Adding Lubegard Red to ATF+4

[trynew]

Does anyone have any experience with adding the Lubegard red bottle (the protectant) to ATF+4? I am not interested in converting Dexron III to ATF+4, I just want to get Lubegard's other benefits such as better heat transfer and smoother shifts.

I have used Lubegard red in several other makes of automatic transmissions over the years and the shifts have become smoother in every case. But I know that the friction quality requirements of the Chrysler transmissions are touchy, so I was wondering if anyone else has any experience with it in AFT+4.

 

[Gary Allan]

Did you buy kevlar or one of them silver suits that I see guys wearing at the foundary? Have you seen "A Christmas Story"?

"You'll shoot your eye out, kid!"

Sorry ...just getting prepared for the deluge.

This is better then the requirement of changing your brake fluid every two years or else you'll be a fatality statistic.


"Ding!"

 

[Slick17601]

Please search, I posted the exact same question a week ago.

 

[trynew]

Yes, I read that thread, but even though there are many heated discussions about using Lubegard + Dexron as a substitute for ATF+4 (which is something I wouldn't do), there is almost no information on the results of adding Lubegard red to ATF+4.

I did find one post on a different site that said it worked fine on one vehicle, but that is all I found after an extensive web search.

 

[unDummy]

Lubegard Red can be added to almost any OEM ATF. No negatives. If you want to use it, go ahead.

 

[Pablo]

I say add it. It is not a recipe for disaster and Lubegard Red is not about altering the frictional characteristics of your current ATF.

 

[G-MAN]

Well, since I'm not versed in the LubeGard color codes, I assumed he was talking about adding the LubeGard that is for "converting" Dexron to ATF+4 to ATF+4. If the "Red" is just some sort of supplimental ATF additive, then it probably won't hurt anything--though I wouldn't put it in my Chrysler transmission.

 

[G-MAN]

I think what you are describing is a recipe for disaster.

To the extent that LubeGard does alter the frictional characteristics of ATF, making ATF+4 "more friction modified" than it needs to be will not benefit your transmission in any way and will likely cause premature clutch wear.

The easiest and quickest way to improve the shift quality of a Chrysler transmission is to pull the TCM fuse for 10 minutes and put it back in. This clears the TCM shift program and resets it to the default. Over the next few days the TCM will "re-learn" your driving habits and adapt its shifting characteristics accordingly.**

I did this on my 300M and it made all the difference in the world. Shifts went from being very noticeable to virtually indetectable. Sometimes the only way I know it's shifted to a higher gear is when the tach needled drops.

**Keep in mind that if you are an "aggressive" driver, the TCM will adapt to that and you'll never really get smooth shifts. The TCM will tend to hold each gear a little longer and the shifts will be a little harder.

 

[CharBaby]

Yes, the LubeGard Red is the ATF Supliment/Protectant. The Black and Silver/Platinum bottles are the High Friction Modifiers which are to be used only with DEXRON ATF's. Feel free and easy to use the RED Bottle, (Protectant) with ATF+4.

 

[LargeCarMan]

I have been happy with Redlines C+ for the ATF + configerations Chrysler wants. Why not buy a ATF that was designed with the right amount of everything for it's use? I believe that Redline ...correct me if I am wrong is the only aftermarket synthetic oil manufacture to design their ATF to Chrysler Specs and not multi-use formula's...It works very well in my Town&Country. Just say NO to additives

[ December 30, 2005, 11:17 PM: Message edited by: LargeCarMan ]

 

[99]

Don't use it. If your trans calls for ATF+4, just use ATF+4. Everything your trans needs is already in the factory spec fluid. Adding Lubeguard alters the chemistry of the fluid and that will affect the trans in one way or another. How much is it worth to you to find out what Lubeguard does to your trans? A new auto trans is over a grand these days and even more if you have to have someone do the work for you. It's just not worth the risk.

With that said, I'm also against mixing Lubeguard with some other non factory spec ATF to "make" a particular ATF. Screw all that "garage chemistry" and just buy the right stuff the first time and be done with it. It amazes me what some people will do save a couple of bucks.

 

[Gary Allan]

Well, I wouldn't necessarily say that it's always to save a couple of bucks. Before the +4 evolution ...there was quite a few years that there was NO synthetic offering from any vendor (think back) for the +3 user. So, just like the Honda pigeonhole, you were forced to use spec'd expensive fluid that was unique only in its spec ..yet inferior as to what was the current state of lubricant technology.

This isn't always the case of some Audi owner trying to beat the spec of the $20/pint aviation spec hydraulic fluid (Pentsomethingorother)with $3/quart stuff.

btw-If I was an Audi owner ..I would curse the birth of their engineers as much as I do the Ultradrive engineers. They deserve to burn for their crimes against humanity. ;^)

 

[Ray H]

Some are confusing "red" - which is a synthetic ester-based protectant, with "black" which is that plus fortified with FMs to "convert" Dexron fluids to "match" proprietary extremely friction modified fluids (except for Mercon V - which allegedly can be "matched" using "green"). I doubt the "red" will hurt anything, but given that ATF+4 is already an extremely friction modified, group III based fluid, I doubt much is to be gained, either. If you're willing to assume the risks of a warranty claim denial if this backfires, go for it. Personally I'd stick with ATF+4. By all accounts it's been the problem solver for Chrysler. Now that it's commonly available for under $3.00/qt., this should be a no-brainer. ATF+4 was never, and still is not, an inferior transmission lube technology.

 

[Gary Allan]

ATF+4 was never, and still is not, an inferior transmission lube technology.


Agreed. It was, however, over a decade in coming to market. They made a lame transmission that required a remedy. The compensatory fluid modification eventually worked after a decade of design refinements. Then the stigma of the lame designs flaws lingered and was bolstered by failures with the compensatory savior fluid being in service too long. They then ...after millions of units and millions of failures FINALLY come back around to the 1960's standard of the (near) lifetime fill by introducing another singularly proprietary fluid.

While if they hadn't created such an obscure a contraption ...M1 ATF, available for that same decade plus, would have done the same thing

So, it's not in any way inferior ...just about 15years late for the party.

 

[bmwtechguy]

I would not use it for reasons stated above with the ATF+4 in the Chrysler Ultradrive transaxle, although I don't think it would hurt anything, I don't think that it would really help either. I've used this additive mostly with regular petroleum Dex III to extend the life of the cheaper fluid and smooth out shifts. If you want better fluid than ATF+4, go with a synthetic fluid from Redline or Universal Amsoil ATF.