Type F fluid and soft shifts

Chad E532 · 05-24-2010, 11:01 PM

I recently switched to an ATI converter and in their instructions they require a type F fluid that is red in color. Prior I was running a TCI converter with a lower stall and the TCI green fluid and had a very firm shift. With the ATI with a slightly higher stall the shifts are not crisp at all. I am wondering if this could be due to the Type F fluid I am running or due to the higher stall or possibly a combination of them both.
I would like to try a different fluid to see if I can get a crisp shift again.
Any recommendations on which brand(s) of Type F that are red in color that work the best?
Thanks
Chad

Dragsinger · 05-25-2010, 07:09 AM

Chad,

you may receive as many opinions as if you ask about motor oil

My experience is this, the trans shift "should" be fine with any fluid. I have run type "F", Dexron, hydraulic fluid, and "race fluids" and seen no significant difference in any of them. (we are talking about medium horse power, foot brake applications)

These days I run Dexron/Mercon type lll because it is easily available and performs fine for the above mentioned application.

I suspect your "less than firm shift" is not fluid related.

treessavoy · 05-25-2010, 09:55 AM

I've run type F in my Mopar since I built it and never had a problem.

At a Nss race in LA (lower Alabama) I had to use Wal Mart off the shelf atf and still got crisp shifts.

Talk to your converter guys and see what they have to say.

JimR

ron mattson · 05-25-2010, 11:43 AM

i doubt the fluid has anything to do with it, it should actually shift harder with type f as
it has almost no friction modifier in it.

Todd Bailey · 05-25-2010, 12:13 PM

I was told early on that the type F holds up better under higher temperatures.

Woodro Josey · 05-25-2010, 01:47 PM

Chad, all of the above suggestions are right on, your shift feeling has nothing to do with the Fluid, that is if you have enough Fluid in the tranny!

Tim H · 05-25-2010, 06:00 PM

Strange, I talked to ATI last year about my set up, ATI TH400 and ATI converter (foot brake) and was told to use Dexron III fluid. I mentionned I had been using Ford FA , with no issues and they said switch to the Dexron III. Just shows ask 2 or 3 people and get 2 or 3 different responses.

Redlight · 05-25-2010, 06:19 PM

Just to add to "the mix".

I use type FA with a bottle of lucas.

buzzinhalfdozen · 05-25-2010, 06:51 PM

This may be a stupid question..... but what the heck is type FA? I've heard of all the others but never FA. Is it an improved version of typeF? Joe After some more thought....what difference would the fluid type make for a different brand converter, you still have the same trans, correct? I doubt the converter would care what fluids in it.JMO

B Aceves · 05-25-2010, 07:08 PM

Chad,
Its very possible that by installing a converter with a higher stahl means that the converter is possibly flashing at a higher rpm, What that could cause if your running a three speed auto trans is that the 1-2 shift dropback rpm could be causing you to still be in the converter when the shift is made thus resulting in a poor shift and a loss in ET, Im just throwing this out there for something to think about, Im sure any converter guy could put this in better perspective than me but thats the first thing that came to my mind when you said a converter with a higher stahl caused it. Doubt it would be caused by Fluid...

Bob Aceves
#746 E/SA
A&M motorsports

05-24-2010, 11:01 PM	#1
Chad E532 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lindstrom MN Posts: 156 Likes: 7 Liked 54 Times in 7 Posts	Type F fluid and soft shifts I recently switched to an ATI converter and in their instructions they require a type F fluid that is red in color. Prior I was running a TCI converter with a lower stall and the TCI green fluid and had a very firm shift. With the ATI with a slightly higher stall the shifts are not crisp at all. I am wondering if this could be due to the Type F fluid I am running or due to the higher stall or possibly a combination of them both. I would like to try a different fluid to see if I can get a crisp shift again. Any recommendations on which brand(s) of Type F that are red in color that work the best? Thanks Chad

05-25-2010, 07:09 AM	#2
Dragsinger VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Liberty City [East Texas] Posts: 1,760 Likes: 5 Liked 99 Times in 60 Posts	Re: Type F fluid and soft shifts Chad, you may receive as many opinions as if you ask about motor oil My experience is this, the trans shift "should" be fine with any fluid. I have run type "F", Dexron, hydraulic fluid, and "race fluids" and seen no significant difference in any of them. (we are talking about medium horse power, foot brake applications) These days I run Dexron/Mercon type lll because it is easily available and performs fine for the above mentioned application. I suspect your "less than firm shift" is not fluid related.

05-25-2010, 09:55 AM	#3
treessavoy VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Dunnellon,FL Posts: 1,103 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Type F fluid and soft shifts I've run type F in my Mopar since I built it and never had a problem. At a Nss race in LA (lower Alabama) I had to use Wal Mart off the shelf atf and still got crisp shifts. Talk to your converter guys and see what they have to say. JimR __________________ Jim Rountree

05-25-2010, 11:43 AM	#4
ron mattson Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: cloquet mn Posts: 466 Likes: 17 Liked 67 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Type F fluid and soft shifts i doubt the fluid has anything to do with it, it should actually shift harder with type f as it has almost no friction modifier in it. __________________ Ron Mattson 5015 STK

05-25-2010, 12:13 PM	#5
Todd Bailey Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houston Posts: 312 Likes: 30 Liked 33 Times in 17 Posts	Re: Type F fluid and soft shifts I was told early on that the type F holds up better under higher temperatures.

05-25-2010, 01:47 PM	#6
Woodro Josey Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 805 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: Type F fluid and soft shifts Chad, all of the above suggestions are right on, your shift feeling has nothing to do with the Fluid, that is if you have enough Fluid in the tranny! __________________ Woodro Josey 2002 STK

05-25-2010, 06:00 PM	#7
Tim H VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,042 Likes: 1,073 Liked 482 Times in 159 Posts	Re: Type F fluid and soft shifts Strange, I talked to ATI last year about my set up, ATI TH400 and ATI converter (foot brake) and was told to use Dexron III fluid. I mentionned I had been using Ford FA , with no issues and they said switch to the Dexron III. Just shows ask 2 or 3 people and get 2 or 3 different responses.

05-25-2010, 06:19 PM	#8
Redlight Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 23 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Type F fluid and soft shifts Just to add to "the mix". I use type FA with a bottle of lucas.

05-25-2010, 06:51 PM	#9
buzzinhalfdozen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bellevue Ohio Posts: 984 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Type F fluid and soft shifts This may be a stupid question..... but what the heck is type FA? I've heard of all the others but never FA. Is it an improved version of typeF? Joe After some more thought....what difference would the fluid type make for a different brand converter, you still have the same trans, correct? I doubt the converter would care what fluids in it.JMO __________________ Joe Buchanan SS/BX 3117 Last edited by buzzinhalfdozen; 05-25-2010 at 07:00 PM.

05-25-2010, 07:08 PM	#10
B Aceves Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 457 Likes: 1 Liked 7 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Type F fluid and soft shifts Chad, Its very possible that by installing a converter with a higher stahl means that the converter is possibly flashing at a higher rpm, What that could cause if your running a three speed auto trans is that the 1-2 shift dropback rpm could be causing you to still be in the converter when the shift is made thus resulting in a poor shift and a loss in ET, Im just throwing this out there for something to think about, Im sure any converter guy could put this in better perspective than me but thats the first thing that came to my mind when you said a converter with a higher stahl caused it. Doubt it would be caused by Fluid... Bob Aceves #746 E/SA A&M motorsports __________________ Bob Aceves, 746 E/SA A&M motorsports