The Ford Barn - View Single Post - Early Ford/Mercury automatic transmissions 51'-55'

rotorwrench · 08-07-2018, 03:14 PM

Type F was a future after thought. Ford needed a fluid to work with the cruise-o-matic transmissions after the whale oil was stopped. Many cruise-o-matics were still in service and needed a fluid for service so this is the spec that Ford came up with.

If your transmission has been rebuilt with modern clutch friction facings, you can use Dex III. If it still has the OEM type bronze friction plates it should use Type F for longer clutch pack life.

Any fluid is better than none but I can only recommend what the manufacturer came up with to replace type A. If you want to try another, do so at your own risk.

I used type F in the cruise-o-matics for years and never had a bit of trouble with it.

You can adjust the throttle rod set up some but they don't recommend much over 2 1/2 turns from the factory setting. The old Ford-O-Matics have no vacuum modulator valve so that throttle control rod is all there is.

08-07-2018, 03:14 PM	#4
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,431	Re: Early Ford/Mercury automatic transmissions 51'-55' Type F was a future after thought. Ford needed a fluid to work with the cruise-o-matic transmissions after the whale oil was stopped. Many cruise-o-matics were still in service and needed a fluid for service so this is the spec that Ford came up with. If your transmission has been rebuilt with modern clutch friction facings, you can use Dex III. If it still has the OEM type bronze friction plates it should use Type F for longer clutch pack life. Any fluid is better than none but I can only recommend what the manufacturer came up with to replace type A. If you want to try another, do so at your own risk. I used type F in the cruise-o-matics for years and never had a bit of trouble with it. You can adjust the throttle rod set up some but they don't recommend much over 2 1/2 turns from the factory setting. The old Ford-O-Matics have no vacuum modulator valve so that throttle control rod is all there is. Last edited by rotorwrench; 08-07-2018 at 03:24 PM.