fordomatic fluid

[Brian54]

I realize that this topic has been covered before but I need it revisited----------How many quarts does a 1954 Fordomatic trans take with convertor and also without ? Thanks for any input .

[Merc Cruzer]

This should answer the question:

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...mission+gasket

51-54 = 9 to 9 3/4 qts
55 - 10 1/4 qts
55 Turbo Drive = 10 qts.

When I changed my fluid on my 53' Mer-O-Matic I got approx 2 cups out of the converter. The car sat over night, so if you are doing it hot you might get more. I do recommend, doing it cold, as it is very messy and the hot fluid is not fun to deal with, but that is your choice.

[Daves55Sedan]

The '56 Ford-o-matic shop manual says 5 quarts. But I found another source that says 19 pints. That is equivalent to about 4-3/4 quarts, right? Use Mercon fluid).
I am more comfortable with 4-3/4 quarts, since this raises the level of fluid right at the center between the marks on the dipstick. Keeping the fluid level here, I have never had any fluid blowing out or blowing seals and the transmission operates properly.
Check fluid level by running engine at idle with gear select level in neutral and fill to in-between the markings on the dipstick.
If you have completely drained fluid and are filling it from dry, idle the engine with foot on the brake and run through all gears first P-R-N-D-L, then shift back into neutral to check fluid level at the dipstick.

[GLAmes]

Originally Posted by Daves55Sedan

The '56 Ford-o-matic shop manual says 5 quarts. But I found another source that says 19 pints. That is equivalent to about 4-3/4 quarts, right? Use Mercon fluid).

19 pints is 9 1/2 qts.

For the OP, I found Type A at NAPA. That is the flavor of ATF called for in the service manual. I started out with a full case. Because I also used some in the power steering and some was lost I can't tell you how many qts it took to fill my transmission. I kept adding a bit at a time after the initial 8 qts until it was at the proper level.

[Merc Cruzer]

Originally Posted by GLAmes

19 pints is 9 1/2 qts.

For the OP, I found Type A at NAPA. That is the flavor of ATF called for in the service manual. I started out with a full case. Because I also used some in the power steering and some was lost I can't tell you how many qts it took to fill my transmission. I kept adding a bit at a time after the initial 8 qts until it was at the proper level.

I had an issue at O'Reillys, when I bought Type F. It was all out dated. I had to go to NAPA (two stores) to get two cases (6 each).

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...+fluid&page=10

Post #182

[Gene F]

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Originally Posted by GLAmes

19 pints is 9 1/2 qts.

For the OP, I found Type A at NAPA. That is the flavor of ATF called for in the service manual. I started out with a full case. Because I also used some in the power steering and some was lost I can't tell you how many qts it took to fill my transmission. I kept adding a bit at a time after the initial 8 qts until it was at the proper level.

When was this? Wish I could find Type-A, their warehouse, or otherwise.

[GLAmes]

Originally Posted by Gene F

When was this? Wish I could find Type-A, their warehouse, or otherwise.

That was three years ago. Now you can find it at O'Reilly.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c...1-quart/pgd0/a

[Merc Cruzer]

56 Ford Owner's Manual

[KULTULZ]

Originally Posted by Merc Cruzer

56 Ford Owner's Manual

NOTE -

Mid-1956 production saw the intro of the coolant cooled V8 trans so the refill amounts should be different for an air-cooled vs coolant cooled transmission.

Note PRINT DATE (QTR) of 1956 OWNERS MANUAL.

[GLAmes]

How does transmission fluid get out dated?

[Merc Cruzer]

Originally Posted by GLAmes

How does transmission fluid get out dated?

https://go4trans.com/technical-trans...mission-fluid/

https://www.machinerylubrication.com...t-storage-life

[GLAmes]

That's an interesting read considering other sources say oils and fluids have no expiration. And how does that jive with my wife's last minivan, a Toyota, her current mini van, a Chrysler both of which have no fill port (dipstick) and no manufacture's service interval? My 2019 Ram also doesn't have a service requirement for the transmission fluid. It does not have a dipstick either, thus no fill port.

