Best Fluid/Flush for 94 Buick 4T60E??

[Saturn_Fan]

Originally Posted By: Kaboomba
So the Magnefine--does it have a magnet and filter media, or just magnet? I assume this would be installed upstream of the cooler?

You are piqueing my interest with the ST and D6--is "D6" the Redline Dex VI equivalent?

My goal is to see how many 3's (6?) I can put on the OD...without rebuilding anything...


Magefine = filter and magnet

Below is a pick of the one I installed on my 08 Corolla.

 

[AzFireGuy79]

Yes D6 is a redline atf that satisfies the New Dexron VI spec, including a few others that call for a low viscosity shear stable fluid. I have a suburban with over 200K that has run D4 for most of its life. Shifts like new. I am now running the D6 in my tacoma that calls for WS(also a low visc atf similar enough to Dex VI). The results have been outstanding to say the least. Going on about 20K.

For most ST is a fine fluid. I have always had great luck with redline atf, so that would be my natural choice. If you really want longevity, you will want to look into bypass filtration for your trans. I spent about $55 for mine and got the idea from Gary Allan here at bitog. Very knowledgable guy. And man does he love anything filtration related.

If you just want to stick with a Magnefine, make sure you plumb it into the return line AFTER the cooler if it's in an older car. Only newer cars under a certain mileage will have the filter placed before the cooler. The instructions are posted on the Magnefine site.

 

[Kaboomba]

Sounds like ST is worth a shot.

A $55 bypass rig? That sound like something even I could afford. Got a link to the thread?

What is the reason for placing the Magnefine after the cooler?

I got my car with 28K on it. Trans had seen a pan-off and flush already (from service records). At 43K mi I had a pan-off and flush done with Schaeffer syn ATF, and 1K mi later added a aux cooler.

 

[sciphi]

14 quarts of ST Dexron-VI will run you just shy of $60.

 

[Kaboomba]

I have been reading about AutoRX. Is there a benefit to adding it before I do the pan&flush?

How about installing the Magnefine, then adding the ARX, driving for 1-2K, and then doing the pan&flush? How can I trap as much garbage as possible?

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: Kaboomba
I have been reading about AutoRX. Is there a benefit to adding it before I do the pan&flush?

How about installing the Magnefine, then adding the ARX, driving for 1-2K, and then doing the pan&flush? How can I trap as much garbage as possible?


Yes. The ARX will do better with your old ATF since the additives are not as fresh. You're running a pretty stout synthetic ATF, though. Another benefit is cost. Unless you want to spend $$$ on ATF to run ARX with, it's better to add it in to the existing stuff.

Your plan is excellent. Adding the Magnefine before ARX will help trap the junk loosened by the ARX. Another thing you can do is find several strong magnets to place on the transmission pan to trap additional metal filings.

When I ARX'ed my 4T65 with 35k miles on it, there was not much junk trapped on the pan magnet. My shifts did smooth out quite noticeably, and shudder going into converter lockup becoming almost non-existent.

 

[Kaboomba]

Groovy. I'll do as you suggest.

Maybe I'll get two Magnefines--one pre, one post pan n flush.

Your success in your 4T65E makes me look forward to hopefully getting rid of those tiny pulses from the TCC when in OD--you think?

K

 

[sciphi]

I've never had any pulsing in OD. So I lack first-hand experience of it. Shift quality did go from harsh to smooth in about 1500 miles. This was on the 8 year old factory fill with 30k miles on it.

I'd think one Magnefine replaced after 10 or 15k miles would be fine, and have the other on hand for next summer. My reasoning would be to both catch any potential ARX crud, and any crud loosened further by the Dex-VI. The first time I dropped the pan a year after the first round of Auto-RX there was a fair amount of crud on the pan magnet, and in the pan. The second pan drop to install a shift kit found almost zero crud on the magnet.

Between the Dex-VI, Magnefine and the Auto-RX you ought to be sitting pretty.

FWIW, after another 180 miles today, I'm still impressed with the Dex-VI. What used to be a pronounced shudder re-locking the TCC at highway speeds is something only felt through the gas pedal now. And when the transmission's warmed, the shifts are invisible, so much so that I'll be moving at speed and couldn't tell you when it shifted.