Correct Auto Trans Fluid?

[123finboy]

I'm about to replace the fluid in my '58 Cruise-O-Matic. Is Type F the best way to go?

[Y-Blockhead]

Yes...

[eshaver]

The Type "F" has a friction additive in it . Ford transmissions all the way up to about 1970 need the old "F" type .

[sprink88]

Do they even make the type A anymore?

[eshaver]

Originally Posted by sprink88

Do they even make the type A anymore?

As a matter of fact, they do ! Ive seen it in Advance stores , Pep Boys and one time in an O' rieley store ..............

[Y-Blockhead]

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Originally Posted by sprink88

Do they even make the type A anymore?

Sounds off the wall I know, but whenever I have a question like this I refer to Amazon.com. They sell everything!!

Don't necessarily buy from Amazon but sometimes do. Cheaper price, free shipping.

[sprink88]

lol. "Get my trans fluid from Amazon" lol.. whats next?

What would anyone recommend. Type A or type F?

[streetdreams]

Don't know if you guys know about this or not, but Oprah is going to have a show on fuels and lubricants on soon. Normally don't watch her, but having Martha Stewart on as an expert on the subject sure clinched it for me.

[eshaver]

Originally Posted by streetdreams

Don't know if you guys know about this or not, but Oprah is going to have a show on fuels and lubricants on soon. Normally don't watch her, but having Martha Stewart on as an expert on the subject sure clinched it for me.

AN IFFIN ya believe Martha Stewart's advice , lemmie sell ya some cheap stock for the Dulles Toll road here in Virginia !

[bbrocksr]

Originally Posted by 123finboy

I'm about to replace the fluid in my '58 Cruise-O-Matic. Is Type F the best way to go?

Type F was for Ford transmissions with OEM/ original clutch lining material. After they have been rebuilt with aftermarket clutches you can use type A/ or Dexron.
There are not many of these transmissions that haven't been rebuilt as they are at least 40-50 years old.
Your choice but I would go with Type A/ Dexron.
Bill

[paul2748]

I used Type F in my 56 Fordomatic with no problems. I assume it was rebuilt sometime in the past. Original was Type A

[123finboy]

Thanks guys....it seems like type F is the safest choice since I don't have a complete history of the trany.

[Y-Blockhead]

And you can get it from Amazon.com Free shipping. Gift wrapped if you wish.

[Paul H]

If type F is best,why do the Fordomatic and 55/56 shop manuals say to use type A?

[sprink88]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

And you can get it from Amazon.com Free shipping. Gift wrapped if you wish.

haha Gift wrapped. Good present for my car

[sprink88]

I personally think it is because type A is an obsolete fluid. Meaning GM and Ford both used type A back in the day and over the years have each made their own type per their own recommendations. So instead of having 10 different types on the auto store shelves, It just became what it is now.

At least that is what I tell myself.

[eshaver]

By the late 70's , early 80's , type "A " was usually a very cheap grade of hydraulic oil and canned by using the left overs from whatever was on the lines . I was in contact with a couple of companies in Texas who routinely did this ...........

[Motorhead6]

Read the dipstick. No, I'm not calling anyone names. LOL. I mean the oil dipstick in the transmission will clearly tell you the type of transmission fluid to use. I think there is more to the different types of fluid than friction qualities; they also have compatability issues with the rubber part internal to the tranny. Just to be safe, use what the dipstick says to use.

[40 Deluxe]

Another point: originally, Ford-O-Matics and Cruise-O-Matics used bronze faced friction clutch discs for which Type A was used. Type A also originally used sperm whale oil as an essential additive (before whaling was outlawed and/or before sperm whales became nearly extinct). Somewhere along the line another type of additive was developed and paper faced clutch discs replaced the bronze (don't remember if the two went hand in hand).

[paul2748]

Type A us usually not obtainable, hardly any stores carry it and many may not even be able to order it.

Originally Posted by Paul H

If type F is best,why do the Fordomatic and 55/56 shop manuals say to use type A?

[cavecreekjake]

Still flummoxed over what to replace Type A...
Sources here say Type F... several other sources say DextronIII / Mercon...

This is for my ‘56 Sunliner Fordomatic...
??
Thx

[KULTULZ]

Originally Posted by cavecreekjake

Still flummoxed over what to replace Type A...

Sources here say Type F... several other sources say DextronIII / Mercon...

This is for my ‘56 Sunliner Fordomatic...
??
Thx

TYPE F is the correct replacement for A.

In the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, ATF contained whale oil as a friction modifier. But since whale oil would break down at higher temperatures, cars produced in the 1970s and later would not be able to use whale oil because of the higher engine coolant temperatures employed to reduce emissions and save fuel. A moratorium on whale oil at that time prevented the continued production of older ATF such as the original DEXRON formulation (Type B), and the Type A which preceded it. Vintage Chrysler products (Dodge, Plymouth, etc.) used Type A fluid, which is generally difficult to obtain now.

It turns out that Type A was basically a nearly 50/50 mix of Type F (Ford) and Dexron (GM),[citation needed] so if you have a pre-1990 Chrysler vehicle, you can mix Type F and Dexron to get a near-match for type A.

General Motors began marketing Dexron II Type C and later Dexron II Type D to replace the fluids which were made from whale oil.[10]

Through the late 1970s, Ford transmissions were factory filled with a fluid identified as ESW M2C33-F. To provide a fluid that would be available to the general public for service fill, oil companies and other than factory fill suppliers were allowed to develop fluids meeting the ESW M2C33-F specification and market these fluids under their own brand names but identified as Type F.

SOURCE- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automa...smission_fluid

The discussion is continued there.

In a nutshell, FORD used TYPE F during you car's period (retro-fill and factory fill). In the seventies, FORD eliminated asbestos from their friction linings and most applications went to DEXRON and other types.

The trick is that you can use TYPE F in a DEXRON trans of the period, but not DEXRON in a TYPE F trans. If rebuilt with today's friction materials, it will become DEXRON specific although the use of F in a DEXRON trans will give firmer shifts (aka TRICK-SHIFT).

If you are in doubt as to what is in the trans, it should have a complete manual flush (no flush machine), have a complete inspection (leakage) and the bands adjusted.

[KULTULZ]

Originally Posted by sprink88

lol. "Get my trans fluid from Amazon" lol.. whats next?

What would anyone recommend. Type A or type F?

That's where I get mine and most MOTORCRAFT parts.

I'm cheap...