The Ford Barn

burner31 · 09-07-2015, 03:50 PM

Since I had the floorboards up I thought I'd check the tranny fluid.
The yellow that you see in the fill port are bubbles (drop light has yellow tint)
Now, the question is are bubbles normal?
I was NOT expecting to see that, I had drained and refilled with fresh, clean 600W about 200 miles ago.
Is this something I should be concerned about or does the tranny usually have a head on it.
That was the first fluid change since the early 60's, but then again, the car had been sitting since then.
Could the bubbles be residual water from condensation from sitting so long?

Recommendations anyone?

Mitch//pa · 09-07-2015, 03:52 PM

Make sure your vent hole in the shifter tower is open and not blocked with crud or paint
If it is okay,,,
Maybe little bubbles are normal / maybe not I never noticed.
I know heavy foaming is no good ,,,,,,
Could it be still mixed with some of the older cocktail you previously drained?
Dump it again

Why do you have the e brake return spring set up?

WestCoast · 09-07-2015, 04:09 PM

some foaming will ocour, but it should be minimal, to much will cause loss of lubrication to the gears because of the air replacing the oil, that's why you should change it to gl3 or gl4, 600w does not have any anti foaming agents in it like the modern oil does, matter of fact the 600w doesn't have any protecting additives at all, like anti acid,, rust protection, anti foaming agents, anti wear agents, you must remember those specs were designed 80 years ago and are obsolete, they didn't know much about those things, use the modern oils and make the diff and trans very happy

jimvette59 · 09-07-2015, 04:22 PM

Condensation and as Mitch//Pa said vent hole .

burner31 · 09-07-2015, 04:44 PM

Wait...there's a vent hole?
I'll pull the floorboards again and find it and make sure it's clear and open.

Now what's this gl3 and gl4 that you speak of? I'm guessing "gear lube 3, gear lube 4"
What would the weight of that be? Just any good "modern" gear lube?

As for the spring...the e-brake just didn't have any "spring to it" when releasing if you understand my meaning. It also removed the rattling.

WestCoast · 09-07-2015, 06:03 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

gl means gear lube, the 3 and 4 is the service it is designed for, I now believe gl3 is obsolete, gl4 oil is designed for moderate to heavy use, it usually comes in 75-90w, if that lighter oil makes you nervous add a half a can of stp to trans and diff

1931 flamingo · 09-07-2015, 06:36 PM

The vent hole referred to is at the back of the shift tower.

NO NEED to remove the floorboards.
Paul in CT

burner31 · 09-07-2015, 07:10 PM

To late on the floorboards, had to extract a broken floorboard screw anyway.
Found the vent hole, and yep, clogged like nobody's business, not now though, thanks all for letting me know about that.
I'll run it for a week or so and see it that takes care of the bubbles, if not, I'll drain and refill with the good stuff, about time to change it out anyway, like I said, it's been sitting from late 50's maybe very early 60's, may have 250-300 miles on it since it changed it out.
Once again...Thanks all<<<<<<

Mitch//pa · 09-07-2015, 07:15 PM

Stick with the 600w

Tom Wesenberg · 09-07-2015, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

Stick with the 600w

I agree, it will make the shifting easier. I use Mobil 636. I've seen a few bubbles after a drive, but not too many.

eagle · 09-08-2015, 09:35 AM

I use Lucas oil stabilizer in mine, really makes a difference, makes the shifting feel silky smooth. I previously used Lucas Hub oil. It is amazing stuff when transmission is cold but it fades when hot. The oil stabilizer does not fade. I wonder if the Hub oil was foaming and that was causing the fade? It was pretty foamy when I drained it. My first change after I got my A was to 600W from Macs, I ended changing it out a few hundred miles later as the transmission was very harsh and noisy. Was a goopy slimy foamy mess that came out of the trans that time, took 3 hours to drain. I have been running the stabilizer for 2 years now, trans is quiet, shifts very smoothly and definitely is "thick enough" for easy non synchro shifting. Look up some of the old threads on this subject, its been discussed at length.

hardtimes · 09-08-2015, 11:56 AM

NOT normal at all !

JohnLaVoy · 09-08-2015, 08:02 PM

The 600W sold by various vendors tends to foam. I use 75% 140W trans fluid and 25% STP that gives you the viscosity needed and the tackifier to make it stick to the gears. We had this evaluated by a petroleum chemist several years ago for an article in the Times.