[Merc Cruzer]

Originally Posted by GLAmes

That's an interesting read considering other sources say oils and fluids have no expiration. And how does that jive with my wife's last minivan, a Toyota, her current mini van, a Chrysler both of which have no fill port (dipstick) and no manufacture's service interval? My 2019 Ram also doesn't have a service requirement for the transmission fluid. It does not have a dipstick either, thus no fill port.

Sounds like the manufactures version of planed obsolescence.

[Daves55Sedan]

Originally Posted by GLAmes

That's an interesting read considering other sources say oils and fluids have no expiration.

Oil and hydraulic fluid becomes contaminated by metal wear of moving parts and in the case of oil, un-burned fuel and carbon adds to the contamination.

Originally Posted by GLAmes

my wife's last minivan, a Toyota, her current mini van, a Chrysler both of which have no fill port (dipstick) and no manufacture's service interval? My 2019 Ram also doesn't have a service requirement for the transmission fluid. It does not have a dipstick either, thus no fill port.

It is no surprise that some transmissions might not have a dipstick or fill port. They require you to take the car to a shop so they can charge you $1000 to vacuum out the fluid and refill it.
The modern hydraulic fluids for use with automatic transmissions have been changing a lot and have different characteristics to fulfill the mfr's specifications of the trans mfr. They may not want you to buy the wrong fluid at the auto parts store which might not perform to the requirements of your transmission.
I am sure that your owners manual does include a variety of scheduled services for different components of your vehicle which they recommend be performed at the dealer for a premium $$$.
My 2007 Ford F150 pickup with AOD does have both a dipstick and fill port and does tell the exact type of transmission fluid to use (Mercon V).
Interestingly enough, when the truck had been run 50K miles, I started having trouble with the transmission. I took it to the shop, thinking it was something major. All it needed was a fluid change and it was good as new.
I was astonished. I have been driving my '55 Ford Fairlane with Fordomatic daily and haven't changed the fluid (Dextron/Mercon) for 20 years and never had a problem. That's well over 200K miles.

[GLAmes]

Originally Posted by Daves55Sedan

Oil and hydraulic fluid becomes contaminated by metal wear of moving parts and in the case of oil, un-burned fuel and carbon adds to the contamination.

I am sure that your owners manual does include a variety of scheduled services for different components of your vehicle which they recommend be performed at the dealer for a premium $$$.
My 2007 Ford F150 pickup with AOD does have both a dipstick and fill port and does tell the exact type of transmission fluid to use (Mercon V).

I send my engine oil samples from my work truck ('97 Dodge/Cummins) to a lab for analysis every 15,000 miles. If it is not high with contaminates (wear metals, silicon, soot, fuel or water) I don't drain it. The current oil is at 34,000 miles. I also sample gear box oil, but not nearly as frequently. The owners manual for it specifies 48 months or 48,000 miles for automatic transmission drain and adjustment. Thankfully I have a manual transmission in it. It also specifies 3000 mile engine oil changes. That is a throwback to the 50s when oil was in bottles next to the gas pumps and of poor quality. Technology improved the oil but hasn't changed people's perception that it has to be drained long before it is actually unserviceable. The oil companies are happy to prolong the myth that oil "wears out" when it fact it never wears out. Contaminates are what makes oil unusable and proper filtration captures those contaminates. Using bypass filtration there are 18 wheelers that go over 300,000 miles between oil drains.

As I stated the owners manuals of the minivans or my 2019 Ram do not show any service criteria for the transmissions. Perhaps it is planned obsolescence, or perhaps the filtration and quality of current transmission fluids has made scheduled drains obsolete. I guess I'll find out because I keep vehicles until the wheels fall off. My '97 Dodge has 1.4 million on it, I customized my '67 Chev 30 years ago and still have it and I believe the computers in the Ram will fail long before the transmission does. The '67 has a turbo 350 in it that hasn't had an oil and filter change in 20 years.

