Powerglide Transmission Fluid

I've tried searching old threads, but some of what I've found that seems helpful is several years old.

What are the top fluids of choice for higher HP powerglides? I think we will be around 2200-2400HP this season. Last year I was burning up clutches and fluid with ease. I tried Amsoil synthetic and didn't notice any benefit over cheap old ATF Type F.

What are you big boys with converters running?

Thanks. Matt

 

powerglide fluids

I am not at your powerlevel nor am i one of the big boys

But in my combo last year we straight ELFMATIC dexon III, it is just the ordinary stuff from a friends auto shop. There wasn't a mark on my clutches.

 

cat hydraulic fluid I think it is a 30 weight..Dave

 

Any fluid that has "friction modifiers" will burn up clutchs at that level of power and that's awsuming you already have the pump pressure in the 270 psi area. The fluid I've found to live within reason at that power level is Red Line Racing Synthetic "F". I've not tried it but Red Line says there Racing Synthetic "Light" handles the heat even better. Keep your "band" adjusted as part of between rounds maintenance. Any slippage and it will torch the fluid right now.
That's my experience anyway.

Blessings...............Ron Clevenger

 

Is that equivalent to John Deere HyGuard? I've used that before, but not at this power level.

 

HyGuard has "frictional modifiers", most of those types do to improve slippage and reduce chatter.

Blessings.........Ron

 

Red Line Oil's "Lightweight" is the best ive ever used. I have tried just about everything and nothing holds up and lasts as long as this.

Works great with our 3200HP Pro Mod with a Bruno. Usually see 15-20 runs before it starts to go away. Ive heard some go longer.

Check it out:
http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=137&pcid=9

 

Thanks guys. Anyone know anything about NAPA TO-4 Hydraulic fluid? Listed as an SAE 30. Flash point is 424 degrees. Viscosity at 40C is 33.66 and at 100C is 5.59.

Redline lightweight flashes at 464F. Viscosities are 23.2 and 4.9.
Redline Racing flashes at 460F. Viscosities are 53.7 and 10.0.

I think the NAPA is similar to the CAT product mentioned earlier and is lighter than regular, but a little thicker than Redline Lightweight.

 

Redline

X2 tried a lot of different fluids in my 3000lb screwblown 10.5 car an red line def has worked the best

 

I run tci max shift...... Ran the same fluid in my glide for four or five weekends, no problems and I don't even run any type of cooler. Been 3.69 with my 2100 lb dragster with a roots.

 

Great luck with Redline here. From my understanding thicker isn't a good thing when it comes to automatic transmission fluid for a number of reasons.

 

How does this compare with the fluid that Buno sells?

 

The last I talked to Bruno, he doesn't like synthetic fluid. He said it's too slippery......I guess in his reality all synthetic is the same thing or something?

 

Im a bit bias but I really recommend Lucas oil Marine syn ATF I use it in my car and the stuff is great. Comes out new everytime we change it and trans always looks new when we have freshend up. But bias or not I wouldnt run something in my car if i knew it wasnt good for the car.

 

I've had good luck with Amsoil Super Shift. They make more than 1 tranny fluid - Super Shift is the lightweight, no friction modifiers racing version. I'm around 1700hp, but also close to 3600lbs... was burning clutches up regularly with conventional fluids. My trans builder subscribed to the the 'synthetic is too slippery' theory as well until doing an inspection after I switched... Syn's aren't what they were 20 years ago.

The Redline sounds like the right product too. Gdlk!

 

The reason you don't want slippery in a Bruno is because it is strictly a convertor/transbrake drive and not a full transmission. The slicker the fluid is, the less holding power the apply band has on the transbrake drum.