Engine Oil used in TH400 instead of Dexron

[Coal Cracker]

I stand by my earlier post. I ran two Nodwell tracked carriers(similar to a morooka), on powerline right-of-way maintenance.
Drive system was 6 cylinder chevy, th400 auto. 15w 40 motor oil in the trans.
12 years of service out of one, only half as much from the second, due to a roll over. Salvaged the parts from the roll over, put the trans into a pick up, no problems. Sold remaining Nodwell to a guy down south, it may still be running.

Just because 15w40 was used , doesnt make it right ! As a Trans builder who is very familiar with the 400 ,there isnt enough pressure in the clutches to overcome the friction modifiers of lube oil, thats why lube oil is specified for the engine and trans oil is for the trans, otherwise manufacturers would have an all in one oil.

 

[Kalashnikov]

i know you are talking about the turbo 400, i had returned from Kuwait last year, spent about 7 months there working on MRAP's, and other equipment. and we were directed by the Military to flush all transmissions that has dextron and replace it with 15/40, I have been a military mechanic / Motor Sergeant for over 24 years and could not believe this. but we did as directed. when i left, it was on the table to have all transfer cases and all diffs drained, flushed and filled with 15/40. now the one reason for doing all this? the Soldiers only have to carry 15/40 instead of 15/40, Dextron and 80/90. just putting my 2 cents in on this. and yes, the transmissions in those heavy a@@ trucks operated just fine.

I like this idea a lot. I'td be a lot better to just have to buy 15/40 instead of all the different types of oil hangning around the shop. Was there any older stuff IE manual transmission that you used 15/40 in?

Were the power steering pumps filled with 15/40 as well?

Then again, the military overhauls things even if they don't need it so longevity isn't really a concern to them.

 

[dmetalmiki]

I had a pontiac once that blew a front seal..and was way over heating (london traffic) local garage wanted 100s of quids to recover and fix it, I squirted cold water on the transmission and filled it with gear oil!..drove home fine no leaks and no overheating..ran that old pontiac for years after that just fine fine..sold it and its probably still trucking on. (those old pontiacs had the "slush boxes" in them ) ..not noted for outstanding getup and go !. just my 1/2 pene'th

 

[Tow4]

Power steering pump has ATF in it (or hydraulic oil, it's red).

Got the truck running today. Didn't drive it because with the engine running the transmission fluid level is low. It does move in forward and reverse so I'll add some Dexron tomorrow and take a ride.

 

[1ton cucv k5 turbo]

Running ATF in the Power steering system is okay.. but has a lower boiling point than actual power steering fluid.. its not recommended for heavy offroading

 

[plym49]

I love threads like this. 40% of the responses say no way, Jose. 40% of the responses say BTDT, no biggie. 20% watch the controversy. Inevitably the OP ends up doing something completely logical and all ends well.

 

[Csm Davis]

Okay got to put another one in the mix haven't seen 15-40wt used but I know all 939 series have oe 10wt in them in the transmission, asked my transmission repairman, second generation transmission guy, and actually thinks it a good idea. Lots of problems with civilian trucks with that Trans and Allison spec fluid lots of burned up parts.

 

[fusioncow]

For those interested, take a look at tm9-2320-356-BD (battlefield damage assessment and repair, good one to have if you're using your CUCV as a BOV), page 268, table D-3.

It lists any 10W to 30W as an acceptable Emergency substitute. Personally, I don't know that I would trust it for prolonged use, since it's only an emergency sub.

 

[Tow4]

I dumped a gallon of Dexron in to bring it up to the add a pint mark. It leaks at the selector shaft so I need to replace the seal. It drives and shifts normally after replacing the transmission vacuum hoses.

 

[dependable]

For those interested, take a look at tm9-2320-356-BD (battlefield damage assessment and repair, good one to have if you're using your CUCV as a BOV), page 268, table D-3.

It lists any 10W to 30W as an acceptable Emergency substitute. Personally, I don't know that I would trust it for prolonged use, since it's only an emergency sub.

Thanks, I guess this means it might be ok to use motor oil to top off T 400 to get home. I was stuck once with a truck that had lost some ATF from a broken coolant line. Had plenty of 15- 40. If I had known I could have used it, it would have saved a lot of time. Wonder if it should be flushed and changed after that or fix the leak, and move on. On a related subject, if you buy a 27 year old truck, a fluid & filter change is a good idea.

 

[BIG_RED]

"Any oil is better than no oil" A wise old man once told me. I would throw 15-40 in my t400 or even an axle, t-case, etc .to get home in a pinch. I would not run it on a regular basis. I could get into the differences in additives, but I think it was put nicely by another member as "if there was no difference using 15-40 in a t400, it wouldn't be spec'd for dexron". Well put.

 

[Coal Cracker]

"Any oil is better than no oil" A wise old man once told me. I would throw 15-40 in my t400 or even an axle, t-case, etc .to get home in a pinch. I would not run it on a regular basis. I could get into the differences in additives, but I think it was put nicely by another member as "if there was no difference using 15-40 in a t400, it wouldn't be spec'd for dexron". Well put.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[kentuckycucv]

great thread

 

[Coal Cracker]

I've used a case of italian salad dressing in a pinch, it was in a junkyard car, an we ran it around for weeks, yes it worked, but it wasnt right.

 

[hndrsonj]

I've used a case of italian salad dressing in a pinch, it was in a junkyard car, an we ran it around for weeks, yes it worked, but it wasnt right.

I prefer maple syrup.

 

[edpdx]

My transmission used to slip in most gears. I put a new filter in it and it was no better. Then I drained it and used F-type transmission fluid- my wife's Cougar uses it. I have not had any more slippage. From a dead stop on a hill, I can put in in drive/rev and it goes. Try it.

 

[jimmy-90]

Fill it full of cough syrup....Then the transmission wont care lol

 

[supermechanic]

I've used a case of italian salad dressing in a pinch, it was in a junkyard car, an we ran it around for weeks, yes it worked, but it wasnt right.

If this was Paul Newman's salad dressing, I could see how this would have worked, well done!

 

[epartsman]

Running ATF in the Power steering system is okay.. but has a lower boiling point than actual power steering fluid.. its not recommended for heavy offroading

ATF is not a good idea in early GM's as it foams creating a whine in high heat conditions. I have always used a mineral oil based GM type or synthetic p/s fluid in mine.