in the trunk (about a quarter of a bottle) and some 40W Pennzoil. Oh, and a full bottle of brake fluid.

Well, I'm about to head into town to pick up dinner. It'll be warmed up by the time I get up there so I'll check it up on level ground and see how low it really is. Nowhere around here really to do that.

I suppose I could straddle it over the ditch by the curb and stick a level on the hood. There was one in the trunk, might as well use it, heck, there's HUNDREDS of tools in the trunk...2 handguns...some car stereos...this was a $225 jackpot from the impound auction...I really don't give a rat's tail if I get to drive it much or not...I wanted the junk in the trunk...those handguns will fetch my $225 back easy.

But I've got a bottle of Pennzoil ATF and what's left in that Universal bottle. We'll see how much I need to put in to fix it up.

You are right, eljefino, it's not so much slippage as "popping" out of gear. It'll go, then it'll act like it went in neutral, then it'll go again, and neutral, and then go and hit second, neutral, go, neutral, go, neutral, go into third, neutral, go neutral, then into lockup and it's like nothign ever happened until I get back under 45mph or hit the brakes and then accelerate again.

addyguy, it's the luck of the draw. I have bought impound vehicles all my life and I enjoy the hassles that come with them. The first one I got was a 1986 Mercury Lynx in 1994. $60, it ran, it drove, it needed front brake pads, a muffler, and one tire. I sold it for $350 after fixing only the flat tire. Hooked for life at that point, and I've since had a 1980 Civic, 1987 Tursimo, 1982 Datsun 210, 1988 Voyager minivan, and this. Among 60 others bought at dealers, on eBay, or from individuals. I even rescued a 1980 Datsun 210 from a junkyard and put it back on the road once. It smells like Swisher Sweets, Miller High Life, strawberries, and coconuts (from the cigars, the beer, and the bottles of spray air freshener on the back seat floor).

You more visual types head over here:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3875456
 
OK, took it on a 28 mile round trip to get pizza for the family (and Schlotsky's for my wife) and checked the ATF dipstick when I got into town. BONE DRY. Took what was left in the Havoline bottle and my whole Pennzoil bottle to get it to touch the tip. Another full quart of $3.89 Pennzoil ATF from an Exxon c-store later and it's exactly full.

Not a single "neutral" since. It doesn't even TRY to pop out of gear, no matter how hard or soft I take off, turn, or stop.

That low fluid level was the whole problem.

Now as I continue to drive this as my DD, I'll watch the fluid level and if it's dropping then there is a leak (looks dry under there IMO) and if not then I will simply assume the previous owner only checked the ATF cold and/or with the engine off and never got it full enough. Isn't that how that works, if the engine is off or the trans is cold, that it always reads way too high?
 
If it has a vacuum modulator I would check it as it may have a hole in it and that may be where the fluid is going, into the engine.

He either topped the ATF off with the Type A or used to clean his engine with it, Har HAr.
 
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+1 on the vacuum modulator. I've seen it happen on a TH400. No reason you transmission can't do the same.

So what make/model are the handguns?
 
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