Just want to add to this, I help wrench on an Outlaw drag racing car. It has a 632ci (10.4L) Chevy big block and a powerglide.
Most races are only 1/8th mile. At those events, we use Red Line Lightweight Racing ATF. The rear gear is very short for those tracks and the lower viscosity allows the converter to flash higher and leave the starting line a little harder.
Two of the events are run on a 1/4 mile. For those races, we usually use John Deere Hy-Guard. This past year though, we experimented with Amsoil compressor oil SAE 40 with excellent results. Got #2 qualifier at both events. The converter didn't like the thinner ATF on a 1/4 mile. It would be too lose at the top end of the track and want to nose over, hurting MPH. The Hy-Guard, and more so with the compressor oil, tightened up the converter enough pick up mph through the 1/4 mile. We decided to try compressor oil after noticing it being used by others who were trapping 5+ mph better than us at the 1/4 mile. Sure enough, we had the same result.
These cars are making 1200+hp, spinning 9,500+ rpm, and a lot of them use hydraulic oil or compressor oil. You rarely hear of transmission failures and when they do occur, it's usually from tire shake or poor build quality.
Most races are only 1/8th mile. At those events, we use Red Line Lightweight Racing ATF. The rear gear is very short for those tracks and the lower viscosity allows the converter to flash higher and leave the starting line a little harder.
Two of the events are run on a 1/4 mile. For those races, we usually use John Deere Hy-Guard. This past year though, we experimented with Amsoil compressor oil SAE 40 with excellent results. Got #2 qualifier at both events. The converter didn't like the thinner ATF on a 1/4 mile. It would be too lose at the top end of the track and want to nose over, hurting MPH. The Hy-Guard, and more so with the compressor oil, tightened up the converter enough pick up mph through the 1/4 mile. We decided to try compressor oil after noticing it being used by others who were trapping 5+ mph better than us at the 1/4 mile. Sure enough, we had the same result.
These cars are making 1200+hp, spinning 9,500+ rpm, and a lot of them use hydraulic oil or compressor oil. You rarely hear of transmission failures and when they do occur, it's usually from tire shake or poor build quality.