Swepco automatic trans fluid in 915?

[grahamkissack]

My garage has told me they prefer swepco automatic transmission fluid (714 I think) in the 915 tranny. The owner who races his P cars swears by it. Any thoughts on this.?

Thanks, Graham

[rcecale]

For the 915 tranny, Swepco 201 is the preferred choice, from what I have read here.

Randy

[SC-targa]

I would think that ATF would kill the tranny. It's very low viscosity compared to the regular tranny fluid.

Jerry Kroeger

[Zeke]

Something is not right with that advice. Are you sure?

Your ring and pinion would cook, IMO.

[vash]

ATF is more of a hydralic fluid right? not really a lube.

[Evans, Marv]

Isn't ATF something on the order of 10W?

[Eugene at Pelican Parts]

Originally posted by Evans, Marv
Isn't ATF something on the order of 10W?

We carry SWEPCO 714 ATF in both 10 and 20W. It's mostly for the 928 and BMW crowd. I'm very skeptical about ATF in a 915 transaxle. Even if I test drove his 915 with Kool-Aid in it and found that is shifted well, I wouldn't want to put the same in mine.

[Wil Ferch]

Look at the manual. 915's require lube to API- Grade GL- 5 spec, specifically in 75-90 weight gear oil. Some gear oils ( like most redline) is rated GL-4..would cause high pinion loads and rapid wear.

I doubt auto trans fluid has these properties....

---Wil

[grahamkissack]

Thanks....Just bought some 201 from our host.

Graham

[Early_S_Man]

ATF is used in some conventional gearboxes with Borg-warner type synchronizer rings for reduced drag and fuel economy reasons ... but NEVER, EVER in transaxles or rear ends with hypoid gears!!! To do so is PURE LUNACY Porsche-patent synchronizers are much more critical than Borg-warner synchronizers ... with respect to lubricant qualities, and contaminants in the lubricant!


Some FWD cars use it [or motor oil] in their transaxles, but they don't contain hypoid gears, remember! Mfrs aren't concerned about long-term life when they make those lubricant recommendations in the name of fuel economy ... after all, HonDatToys are just disposable commodities!!!

[paraphrase credit to the late Harry Pellow]

[Eugene at Pelican Parts]

Originally posted by Early_S_Man
Some FWD cars use it [or motor oil] in their transaxles, but they don't contain hypoid gears, remember! Mfrs aren't concerned about long-term life when they make those lubricant recommendations in the name of fuel economy ... after all, HonDatToys are just disposable commodities!!!

Good comments, S-man. A service shop once mistakenly put 80-90W gear lube into my old Accord's transaxle. Afterwards, when it was cold, it shifted like a carrot in a jar of peanut butter. Exchanging the fluid for the recommended 5W-30 motor oil made shifting nice and slick again. Although I cannot comment on its effect on durability, it sure revived the drivability of the old beater. As for the car being disposable, I sure hope the American Lung Association got something out of it.