valvoline durablend atf -- what happened to it?

[chas3]

i cant seem to find it anywhere. autozone, advance auto, napa and carquest (used to yates) dont seem to have any in stock. none of the counter people can seem to give me an answer (besides the shrug).

its still listed on valvoline's website so i would assume its still available (somewhere).

 

[jthorner]

I don't know, but I wouldn't go out of my way to find it. If you want a semi-synthetic blend ATF I would think that a combination of Chevron Supreme ATF and Mobil-1 would be likely to perform at least as well as the Valvoline product.

John

 

[brianl703]

Last time I bought some, I got it at Pep Boys.

 

[TallPaul]

Tranny fluid is in there for a long time and trannies are expensive to repair. I run full synthetic Mobil 1 ATF in auto trannies. Autozone has it for $4.99 a quart. Just bought 13 qts for my motorhome. It is rated Dextron III and regular Mercon.

[ June 20, 2004, 12:55 AM: Message edited by: TallPaul ]

 

[MNgopher]

I used to buy cases of the stuff over at Mills Fleet Farm. They recently stopped carrying the Durablend ATF but now stock Citgo Mercon V to cover that application.

Most other auto parts stores I've seen carry it as well to cover their Mercon V apps.

Tough to say why you aren't seeing it anymore!

 

[FordSVTGuy]

I always sow it at Advanced Auto as well. Have not looked for it lately though.

Why does the Mobil 1 lineup not include a Mercon V product? I would love to put in a full synthetic and Mobil 1's price point is usually just about right...

 

[chas3]

i have heard most transmission rebuilders dont advise full synthetics in transmissions (the exception being chrysler trannies -- atf+4).

i was hoping not to have to mix my own. it seems very strange that durablend atf is no longer available in my area. i needed to change the fluid so i just used 'regulator' valvoline atf. i was probably going to change again at the end of summer and wanted to put some durablend back in).

btw, my application is a '99 4l60e with the modulated tcc apply which puts out quite a bit of heat. the transmission has nearly overheated twice -- its gone into 'maximum line pressure' mode (probably detected some slippage when the fluid got too hot). the dealer couldnt duplicate the problem so it wont get fixed the right way with a new valve body. at that point i changed the fluid to durablend (for improved temperature stability), added lubegard red and added transmission cooler (15000 gvw). havent had any trouble since and the transmission tunnel is quite a bit cooler as judged by the interior passengers. one drawback is that during winter it takes a bit longer for the transmission to warm up and get 4th/overdrive.

 

[Neil Womack]

If you've got NAPA try them.

I just bought a case of Durablend Mercron V ATF at a local mom and pop auto store a few weeks ago. I did have to wait for it to arrive from the distributer though.

 

[TallPaul]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Neil Womack:
If you've got NAPA try them.

---

Good idea. In fact, I bet the NAPA folks would special order it for you.

I did not realize the Durablend was Mercon V. Guess my Mobil 1 suggestion was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[ June 21, 2004, 12:26 AM: Message edited by: TallPaul ]

 

[Ken2]

quote:

---

Originally posted by chas3:
i have heard most transmission rebuilders dont advise full synthetics in transmissions (the exception being chrysler trannies -- atf+4).

---

Exactly who asked most transmission rebuilders? Synthetic ATF will reduce their business, as will conventional ATF changed regularly. I know all the transmission rebuilders in my rural two-county area (both of them) and both happily install synthetic ATF if the customer pays extra for it.


Ken

 

[Jeff in Western WA]

being "discontinued" here too, just picked up several quarts for 1.99~ at "GI Joes"...believe w/ the "new atf specs" coming out soon Valvo will introduce a "new" brand/bottle that meets the new spec...just my thought, many builders of 4L60E's in our national SS club have advised NOT using 100% synthetics in the trannies either, so I opt for the Durablend w/ deeper pan and external cooler, guess a couple quatrs of M1! and a solid "dino" ATF would do about the same? But I like Valvo's DOT 4 Brake fluid, and blended PS fluid too

\.

 

[chas3]

i forgot to mention NAPA in my original post. that's were i normally find it. they didt have any in the back so i guess i cant order it. someone at carquest told me it was just relabelled as the valvoline mercon v but i have hard time believing that.

as for synthetics and transmissions i guess i should not have said most. it more like 50/50. some like it -- some hate it. i have read about seal leaks (front and rear) on 4l60e's when switched to straight M1. i know my diff started leaking when i switched to full synthetic. same for the rear main in the engine.

my service interval for transmissions is 2 years or 24,000 miles. i always hit 2 years first though. i got my chrysler a518 to 135,000 miles before it died.

i guess i will keep an eye for a reformulated durablend.

 

[nascarnation]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ken2:

quote:

---

Originally posted by chas3:
i have heard most transmission rebuilders dont advise full synthetics in transmissions (the exception being chrysler trannies -- atf+4).

---

Exactly who asked most transmission rebuilders? Synthetic ATF will reduce their business, as will conventional ATF changed regularly. I know all the transmission rebuilders in my rural two-county area (both of them) and both happily install synthetic ATF if the customer pays extra for it.


Ken

---

Well said.
There are two good places for syn use in a trans (or frequent dino changes):
1)Heavy stop and go traffic in hot climates with prolonged idling in gear.
2)Towing.
A rebuilt trans will benefit just as much from syn as a new one.
Heat is the enemy of fluid (and trans)life.

 

[pmt]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Neil Womack:
If you've got NAPA try them.

I just bought a case of Durablend Mercron V ATF at a local mom and pop auto store a few weeks ago. I did have to wait for it to arrive from the distributer though.

---

I recently had my 96 T-Bird's ATF changed. My mechanic carries Phillips 66 products, but didn't want to do special order for Mercon V, so I let him talk me into using NAPA Mercon V. So is the NAPA (evidently made by Valvoline) pretty good stuff?
BTW - this was my first change using Mercon V. I formerly just used standard Mercon. I was amazed to find that the slight "drive line vibration" the car always had above 70 mph had gone away. So I guess my out of balance drive line component was really the dreaded transmission "shudder" the T-Bird and Crown Vic boards are always talking about. If I had know the problem was actually AT shudder, I would have had the fluid changed to Mercon V years ago. Amazing.
Thank you.

 

[brianl703]

I'm 99.999% sure that Valvoline Mercon V is the same as Valvoline Durablend ATF. The spec sheets are identical.

Nobody has Durablend anymore, but they all have Mercon V.