WolfsHead Universal Trans Fluid.. For FORD CVT

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WMSmotorhead

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I was looking around for Trans fluid for my Ford CVT (500)... and I know this is a "special sauce" that was supposed to be only availible from the dealer. Now I'm seeing this ATF from wolfshead that is stating compatibility with my transmission.

The Ford fluid call number is M2C933-A And this stuff says it's a fit for this transmission, and dozens of others. What is the thought on this?

http://www.wolfshead.com/specsheets/universalsynthetic.pdf

This is the PDF that claims the compatibility. I know that I will have little trouble obtaining this product... definately at a lower cost. It seems worth considering.
 
Originally Posted By: Ben99GT
I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole.


Not for anything or for a CVT? I've traditionally used WH Mercon style fluids in my AT's with zero issue.. I used them way back with my '83 Chrysler that needed ATF+3 and have had good success. I've yet to have tech issues. Since I keep cars for 150K plus miles.. I would think that over the scope of 4 vehicles if their product line was bad, I'd have seen something.

If you are speaking specifically to this fluid in the this application, I can understand the hesitation. What is it based on?
 
I do not see how a Mercon V fluid can satisfy the fluid requirements of a chain-type CVT. Everything I've read and heard on the matter suggests they are radically different fluids.

Now here's a company claiming to make a single fluid to suit the needs of all the different types of CVTs (which have different fluid requirements), non friction-modified Type F fluids, AND heavily friction modified Mercon V and Honda Z1 fluids?

Yeah right, I need a lot more that a bunch a specs listed on a PDS to believe it.

Originally Posted By: WMSmotorhead
I would think that over the scope of 4 vehicles if their product line was bad, I'd have seen something.


Have you used this fluid? Did their previous fluids claim to meet every contradictory specification under the sun? Personally, I doubt I would ever run this fluid in my 4R70W, I know I would never run it in a chain-type CVT. JMHO...
 
I'm not certain I'm going to use it either... but I thought I'd ask. I would think that it would be possible with synthetics to cover a wide spectrum... but This wide does raise a few questions. There's so much to ATF with the pressures, lubricity, slip... ugh..

In regards to THIS fluid... no it's new, havn't used it in anything yet. But my car's are full of other WH fluids. As an overall brand, I've had satisfactory performance. Maintaining 6 cars gets expensive (mine, family and co-workers) and to keep the budget tight, we've used lots of WH and Federated house brand (Also an Amalie product). Overall, I have no complaints on that.

My CVT is coming up for service this year.. so I was hoping to avoid scrambling around and ordering this and wating for UPS... If I can have the luxury of going down the street, getting a fair price on compatible supplies, and taking care of it same day in the driveway, I'm All for going that route.

We have an extremely well stocked part store in town.. They carry Amalie, and Penzoil fluids (Lucas too).. Hastings Filters, Doorman, Raybestos..... Stuff that's been around a long time and is generally respected. As a frequent buyer, I get great pricing. Considering what I could buy there, this is the only known "Compatible" fluid for my CVT. Darn these "Special" Transmissions. It's a great driving trans though. Passengers fall asleep in the car more than any other I've owned.

I think that rear Struts on this car (AWD) are going to be a tough find also. DOH.
 
Red Line claims their Non-Slip CVT fluid is compatible with the CFT30.

This CVT is one application where I wouldn't experiment, JMHO. Hard parts, like variators and chains, are BIG money and are heavily dependent on lubrication. If that universal fluid isn't up to snuff expect to spend around $6500 to replace with a reman'd unit.

You can find the Motorcraft CVT fluid on-line for around $8 a quart if you shop around on the net.
 
Well, I'm going to get my first chance to use this stuff. Topping off a Toyota gear trans that calls for Type T IV. It will be used to top it off after a filter change. Gotta start somewhere... so why not with an older car. We'll see how it goes.
 
Well, It got used in a car.. A 92 Lexus SC400. The fluid in it was starting to brown and it was due for a filter-up. So I topped it back off with the WH Uni.

My impressions of this stuff are..... It pours very easily... it's not super thick.. It smells like a pig farm. Yeah it's that bad. It did not lead to any operability issues on the Lexus on our road test.

