ATF, the strait and skinny???

Discussion in 'PSI Superchargers Tech Questions' started by Bob Alberty Jr., Sep 23, 2017.

  1. Bob Alberty Jr.

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    Looking for knowledge on automatic transmission fluid.
    The transmission (powerglide) manufacturer wants ATF, the converter manufacturer wants hydraulic fluid.
    The car is a top dragster, blown Chevrolet, weighs 2070, runs six teens, approaching 230 mph.
    I do run a cooler. Have tried Type F, & FTI's newly released fluid, with the same results. Cooked discolored and stinky fluid after a few laps. Clutches, steels, and the band all look fine (20 plus laps on them so far).
    Transynd, compressor oil, hydraulic oil, dexron 6, type f, seems there are a lot of options available, but at this power level, how much information from the normal super categories, and bracket racers is pertinent. That's why I ask here.
     
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  2. Mike Canter

    Mike Canter Top Dragster
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  3. Bjs344

    Bjs344 Member

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    I burnt my hydraulic fluid for the first time ever earlier this year. Ran 3 passes pretty close together before I checked converter temp. It was over 250. I cooled it down, made one more pass, then drained. It was pretty stinky but I've had worse. Didn't appear to do any damage other than to the fluid.

    My normal routine is to put a blower on the converter as soon as I get back to the pits if it has heat in it, just spaced on the routine this time around.

    Are you checking converter temps after a run?
     
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  4. Bob Alberty Jr.

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    How often are you changing it?
     
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  5. Bob Alberty Jr.

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    Cant give a number for temp at the converter. I too use a blower in the bell housing to cool it between rounds.
    How often are you replacing it?
     
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  6. Mike Canter

    Mike Canter Top Dragster
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    We go at least 30-40 runs with that Redline light weight
     
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  7. Bob Alberty Jr.

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    I'm nowhere near that number with fluid. 5 to 6 and i get nervous about it.
     
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  8. Bjs344

    Bjs344 Member

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    I probably end up draining it between 10-20 runs for one reason or another (converter swap, health check, etc.). But I'll reuse it at least once if it looks and smells ok. To be fair, this is more of a 6.30s combo, your mileage may vary. I would definetely suggest a temperature gun to shoot the converter after the run.

    I've found that refiring and driving off the track can lower my converter temp (and therefore max fluid temp) by an easy 20 degrees. Something I keep in mind if going rounds and I know I got the lean out before I shut it off (i.e doesnt need backed down)
     
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  9. Will Hanna

    Will Hanna We put the 'inside' in Top Alcohol
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    I like the Redline lightweight but we have killed the fluid around 10-12 runs. I think what really kills the fluid is the quick turn arounds we see in Top Dragster.

    I also think the back half of the quarter mile really kills the fluid compared to an 1/8 mile pro mod. Especially with a two speed glide where you are really laying on the converter for 800' or more.
     
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  10. TOL

    TOL Active Member

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    Assuming the fluid heat issues are much less with a lockup converter deal?
     
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  11. TOL

    TOL Active Member

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    Was there not a Catepillar fluid that Mike Janis was using that was supposed to be vastly superior in terms of heat stability?
     
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  12. Bob Alberty Jr.

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    Don't know of a CAT fluid, but there seems to be a lot of users of Jon Deere Hy-Guard.

    Been reading the internet all day on this subject. The Hy-Guard, or AMSOIL compressor fluid are where I'm leaning at the moment.
     
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  13. Mike Canter

    Mike Canter Top Dragster
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    The most heat is made with a converter in staging and launch and at the gear shift. If you spend too much time on the Two Step you will really heat the converter. The other problem is when you shut down and the fluid stops circulating it can actually boil inside your converter and this is why the synthetics are better because of those high temps. They will turn a non Synthetic brown in a flash.
     
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  14. Bob Alberty Jr.

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    This may be my problem. I've been shutting the fuel off after going through the lights. Will try letting it run with the chutes out, and see what difference there is.
     
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  15. jay70cuda

    jay70cuda Well-Known Member

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    So when your doing valves between rounds does that move the fluid thru the drive unit enough to make a difference
     
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  16. Will Hanna

    Will Hanna We put the 'inside' in Top Alcohol
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    Make damn sure you have good oil pressure while doing this. Some combos like to run out of oil in the shutdown area.
     
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  17. nitrowannabe

    nitrowannabe Member

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    Buy a cooler for between rounds. Onboard coolers a waste of time.
     
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  18. TD 4028

    TD 4028 Member

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    Bob, I was going to suggest the external cooler also.
    On our Procharged deal we were running the John Deere Hy-Guard and plugging in the external cooler in between rounds.
    We swapped the fluid after 2 races and never burned any of it, I think the trick is getting it cooled back off as much as you can before the next round. We also checked the band adjustment every race.
     
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  19. Bob Alberty Jr.

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    I did use hyguard this time. Leaf blower on the converter between laps. Will work on a chiller this winter.
     
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  20. td355

    td355 Member

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    Went through the same issue that you are having. Decided to try the Amsoil trans fluid and haven't burnt the fluid since ..
     
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