Powerglide ATF

[TacoFergie]

What ATF is recommended for a 1966 Chevrolet C10 with a Powerglide. Through my searches I've read Dexron III or Type F. It's leaking pretty bad last time we tried to move it, just need to move it a couple miles from storage to my garage. Worse case, I find a trailer and trailer it home.

 

[drtyler]

Dexron III or Dexron VI; don't use Type F.

 

[JavierH19]

Both would work and if it was mine i'd top off with type f if it doesn't engage strongly. If it engages well then dex 3. type f makes the shifts firmer.

 

[marc1]

The original fluid was General Motors Type A. Type A is long obsolete so today you use any of the regular viscosity Dexron fluids eg. Mobil D/M or Supertech Dexron. You do not have to pay extra money to use the light viscosity modern Dexron eg. Dex VI, the Powerglide is fine on regular Dexron. Ford Type F is not the recommended fluid but it is a well known low budget racer trick to get crisper shifts in a GM automatic so some do this. If you want a harder shift, put a shift kit in would be my advice. If you are just moving your truck around keep it simple and use regular Dexron.

This is the Walmart Supertech to use:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Super-Tech-Automatic-Transmission-Fluid-1-Gallon-Bottle/20573820?classType=VARIANT&athbdg=L1600&from=/search&sid=7a27f913-9250-481f-9a78-5ba310450b14

This is the Mobil D/M (also available at Walmart and other retailers):

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-ATF-D-M-Automatic-Transmission-Fluid-1-qt/173278430?classType=REGULAR&from=/search&sid=90969871-47ce-41f7-b3f5-e9f744265376

FWIW I am using Mobil D/M in my Powerglide, it has 133,000 miles on it and is in great condition. I am a big fan of Mobil D/M and I use it in the other subsystems in my cars that require ATF eg. power steering.

The only routine maintenance you need to do on the Powerglide, aside from fluid and filter, is to adjust the band once every 2 or 3 years depending on your usage.

 

[PontiacHO]

What ATF is recommended for a 1966 Chevrolet C10 with a Powerglide. Through my searches I've read Dexron III or Type F. It's leaking pretty bad last time we tried to move it, just need to move it a couple miles from storage to my garage. Worse case, I find a trailer and trailer it home.

Trailer it. The leaking transmission and all other potential leaks and problems can cause a fire and-or breakdown along with added costly repair not to mention the cost of towing.

 

[TacoFergie]

The original fluid was General Motors Type A. Type A is long obsolete so today you use any of the regular viscosity Dexron fluids eg. Mobil D/M or Supertech Dexron. You do not have to pay extra money to use the light viscosity modern Dexron eg. Dex VI, the Powerglide is fine on regular Dexron. Ford Type F is not the recommended fluid but it is a well known low budget racer trick to get crisper shifts in a GM automatic so some do this. If you want a harder shift, put a shift kit in would be my advice. If you are just moving your truck around keep it simple and use regular Dexron.

This is the Walmart Supertech to use:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Super-Tech-Automatic-Transmission-Fluid-1-Gallon-Bottle/20573820?classType=VARIANT&athbdg=L1600&from=/search&sid=7a27f913-9250-481f-9a78-5ba310450b14

This is the Mobil D/M (also available at Walmart and other retailers):

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-ATF-D-M-Automatic-Transmission-Fluid-1-qt/173278430?classType=REGULAR&from=/search&sid=90969871-47ce-41f7-b3f5-e9f744265376

FWIW I am using Mobil D/M in my Powerglide, it has 133,000 miles on it and is in great condition. I am a big fan of Mobil D/M and I use it in the other subsystems in my cars that require ATF eg. power steering.

The only routine maintenance you need to do on the Powerglide, aside from fluid and filter, is to adjust the band once every 2 or 3 years depending on your usage.

Thank you for the tips! I haven't checked the power steering fluid, but thats a good idea to check and top off too.

I'll have to look into adjusting the band. Hopefully the fluid leak is something simple and not quite so bad. It'd be a lot easier to just drive it to my place a couple miles if possible. I'll have to asses it when we get it running.

When checking the fluid level I've read that it needs to be in neutral, not park. Is that correct?

Trailer it. The leaking transmission and all other potential leaks and problems can cause a fire and-or breakdown along with added costly repair not to mention the cost of towing.

If it needs to be trailered, I will. I suppose my wording wasn't great referring to the leak, I don't recall it leaking excessively to the point it's spraying all over. I'll have to asses it when we get it running and look it over. When my FiL bought the truck 4-5 years ago, we drove it up down the road maybe a mile or two. It was fine then, but as things sit, it could get worse. Just have to find out.

 

[marc1]

When checking the fluid level I've read that it needs to be in neutral, not park. Is that correct?

This is pretty much the only time I deviate from the factory manual. So yes, the factory manual specifies "neutral". I never check in "neutral", I check in "park" strictly from a safety aspect. Having the park pawl engaged plus the parking brake gives me more confidence to stick my head under the hood with a running engine and no one in the driver's seat. It is also pretty easy to bump the shifter getting back in. If it is in "park" there is no place to bump it (plus there is an interlock on the shifter in "park")... whereas in "neutral" it could be bumped.

As far as I know there is no difference in internal hydraulic flow between "neutral" and "park" so no difference in oil level to fill / void an extra passage or servo etc. The only difference is a mechanical pawl is dropped in place to lock the output shaft in "park".

 

[marc1]

I'll have to look into adjusting the band.

Mostly this shows up as a flare going into 2 from 1 if the band is worn and needs adjusting. It isn't a show stopper (unless it is really out of adjustment) you can get to it later.

 

[nascarnation]

I've been running Allison Transynd in my 67 Camaro powerglide since I rebuilt it ten years ago.
Not a huge number of miles but it functions well.