type A automatic tran fluid

[pandew]

My 2005 users manual says use Type A ATF in the montana's slide hydraulic reservoir. Apparently type A is now dextron products. Can any of the dextron products (II, III or higher) be used to substitute for Type A or is there another better substitute?

[8.1al]

Any ATF you can find will work, cheap is good

[Art-n-Marge]

Well, I'm not quite sure that I'd say ANY fluid. Back in the day I was taught that Type F fluid is not recommended when Type A is specified, but I think what 8.1al is referring to is that Mercon and Dextron are suitable alternatives and only adding more stuff for the newer applications but was backward compatible.

Does anyone know if this is true about Type F? Back in the day and owning Ford or GM products there was sure a big distinction and I adhered closely with these requirements but never found out why.

In later years, with newer trannys there's even more variety and even the Mercon or Dextron alternatives are of concern. But for a slideout motor and the manual states Type A and A is hard to find, the autoparts dude pointed me to some blend that seems to work fine but it does not state it applies to Type F needs.

I do know that you don't need the most expensive stuff. I like cheap.

[8.1al]

Mimf, who used to work for Lippert has stated that any cheap tranny oil will work fine. It's not a transmission,just a pump
http://www.montanaowners.com/forums/...s=slideout,oil

[racerjoe]

I don't think you can get type "f" anymore. it is listed as "A" or mercon. Ford changed the fluid designation a while ago

[1retired06]

Mimf indicated the atf needs to be Dextron III or Mercon V. I'm not sure that translates to buying the cheapest ATF you can find.

[8.1al]

OK, buy the cheapest Dexron,Mercon you can find. In most cases that and Ford ATF are the most readily available

[bethandkevin]

Dexron VI, while expensive, is synthetic and will work better in cold weather.

[1retired06]

I wondered about this since our first Montana, and type A fluid is simply not on the shelf. Guess I am still not sure what to use. Keystone is no help, Lippert stands by type A

[MIMF]

Gang, don't be concerned about whether or not it is type "A" or "F". I don't have a clue what the difference is! If the bottle label says "Dexron/Dexron III - Mercon/Mercon 5", it will be just fine. Walmart has their brand name fluid in a blue bottle with a red label. At least, they use to. It has been several years since I have bought any or, had to use any and, it was a couple bucks or less. By now, like everything else, it is probably 3 or 4 dollars, now.

[8.1al]

Thanks Dale

[dieselguy]

Like mentioned earlier ... no need to get so scientific over this. Type F was specified for Ford trannies that had bronze clutches in them up till about 1970. Since then they've come out with Dextron, Mercon, ATF, and AF to name a few. Most of the difference boils down to friction modifiers added or not added into the mix as well as working temperature ranges. Back in the day, you could put Type F in some GM trannies to make them shift harder at the track due probably to different friction modifiers. Type F is still available (at least here in the plains states) as we still run it in our drag cars. Since we are using tranny fluid solely to pump fluid to move our slides, there is no clutch issue to be concerned with as in trannies thus no real issue to be specific with. With Mercon or Dextron in our reservoirs nowdays due to availability, the biggest issue with mixing Type F that I can think of would be foaming which is not desirable in any hydraulic system.

[Flymutt]

My head hurts!

[bigmurf]

quote:Originally posted by Flymutt

My head hurts!

Mind too. Let me see if I got this. We spent LOTS of money on every toy for our rigs, tires, leveling systems, hitchs etc. But we want the CHEAPEST fluid for the pump. Have I got that right?

[helmick]

I'm like Charlie (8.1al), retired and cheap.

[dieselguy]

To eliminate head aches ... barring the new level up systems, our hydraulic slide systems are the most basic of basic hydraulic systems in existence. Pump runs one way to run the slides out ... runs the other way to run the slides in ... no expensive valves to reverse flow, no external pressure relief valves, no nothing. There is not even dedicated lines to each slide cylinder as the rear slide lines are tee'd together. The cylinders are the cheapest out there ... they cannot be rebuilt as they are welded together. The hydraulic hoses are just basic hoses that can be made at any hose shop or implement dealer. Soooooooooo there is just no need to be too particular about what tranny fluid you use as the system is extremely basic. My 3150RL came with clear fluid in the reservoir ... probably power steering fluid. I've added tranny fluid with no issues other than it turned the entire fluid supply pink. Probably the foremost reason RV manufacturers use tranny fluid and not some oil is tranny fluid is readily available and stays extremely fluid no matter what the temperature. Stepping away from the podium .... Dieselguy