[fordor41]

Originally Posted by GLAmes

That's an interesting read considering other sources say oils and fluids have no expiration. And how does that jive with my wife's last minivan, a Toyota, her current mini van, a Chrysler both of which have no fill port (dipstick) and no manufacture's service interval? My 2019 Ram also doesn't have a service requirement for the transmission fluid. It does not have a dipstick either, thus no fill port.

a lot of Mopar products don't have dip sticks. You can buy them on Amazon. the filler tube is there, somewhere, or no one could service the trans, even at a dealership. Ford VST's are buried under all the intake plastic duct work. have to hunt to find it.

[KULTULZ]

Why I keep doing this is beyond me ... just keep asking for it.

ALL lubricants have a shelf life, those lubricants for late applications being more critical.

All manufacturers of lubricants for car components usually indicate date of manufacture and expiring date on the container/package for a reason! Commonly, the shelf life of transmission fluids does not exceed more than 5 years from the date of manufacture. However, this period is specified for tightly closed and sealed (and stored under recommended conditions) products.

Fluid manufacturers say that their products can be stored at temperatures between +10 and +25 ºC. Higher temperatures can lead to premature oxidizing processes. Temperatures below recommended limit may cause fall-outs of precipitation and appearance of deposits. In case, when the container with transmission fluid is opened, the storage room is wet or unheated, there is a strong fluctuation in temperatures, thus transmission fluid may lose its properties before its time (change in viscosity, oxidizing, etc.)

SOURCE - https://go4trans.com/technical-trans...mission-fluid/

Late trans are sealed for a reason, they are electronic. Solenoids are subject to damage if exposed to outside air. The manufacturer(s) does not want the owner to be pulling a stick exposing the trans to air and dirt while under drive-train warranty.

Fluid level and quality can be checked by other methods.

You use the manufacturers called-out fluid (or it's correctly called out replacement) that the manufacturer calls for or if rebuilt, what the kit manufacture calls for (and get that in writing).

There is no multi-vehicle motor oil/ATF/coolant and there is no 20,000 mile oil change.

BTW - Plastic containers are porous. Over time, atmosphere will enter the sealed bottle. You open a container of brake fluid, not use all of it and sit it on the shelf, it is compromised.

When you shop parts or lubricants, you choose the recommended quality replacement. Then you shop price.

[GLAmes]

Originally Posted by KULTULZ

There is no multi-vehicle motor oil/ATF/coolant and there is no 20,000 mile oil change.

Only in your mind. Prestone makes an anti-freeze that is compatible with all colors. My pickup, which used to average about 75,000 miles a year, has been on a 30,000 mile oil change schedule with 15,000 mile filter changes for 7 years. I used to believe the blarney about extended oil drains, then I started getting my oil analyzed. I found that most of us pour perfectly good oil into the recycle barrel. It is the oil companies that benefit, not our engines.

[KULTULZ]

Originally Posted by GLAmes

Only in your mind.

Prestone makes an anti-freeze that is compatible with all colors.

Just wondering, how long were you a professional auto tech?

I began in 1966.

There is no ... ??? ... well let me clarify that ... there are MULTI-VEHICLE COOLANTS ... but their being compatible with or as a replacement, no, especially with today's tech.. Will PRESTONE offer a repair policy if the system fails because of incorrect coolant usage? Try and collect on that one.

What one does with his/her/it/mutant car is not the debate here. People pick this stuff up and run with it and once experiences failure(s) beyond DRIVE-TRAIN WARRANTY cry about the car manufacturer.

[Daves55Sedan]

If you do find type A ATF nowadays, it is not the same blend as the original type A which used whale oil as it's lubricating property. Yes you can sometimes find it in farm supply stores too.
I would recommend that before buying, you compare the ingredients with the specifications of the original blend if you can find them on the internet.