09-07-2015, 03:52 PM	#2
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: Tranny fluid with beer head-normal? Make sure your vent hole in the shifter tower is open and not blocked with crud or paint If it is okay,,, Maybe little bubbles are normal / maybe not I never noticed. I know heavy foaming is no good ,,,,,, Could it be still mixed with some of the older cocktail you previously drained? Dump it again Why do you have the e brake return spring set up? Last edited by Mitch//pa; 09-07-2015 at 03:59 PM.

09-07-2015, 04:09 PM	#3
WestCoast Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: oroville calif Posts: 893	Re: Tranny fluid with beer head-normal? some foaming will ocour, but it should be minimal, to much will cause loss of lubrication to the gears because of the air replacing the oil, that's why you should change it to gl3 or gl4, 600w does not have any anti foaming agents in it like the modern oil does, matter of fact the 600w doesn't have any protecting additives at all, like anti acid,, rust protection, anti foaming agents, anti wear agents, you must remember those specs were designed 80 years ago and are obsolete, they didn't know much about those things, use the modern oils and make the diff and trans very happy

09-07-2015, 04:22 PM	#4
jimvette59 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Perry OH Posts: 1,329	Re: Tranny fluid with beer head-normal? Condensation and as Mitch//Pa said vent hole .

09-07-2015, 04:44 PM	#5
burner31 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Shawnee, Ok Posts: 3,471	Re: Tranny fluid with beer head-normal? Wait...there's a vent hole? I'll pull the floorboards again and find it and make sure it's clear and open. Now what's this gl3 and gl4 that you speak of? I'm guessing "gear lube 3, gear lube 4" What would the weight of that be? Just any good "modern" gear lube? As for the spring...the e-brake just didn't have any "spring to it" when releasing if you understand my meaning. It also removed the rattling. __________________ Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B

09-07-2015, 06:03 PM	#6
WestCoast Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: oroville calif Posts: 893	Re: Tranny fluid with beer head-normal? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) gl means gear lube, the 3 and 4 is the service it is designed for, I now believe gl3 is obsolete, gl4 oil is designed for moderate to heavy use, it usually comes in 75-90w, if that lighter oil makes you nervous add a half a can of stp to trans and diff

09-07-2015, 06:36 PM	#7
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: Tranny fluid with beer head-normal? The vent hole referred to is at the back of the shift tower. NO NEED to remove the floorboards. Paul in CT

09-07-2015, 07:10 PM	#8
burner31 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Shawnee, Ok Posts: 3,471	Re: Tranny fluid with beer head-normal? To late on the floorboards, had to extract a broken floorboard screw anyway. Found the vent hole, and yep, clogged like nobody's business, not now though, thanks all for letting me know about that. I'll run it for a week or so and see it that takes care of the bubbles, if not, I'll drain and refill with the good stuff, about time to change it out anyway, like I said, it's been sitting from late 50's maybe very early 60's, may have 250-300 miles on it since it changed it out. Once again...Thanks all<<<<<< __________________ Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B

09-07-2015, 07:15 PM	#9
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: Tranny fluid with beer head-normal? Stick with the 600w

09-08-2015, 09:35 AM	#11
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: Tranny fluid with beer head-normal? I use Lucas oil stabilizer in mine, really makes a difference, makes the shifting feel silky smooth. I previously used Lucas Hub oil. It is amazing stuff when transmission is cold but it fades when hot. The oil stabilizer does not fade. I wonder if the Hub oil was foaming and that was causing the fade? It was pretty foamy when I drained it. My first change after I got my A was to 600W from Macs, I ended changing it out a few hundred miles later as the transmission was very harsh and noisy. Was a goopy slimy foamy mess that came out of the trans that time, took 3 hours to drain. I have been running the stabilizer for 2 years now, trans is quiet, shifts very smoothly and definitely is "thick enough" for easy non synchro shifting. Look up some of the old threads on this subject, its been discussed at length. __________________ "There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."

09-08-2015, 11:56 AM	#12
hardtimes Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South California Posts: 6,188	Re: Tranny fluid with beer head-normal? NOT normal at all !

09-08-2015, 08:02 PM	#13
JohnLaVoy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Rocklin, CA Posts: 779	Re: Tranny fluid with beer head-normal? The 600W sold by various vendors tends to foam. I use 75% 140W trans fluid and 25% STP that gives you the viscosity needed and the tackifier to make it stick to the gears. We had this evaluated by a petroleum chemist several years ago for an article in the Times.