dbm350 Posted September 26, 2018 Share Posted September 26, 2018 I am helping my dad with some maintenance on his 41 Olds. We need to know what type of automatic transmission fluid to use. Does anybody know or have experience with these hydromatic transmissions? Any help appreciated. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted September 27, 2018 Share Posted September 27, 2018 AFAIK, Type A, which is now replaced by Dexron/Mercron. It probably said 10 w turbine oil in the shop manual. This is based on what the Hydromatic used in the early 50's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted September 27, 2018 Share Posted September 27, 2018 MoToR's Manual says it should be Hydra-matic oil! For a temporary fill, it says any good grade of 20W oil is OK but should be replaced ASAP. If the oil pan has been removed and cleaned, it takes 9.5 quarts. If the trans. has been disassembled, 10 quarts. Here is the same question on the H.A.M.B. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/what-oil-in-a-hydramatic.391140/ Another AACA thread on this topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbm350 Posted September 27, 2018 Author Share Posted September 27, 2018 Thanks for the replies. Looks like Dexron will work. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted September 29, 2018 Share Posted September 29, 2018 One of the interesting ingredients of the old type "A" Hydra-Matic fluid was whale oil. I would like to see how a Hydra-Matic gets on using CVT automatic trans fluid, one of it's secret ingredients is whale oil too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted September 29, 2018 Share Posted September 29, 2018 Wikipedia has this sentence in its article on Automatic Transmission Fluid: "It turns out that Type A was basically a nearly 50/50 mix of Type F (Ford) and Dexron (GM),[citation needed] " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
61polara Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 On 9/29/2018 at 5:47 AM, Spinneyhill said: Wikipedia has this sentence in its article on Automatic Transmission Fluid: "It turns out that Type A was basically a nearly 50/50 mix of Type F (Ford) and Dexron (GM),[citation needed] " If it's on the internet, it has to be true. Since Type A was around before Dexron, I doubt that it was a 50/50 mix of Type F and Dexron. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 45 minutes ago, 61polara said: If it's on the internet, it has to be true. Yeah, right. I was hoping someone in the know would tell it like it was. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 (edited) In the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, ATF contained whale oil as a Friction modifier. But since whale oil would break down at higher temperatures, cars produced in the 1970s and later would not be able to use whale oil because of the higher engine coolant temperatures employed to reduce emissions and save fuel. A moratorium on whale oil at that time prevented the continued production of older ATF such as the original DEXRON formulation (Type B), and the Type A which preceded it. Vintage Chrysler products (Dodge, Plymouth, etc.) used Type A fluid, which is generally difficult to obtain now. It turns out that Type A was basically a nearly 50/50 mix of Type F (Ford) and Dexron (GM), so if you have a pre-1990 Chrysler vehicle, you can mix Type F and Dexron to get a near-match for type A. General Motors began marketing Dexron II Type C and later Dexron II Type D to replace the fluids which were made from whale oil. Edited October 4, 2018 by Pfeil (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Griffin Posted November 4, 2018 Share Posted November 4, 2018 Use type A in the old hydros.The old hydros do not run hot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Mereness Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 (edited) 80K miles in 41 Cadillac w/automatic with the good old fashioned Dextron red color type A. And always when changing added a can of Trans X Automatic transmission Stop Leak Fluid - helps with the leather seals. Edited November 14, 2018 by John_Mereness (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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