Honda trans fluid in 4l60e
Honda trans fluid in 4l60e Just wondering. Any reason Honda atf wouldnt work in a 4l60? In the honda manual, It states the dexron 3 can be used as a temporary replacement. I do use it to soak my clutches in during rebuilds and i've seen no ill effects. Anyone use it before? Seems like a more premium fluid. The reason I ask is i can pretty much get it for free.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 7,320
Likes: 527
From: Ann Arbor, MI
ATF seems to be 95% hydraulic fluid with small amounts of additives which control how firmly the clutches engage and/or allow some slippage.
Some members here use straight hydraulic tractor fluid with success - they do report that the converter feels a bit tighter.
Therefore, I predict you might feel a small change in the shifting and a small change in the converter and lockup characteristics.
So maybe you'll try it and keep us posted. "Free" is always a good price.
Some members here use straight hydraulic tractor fluid with success - they do report that the converter feels a bit tighter.
Therefore, I predict you might feel a small change in the shifting and a small change in the converter and lockup characteristics.
So maybe you'll try it and keep us posted. "Free" is always a good price.
ATF seems to be 95% hydraulic fluid with small amounts of additives which control how firmly the clutches engage and/or allow some slippage.
Some members here use straight hydraulic tractor fluid with success - they do report that the converter feels a bit tighter.
Therefore, I predict you might feel a small change in the shifting and a small change in the converter and lockup characteristics.
So maybe you'll try it and keep us posted. "Free" is always a good price.
Some members here use straight hydraulic tractor fluid with success - they do report that the converter feels a bit tighter.
Therefore, I predict you might feel a small change in the shifting and a small change in the converter and lockup characteristics.
So maybe you'll try it and keep us posted. "Free" is always a good price.
i will be trying it. I was given a case of it free today. I’ll report back.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,605
Likes: 1,316
From: Iowa
Use any fluid you want.
The benefits of one fluid over the other are typically only noticed in small ways.
The biggest being:
-lubricity. Type F for example lubricates like dog ****. Dex6 lubricates well. You'll pick up on this after teardown of multiple trans and inspecting bushings/pump gear wear
-Anti-Foam. HyGaard and Dex6 are the best at this.
-Temperature Stability/degredation. You'll notice a synthetic fluid will not scorch as eaily. You won't get the dark color and burnt smell as soon as with a non synthetic.
-Viscosity. Each trans fluid (and compressor oil, and tractor hydraulic fluid) will vary in viscosity. This can change converter stall characteristics by a couple hundred RPM and will SLIGHTLY (usually not noticable) change shift timing. This shift timing is not critical in a th400 or 4l80e trans with asynchronous shifts. But in a 60e where you have a specific combination of feed hole size and line pressure matched up JUST right to time the band release with 3/4 apply...then you're going to want to stick with one fluid according to some guys. IMO it's not a huge deal at all for shift timing.
The fact of the matter is...if you build the trans properly...you could put the cheapest Costco/sams club fluid in it that you can find...and it will be JUST FINE. A properly built trans has no need for gimmicky oil like B&M Trick shift, or something similar. Amsoil/redline/etc oils that sell for $11 a qt is a straight rip off.
Personally I recommend street cars use the cheapest Dex6 rated fluid they can find. Drag cars I tell guys to just buy 5 gallons of HyGaard...use 2 qts of Dex6 to get a red color (easier to see on the dipstick) and top off with hygaard.
To answer your question directly...if your trans lasts, it won't be because you used magic Honda fluid. On the other hand...if your trans takes a ****...it won't be because of some shitty honda fluid. Run it...especially if it's free!!
The benefits of one fluid over the other are typically only noticed in small ways.
The biggest being:
-lubricity. Type F for example lubricates like dog ****. Dex6 lubricates well. You'll pick up on this after teardown of multiple trans and inspecting bushings/pump gear wear
-Anti-Foam. HyGaard and Dex6 are the best at this.
-Temperature Stability/degredation. You'll notice a synthetic fluid will not scorch as eaily. You won't get the dark color and burnt smell as soon as with a non synthetic.
-Viscosity. Each trans fluid (and compressor oil, and tractor hydraulic fluid) will vary in viscosity. This can change converter stall characteristics by a couple hundred RPM and will SLIGHTLY (usually not noticable) change shift timing. This shift timing is not critical in a th400 or 4l80e trans with asynchronous shifts. But in a 60e where you have a specific combination of feed hole size and line pressure matched up JUST right to time the band release with 3/4 apply...then you're going to want to stick with one fluid according to some guys. IMO it's not a huge deal at all for shift timing.
