I understand the thinking behind that but in real world usage have not heard that actually happening. I have well over 300k total usage I'm mine/families vehicles and all is well
Lubegard Red - Experiences?
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JHZR2
Staff member
I run LG red in our transmissions. Frankly, I have zero objective evidence that it makes anything better. The transmissions have always felt the same before and after, have always been clean, etc.
Will it help anything? Time will tell, but I do have multiple ATs with well over 200k miles. It does make me feel good however, lol. Supposedly it was recommended by an OEM (Saab?) for an AT issue which gave it some legitimacy…
Will it help anything? Time will tell, but I do have multiple ATs with well over 200k miles. It does make me feel good however, lol. Supposedly it was recommended by an OEM (Saab?) for an AT issue which gave it some legitimacy…
I am not a fan of additives, but LG red absolutely fixed a problem in my 10r80 that the dealer wouldn’t touch, and was all over the internet-middle-earth as an incurable problem. I’m just guessing, but it seems to soften shifts and then the TCU compensates eventually and adds a little pressure to the mix and that evens it all out. In my case I’m pretty sure I had a valve body problem with something binding and this freed it up. All Totally Uneducated guesses on my part, but thats the impression I’m under. That said, less is more. If you need it, start in partial doses. I only needed a fraction of the dose to fix my issue.
Put it in my 01 F150. Makes the OD shift smoother. So does new fluid. I was just lazy. I drain and fill a few quarts every 30k or so.
I had a BMW 540i with a zf 5hp30 transmission -- zf's first (I believe) with incremental torque converter clutch engagement. BMW came out with a TSB (and a remapped computer chip) to address TC clutch chatter shortly after the model came out. It also used a proprietary ATF (Shell LA2634) that was supposedly lifetime. When I got the car with 80k miles the clutch chattered (with the remapped chip), it hunted in and out of lockup around 45 mph and would occasionally slam into limp mode.
I dumped the OE fluid for Dexron III and eventually rebuilt the valve body. It shifted much better, and the fresh fluid eased the TC chatter -- for a few thousand miles. Then it came back. I learned that some Jag drivers who had the same transmission cured the chatter with a Lubegard product called Dr. Tranny's Instant Shudder Fixx. I added the contents of the 2-ounce tube to my ATF, and the shudder was gone.
I got in the habit of doing a spill and fill every 30k miles, and always added a Lubegard product. The shudder was never a problem after that. I got rid of the car with 296k miles and the original transmission going strong.
I tried it in my W8 Passat 's ZF auto. No issues. May have improved the shifting a bit. Not conclusive.
I dumped a whole bottle in my 10r80 and 4r75w, when I changed the fluid. The 10 speed definitely shifted a bit smoother afterward
I've added LG Red* (I won't use the other versions that claim to make an ATF compatible with vehicles calling for a different fluid) to every A/T I've ever serviced (many) and I've never had a transmission problem. I don't add it to fix any issue but rather to increase the fluids heat breakdown protection (which LG claims to do).
The fact that so many transmission repair shops recommend it says something to me....I doubt they would recommend something that would give them warranty issues.
*LG Red is recommended for use with the fluid that the vehicle specs while some of the others 'convert' fluids for use in other applications.
The fact that so many transmission repair shops recommend it says something to me....I doubt they would recommend something that would give them warranty issues.
*LG Red is recommended for use with the fluid that the vehicle specs while some of the others 'convert' fluids for use in other applications.
I'm on 160k. Been behaving the same as when I got it with 50k miles. Every time, new fluid and/or Lubegard makes it shift like a dream. Sounds like BMW copied Ford with their Mercon V solution to chatter or shudder or whatever they call it. Now if I can just find the driveline chirping sound that only occurs when hot. Been doing that for years.....
It’s a good question. I’m skeptical of additives in general, but lubeguard is one where I’ve used several of their products and found them to be good, if it’s being used for the right reason.
their LG Black product was especially useful as a friction modifier, and they seem to be the leading bottle-fix for clutch shudder issues.
im still not pro-additive, but my truck can’t shift without it, literally. (It was blowing upshifts from 3rd so badly that it would sometimes get confused and go to neutral, in traffic).
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Does lubegard make the clutches slip more or grab more? I used it and the first drive after putting it in all the clutches grabbed nice and hard instead of slipping into gear like they usually do. After a few miles the transmission shifted like it always has but the torque converter lockup hum isn't as bad
Just an update - I used LG Red in the RX330 - There has been a noticeable improvement.
Yet to use it in the LS430.
Yet to use it in the LS430.
Are you somehow related to this company?
I've moved from using the red to the platinum. I make sure to not use any more than the recommended dose. My 10R80 still shifts great to this day (barring any of the dim-witted programming it sometimes has). The Honda cars are both running MaxLife with it as well since the 'Honda Alternatives' have largely priced themselves out of my market.
