after 47K, out with Scheaffer 204SAT, in with...

[Kaboomba]

...Amsoil ATL.

After 47K mi, the 204SAT was starting to show its age. Shifting was a little bit sluggish, downshifts were a little slow, and there was a hint of shudder in OD. NO BASH ON SCHEAFFER's! It worked great for 40K mi despite me adding the wrong Lubgard (black--I know, stupid me). The fluid looked a little dark and did not have the fresh "sweet" smell anymore.

Flushed via cooler line and exchanged a total of 13.5 qts ATL. Added Magnefine. I did not replace the in-pan filter (I see no need).

Shifting has improved and is quicker/firmer. Smoothness is back to Buick-grade.

Thanks to all who recommended the Amsoil ATL, Magnefine, and Dexron VI conversion for my 4T60E.

Best

K

 

[Kaboomba]

P.S. I do not plan to add Lubegard to this fill.

K

 

[Mokanic]

Originally Posted By: Kaboomba
...Amsoil ATL.

After 47K mi, the 204SAT was starting to show its age. Shifting was a little bit sluggish, downshifts were a little slow, and there was a hint of shudder in OD. NO BASH ON SCHEAFFER's! It worked great for 40K mi despite me adding the wrong Lubgard (black--I know, stupid me). The fluid looked a little dark and did not have the fresh "sweet" smell anymore.

Flushed via cooler line and exchanged a total of 13.5 qts ATL. Added Magnefine. I did not replace the in-pan filter (I see no need).

Shifting has improved and is quicker/firmer. Smoothness is back to Buick-grade.

Thanks to all who recommended the Amsoil ATL, Magnefine, and Dexron VI conversion for my 4T60E.

Best

K

The Lubeguard turns the fluid a brownish colr. That is normal.

 

[scurvy]

Originally Posted By: Kaboomba
After 47K mi, the 204SAT was starting to show its age. Shifting was a little bit sluggish, downshifts were a little slow, and there was a hint of shudder in OD. NO BASH ON SCHEAFFER's! It worked great for 40K mi despite me adding the wrong Lubgard (black--I know, stupid me).
Considering switching back to 204SAT without Lubegard in 40k miles, or UOA on both after 40k miles?

Just refreshing the transmission fluid may have been all it took to get the shift quality back, i.e., your observations may be completely independent of the brand of fluid. JMO - glad it's back to firm, smooth shifts.

 

[INDYMAC]

When #204 SAT is fresh, it does not smell sweet...it smells like dead fish!

Are you sure you were using #204???

 

[Kaboomba]

Originally Posted By: scurvy
Originally Posted By: Kaboomba
After 47K mi, the 204SAT was starting to show its age. Shifting was a little bit sluggish, downshifts were a little slow, and there was a hint of shudder in OD. NO BASH ON SCHEAFFER's! It worked great for 40K mi despite me adding the wrong Lubgard (black--I know, stupid me).
Considering switching back to 204SAT without Lubegard in 40k miles, or UOA on both after 40k miles?

Just refreshing the transmission fluid may have been all it took to get the shift quality back, i.e., your observations may be completely independent of the brand of fluid. JMO - glad it's back to firm, smooth shifts.


I am ready to admit that I may have compromised the Schaeffer's by adding the wrong Lubegard to start with. Also, I agree that any fresh Dex VI would likely bring most if not all of the benefits that I now see with the Amsoil ATL--I used ATL because I want to go 60-100K on it and just swap Magnefines a few times.

@INDYMAC: You're right, the stuff I flushed out does smell kind of like dead fish! But aside from the fact that I forgot what it smelled like new, the color FOR SURE (I have been keeping tabs on this via dipstick and white paper) was just starting to be a little "browned" and shift quality had just started to drop off.

 

[unDummy]

I doubt you could compromise any ATF with any Lubegard product.

Don't wait until the shift quality/feel degrades prior to your next service. This is one reason why I recommend 30k flushes or multiple refills for ATF maintenance.

If you want to run the fluid longer, an inline filter like Racor, Permacool, Magnefine.... should be added. I've noticed shift quality improvements on old ATF after a filter was added.

 

[Kaboomba]

Undummy,

Looking back, you are probably right about the 30K on the 204SAT. Though, I really think that the cold weather over the winter masked the shift degradation. I would have noticed the shift degradation last fall if it was there, and I would have flushed it then.

I have a large tranny cooler and now have a Magnefine. I plan to replace the Magnefine at the end of the summer and see what I get.

K