The fact of the matter is...if you build the trans properly...you could put the cheapest Costco/sams club fluid in it that you can find...and it will be JUST FINE. A properly built trans has no need for gimmicky oil like B&M Trick shift, or something similar. Amsoil/redline/etc oils that sell for $11 a qt is a straight rip off.
Personally I recommend street cars use the cheapest Dex6 rated fluid they can find. Drag cars I tell guys to just buy 5 gallons of HyGaard...use 2 qts of Dex6 to get a red color (easier to see on the dipstick) and top off with hygaard.
To answer your question directly...if your trans lasts, it won't be because you used magic Honda fluid. On the other hand...if your trans takes a ****...it won't be because of some shitty honda fluid. Run it...especially if it's free!!
Use any fluid you want.
The benefits of one fluid over the other are typically only noticed in small ways.
The biggest being:
-lubricity. Type F for example lubricates like dog ****. Dex6 lubricates well. You'll pick up on this after teardown of multiple trans and inspecting bushings/pump gear wear
-Anti-Foam. HyGaard and Dex6 are the best at this.
-Temperature Stability/degredation. You'll notice a synthetic fluid will not scorch as eaily. You won't get the dark color and burnt smell as soon as with a non synthetic.
-Viscosity. Each trans fluid (and compressor oil, and tractor hydraulic fluid) will vary in viscosity. This can change converter stall characteristics by a couple hundred RPM and will SLIGHTLY (usually not noticable) change shift timing. This shift timing is not critical in a th400 or 4l80e trans with asynchronous shifts. But in a 60e where you have a specific combination of feed hole size and line pressure matched up JUST right to time the band release with 3/4 apply...then you're going to want to stick with one fluid according to some guys. IMO it's not a huge deal at all for shift timing.
The fact of the matter is...if you build the trans properly...you could put the cheapest Costco/sams club fluid in it that you can find...and it will be JUST FINE. A properly built trans has no need for gimmicky oil like B&M Trick shift, or something similar. Amsoil/redline/etc oils that sell for $11 a qt is a straight rip off.
Personally I recommend street cars use the cheapest Dex6 rated fluid they can find. Drag cars I tell guys to just buy 5 gallons of HyGaard...use 2 qts of Dex6 to get a red color (easier to see on the dipstick) and top off with hygaard.
To answer your question directly...if your trans lasts, it won't be because you used magic Honda fluid. On the other hand...if your trans takes a ****...it won't be because of some shitty honda fluid. Run it...especially if it's free!!
The benefits of one fluid over the other are typically only noticed in small ways.
The biggest being:
-lubricity. Type F for example lubricates like dog ****. Dex6 lubricates well. You'll pick up on this after teardown of multiple trans and inspecting bushings/pump gear wear
-Anti-Foam. HyGaard and Dex6 are the best at this.
-Temperature Stability/degredation. You'll notice a synthetic fluid will not scorch as eaily. You won't get the dark color and burnt smell as soon as with a non synthetic.
-Viscosity. Each trans fluid (and compressor oil, and tractor hydraulic fluid) will vary in viscosity. This can change converter stall characteristics by a couple hundred RPM and will SLIGHTLY (usually not noticable) change shift timing. This shift timing is not critical in a th400 or 4l80e trans with asynchronous shifts. But in a 60e where you have a specific combination of feed hole size and line pressure matched up JUST right to time the band release with 3/4 apply...then you're going to want to stick with one fluid according to some guys. IMO it's not a huge deal at all for shift timing.
The fact of the matter is...if you build the trans properly...you could put the cheapest Costco/sams club fluid in it that you can find...and it will be JUST FINE. A properly built trans has no need for gimmicky oil like B&M Trick shift, or something similar. Amsoil/redline/etc oils that sell for $11 a qt is a straight rip off.
Personally I recommend street cars use the cheapest Dex6 rated fluid they can find. Drag cars I tell guys to just buy 5 gallons of HyGaard...use 2 qts of Dex6 to get a red color (easier to see on the dipstick) and top off with hygaard.
To answer your question directly...if your trans lasts, it won't be because you used magic Honda fluid. On the other hand...if your trans takes a ****...it won't be because of some shitty honda fluid. Run it...especially if it's free!!
good info. Thx. I figured it would be fine with the Honda fluid. I’m only running it because it’s saving me about 50 bucks lol. I always seek out the cheapest fluid. I tell my customers to run the cheapest fluid. The stuff at Walmart is usually what I run. Super tech I think. Years ago my buddy’s mom worked at a plant that bottled fluids. She told him that most of them (the same type) were the same fluid but some of them would get different colored dyes and there wasn’t much difference in additives. She told him just run the cheapest fluid you could find because it’s just as good. So I’ve always ran the cheapest stuff I could find.