BTW.. why the [censored] do they not just use a gasket on those trans.. The Liquid gasket sucks when you have to remove it.
 
Originally Posted By: WMSmotorhead
Yet we've got folks that are loving Amsoil Universal fluid or RP's... hmmm.


Amsoil and RP don't make universal claims. Amsoil offers different ATFs for Type F, Mercon V and Mercon LV and makes no claims of supporting CVTs.

Royal Purple notes right on their product page, "Max ATF is not recommended or an approved warranty replacement for: Aisin Warner AW-1, Ford Type F, Ford Mercon SP & Mercon LV, GM Dexron VI, Mercedes Benz MB 236.12 & 236.14, Shell M1375.4 (ZF 6-Speed AT) and Toyota WS. Max ATF is not recommended for use in any CVT applications."

There's a big difference between the claims made for Amsoil/RP ATFs and this Amalie/Wolfshead product.
 
Good post Ben.

I really know nothing of the Ford CVT fluid but Amsoil's ATF's have explicit labeling about not for use in CVT's. I'll need to read up on the Ford CVT.
 
I also have used Wolfs head and Amalie products with good results over the years. Although I would have no issues using the Synthetic universal ATF in most clutch type transmissions, I don't think I would dare use it in a CVT. The lubrication requirements are far different between the 2 types.
Maybe if it were an older vehicle towards the end of its life it would be neat to experiment with, who knows, it may work fine.
 
I just want to comment here for what it’s worth.

Disclaimer: I have used Amsoil ATF happily in both Dex II (yes “II”) and T-IV applications and I am going to try some Wolfs Head ATF soon for a T-IV application.

Anyway...

1) Without knowing the chemistries of the fluids, I don’t think it’s fair to imply that Amalie has a suspect product because they recommend CVT use while Amsoil and RP don’t. We have no idea why Amsoil and RP don’t and no idea why Amalie does. The chemistries of the add packs are probably different. Do we even know their suppliers or how they may be blending from different suppliers? – no. We know nothing really. It’s possible that Amalie started with a CVT fluid and then worked backwards to cover other specs while Amsoil and RP started with the common specs and found that it didn’t work well in CVT. I have no idea but neither does anybody else here.

2) Amalie is generally regarded as a reputable company with reputable products and they clearly state both in the application list and on the bottles that the fluid is okay for CVT. On the back of the Wolf’s Head bottle it reads “This dynamic new fluid is designed for use in the new continuously variable transmission (CVT) as well as the more traditional automatics transmissions...” I find it hard to believe that an oil company that wants to stay in business would make such a claim.

3) In regards to meeting older specs with higher viscosities and newer specs with lower viscosities, they have simply done what Amsoil did before which is split the difference in the viscosities. The older fluids tend to shear down anyway and the newer transmissions are unlikely to care if the fluid is a tad thicker. The friction characteristics are all similar enough.

4) In regard to type F, Amalie has an asterisks by it saying “certain applications after 1977” So they’re not guaranteeing that it will work for everything. I do know that there are plenty of people using dex/merc in power steering units speced for Type F with no problems so a lot of the time, it’s probably okay. If you don’t like how it’s shifting, drain it out.

The bottom line is that we really don’t know anything. We don’t know why Amalie is comfortable recommending it and we don’t have reports from people that have tried it. Personally, I’d like to imagine that Amalie has some good rational for recommending it. Unless somebody can get the inside scoop from the company or has the means to test the fluid and compare it to a CVT fluid, we’ll likely never know.
 
Thanks for the logical post. I have started using the WH fluid on a few definately NOT junk cars. The CVT in question still has another 15K miles to go before service... But I have tried the WH in a Toyota IV application, and as Power Steering. The Lexus shifted better after the change... it didn't shift bad before, but it was in need to service due to age. I'm hoping that being a synth, that it will have a very long lasting interval.

The same stuff is in both a Wolfshead bottle, and the Amalie bottle. It smells like a pig farm.. LOL.

I am working up the gaul to dump in into the CVT.. we'll see how I feel after watching the other trans swirl it around for a few months.

I've fed my cars Amalie products almost exclusively for the last 3 years.. It's the best "Deal" in my region.
 
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