My Observation on LubeGard

[Deltona_Dave]

Last year I had the dealer flush my A/T on the Titan, when it was being serviced for a recall. The transmission shifted better with maxlife ATF after 60K (nissan recommends flush at that mark). Still hunted from time to time in stop and go traffic, for the right gear.

In December, I decided, what the heck, give LubeGard red a chance. After 1500 miles, what a difference. The Titan has a JATCO trans and are known to be smooth. I cannot feel the shifts, only hear the RPM change.

Stuff works. NO,I am not a paid "sponsor" or Shill. IT is a quality product for less than 12 dollars.

Dave

 

[KCJeep]

Great stuff, it's made a noticable positive difference in two of our transmissions, the other two no difference but they weren't having problems either, just a good preventative IMO.

 

[mechtech2]

What is working?
More clutch wear from slower drawn our shifts?

 

[chubbs1]

LubeGard Products are the only engine/trans additives I trust. Techron and Redline SI-1 for fuel system cleaning.

 

[fsskier]

Agreed, Mechtech....... slow, smooth shifts results in lots of clutch pack and band wear..... lengthy tech articles have been written on this topic. Like slipping your clutch for a block at every stop or gear change in a manual transmission.

The general consensus from design/tech articles that I have read is that a nice firm, but not jolting shift was the best tradeoff. In recent years momentary retarding of the engine spark advance has also helped to smooth the shifts.

Personally, I would remove this product and return to the factory fill if the difference was great enough that I could feel it.

 

[SteveSRT8]

First of all the wear occurs from duration, so the cure is not harder or firmer shifts.

It's FASTER ones. Many modern slushboxes can execute extremely quick shifts without jolting or jarring at all by combining the shift with reductions in torque through timing reduction and/or throttle reduction.

 

[fsskier]

ummmmmm.... so you are thinking that the lubegard can change the engine and throttle computer software timing??

Or, as Mechtech said, slow drawn out shifts.

A shift so smooth "you can not feel them" would be a warning to me that the fluid was greatly different then spec'd for the vehicle.

 

[ltslimjim]

^Maybe if it's hanging up between shifts or hesitating to shift 'dragging'...

SteveSRT8 simply pointed out the 'uber smooth' shifting with the improved variables these days doesn't necessarily mean a faster wearing clutch packs/bands, etc.

The Titan is 'already known for its smooth shifts' so how would Lubegard Red + Valvoline MaxLife ATF(also a good product) combined be harming the transmission simply by 'keeping' smooth the already smooth transmission? I could see it if there were hesitations OR the scenario; which is plausible as laid out, of lacking shift feel(decisive/felt shifts but not jarring, etc) which could be a bad thing on older apps. The OP is using a combo I believe which has been used many times over before, that being MaxLife ATF + LG Red.

 

[Deltona_Dave]

The Jatco trans in my Titan shifts very fast and tight, almost like a good shift on a manual. The lubegard helped with the up and down shift, especially if you let off the throttle, then give it gas.

I have a trans temp gauge and it is running a little cooler, staying around the 1/4 hash mark, vs normally hovering around the half mark.

Just my observations.

Dave

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: fsskier
ummmmmm.... so you are thinking that the lubegard can change the engine and throttle computer software timing??

Or, as Mechtech said, slow drawn out shifts.

A shift so smooth "you can not feel them" would be a warning to me that the fluid was greatly different then spec'd for the vehicle.


or that you are "over generalizing". There are too many different types of autobox designs for your blanket statements.

My incredibly overbuilt 4L80E with a standalone controller behind a HUGE stroker BBC shifted in milliseconds it was so quick. But it was butter smooth unless you asked for a hard shift. Newer boxes are much better than that.

A soft smooth shift does not have to be a slow one! And just to help you out, the modern slushbox WILL make adjustments to its fluid pressures and shift/lockup points based on fluid characteristics!

 

[Trav]

WOW where to begin..
Quote:
slow, smooth shifts results in lots of clutch pack and band wear


As temperatures change inside the unit the TCM will change its shift strategy.
One of the major things Lubeguard does is reduce temperature, this creates a stable fluid and component temperature for more consistent shifting.
Quote:
I would remove this product and return to the factory fill if the difference was great enough that I could feel it.

What you are feeling is a more consistent shift quality over the entire operating range.
I personally rebuilt a MB W123 auto that has gone 500k with this product in the fluid with no issues whatsoever as well as over 50 (probably closer to a hundred) other units over the last almost 40 years.

Fact: Heat is the number one enemy of automatic transmissions, modern units with their CC systems can cope better with it but it can be harmful never the less.
Cold can also cause issues, the additional lubricant qualities of Lubeguard addresses this also.
This product is a win win no mater how you look at it.
Honestly for the 25 it cost me for 2 bottles every 30-50k its the cheapest insurance for a very expensive unit, i wont run without it.

Effect of temperature in a Chrysler unit.

http://www.aa1car.com/library/transmission_chrysler_45rfe.htm