Tips for Choosing the Right Transmission Fluid for Your Car

Adding transmission fluid to your car sounds simple enough. Just go to an auto parts store, purchase a bottle or two of transmission fluid, and pour it in until the dipstick shows that it’s full, right? Not exactly! Choosing the right transmission fluid for your car is very important for the performance of your vehicle.

 

Transmission fluid is a bit more complicated than many people realize. There are several different types, and which one you need depends on several factors, such as what type of vehicle you have, how often and how you drive it, the climate that you live in, and much more. 

Using the wrong type of transmission fluid can do as much damage to your car or truck as running low on transmission fluid. Some types are too thick for certain vehicles, while others are too thin. Understanding the different types of transmission fluids and how they work can help you in choosing the best transmission fluid for your automobile.

 

Categories of Transmission Fluid Types

 

There are two main categories of transmission fluids – automatic and manual, as well as other categories such as a dual-clutch and continuous variable. Each of these categories has a few different types. 

 

Now we will look at the difference between them.

 

• Just as the names suggest, manual transmission fluid was designed to work in vehicles that have manual transmissions. By the same token, automatic transmission fluid was designed for cars that have automatic transmissions. 

One exception to this rule is that sometimes you can use automatic transmission fluid in a manual car, but it is not usually recommended to use manual fluid in an automatic car.

 

• Automatic transmission fluid is thinner and has a lower viscosity than manual transmission fluid. It acts as a lubricant for the parts and gears inside the transmission and as a coolant to keep the transmission from becoming overheated. If you use fluid that is too thick or has a viscosity that is too high in an automatic automobile, it can cause damage to the gears and inside parts.

 

• Manual transmission fluid, while similar, works in a different way. This fluid helps make sure that the gears and sleeves inside the transmission sync smoothly when you move the gear shift.
  
  If the fluid is too thick, the gears and sleeves will not lock together at the precise moment that they should, and the car will not shift properly. However, if the transmission fluid in a manual transmission is too thin, the gears will shift too quickly, causing something known as “grinding the gears.”
  
  Both of these scenarios can cause damage to your automobile.

 

As you can see, choosing the best transmission fluid for your car can be a bit more complicated than one might think. In this guide, we will look at a few different types and brands of transmission fluid and examine whether or not they would be a good choice in various circumstances.

 

Choosing the Right Type of Transmission Fluid

 

Both automatic and manual transmission fluid categories have several different types. Before considering the various brands of fluid out there, it is important to know which type of fluid is right for your car or truck. 

 

According to Autos.com, the two main types to choose from are Dexron and Mercon. The owner’s manual of your vehicle should tell you which of these is best for you.

 

For each type of transmission fluid, you will have the choice of synthetic or traditional. The synthetic transmission fluid would be the better choice in modern cars and trucks, while traditional is usually the best choice in older vehicles and classic cars. Synthetic fluid works better at higher temps and improves vehicle performance in newer automobiles, while older cars were made for traditional fluids.

 

There are also many different brands of transmission fluid on the market. The wide array of choices can seem overwhelming, but it all comes down to which category and type of fluid are best for your automobile. 

Simply choosing between Dexron or Mercon and then synthetic or traditional is a huge step in purchasing the fluid you need. 

 

Here are some of our picks for the best brands when choosing the right transmission fluid for your car.

 

Valvoline Dexron/Mercon 

Valvoline is probably one of the best-known products on the market for automatic transmission. They make many different types of transmission fluid for all sorts of automobiles, but one of the best picks is their Valvoline Dexron/Mercon mix transmission fluid.

 

This product is flexible in that it works in many different makes and models, from GM to Ford, and even some imports with automatic transmissions. Valvoline’s mix has the best of both worlds. 

 

It is engineered with a mix of different base oils and advanced additives to make a proprietary blend that can flow better in low temperatures and protect better in higher temps. The only drawback is that it can be a bit pricier than other fluids, simply because it offers more.

 

Ford Motorcraft Transmission Fluid

For those drivers who prefer a manual transmission, we recommend Ford’s Motorcraft manual transmission fluid. 

 

This fully synthetic fluid is designed to work well in all ambient temps and extends the life of your car’s bearings and synchronizers. Although it is put out by Ford, it can be used in almost any manual vehicle. 

 

Motorcraft meets all of Ford’s fill-for-life requirements because of its excellent thermal, oxidative, and sheer stability. It works well for older transmissions as well as rear-wheel-drive automobiles that require GL-3 and GL-4 types oils. Customer reviews show that this is an excellent choice for your stick-shift Mazda, Toyota, Miata, and many others.

 

ACDelco Dexron VI Synthetic ATF

This product is a great choice for those who are looking for something a bit less expensive. 

 

It is of great value and works in a wide variety of automotive transmission types. This product is backward-compatible, going back to Dexron III, so it is a great choice for those who are driving older vehicles that used previous Dexron types.

 

The performance over the older Dexron fluids is obvious with this product in viscosity, stability, friction durability, oxidation resistance, and foam control. This will lead to a longer life for your transmission and improved fuel economy. 

 

It is recommended for GM cars from 2006 and newer to replace the previous Dexron versions. It is not recommended for Continuous Variable Transmissions or Dual Clutch Transmissions.

 

Castrol Transmax Dex/Merc Mix

Another great Dexron/Mercon mix for automatic transmissions is Castrol’s Transmax. This product is very close to being universal and can work for both power steering and transmission fluid because of its enhanced friction durability. 

 

It is compatible with almost any vehicle that uses Dexron or Mercon transmission fluids.

 

The label of this product emphasizes its use for domestic cars, but it can also be compatible with domestics and imports that use Dexron or Mercon. It meets the Dexron III H requirements and also satisfies the requirements of Dexron II, Dexron III, and Dexron. In addition, Transmax features superior protection for high temperature during both city and highway drives and is unsurpassed in oxidation resistance to prevent viscosity increase.

 

While this product was created for General Motors and Ford vehicles, you can also buy Castrol Transmax for Chrysler, imports, and automobiles that use Continuous Variable Transmission fluid. A special version of Transmax is also available for older cars and trucks to help with rough shifting and leaks that can come with high mileage.

 

Honda Manual Transmission Fluid

Honda transmission fluid is a great solution for those who are looking for an inexpensive product that will provide a good reduction in friction level compared to other lower-priced choices. While it was designed to meet all of the requirements for Honda transmissions, it will work well with almost any vehicle.

 

Those who use Honda transmission fluid will see a bit of improvement in their fuel economy. Overall, this product performs better in most vehicles than other similarly priced ones. The drawback is that it might not have quite as much longevity in other manual vehicles as it does in Honda. 

 

Honda’s fluid works well in high-temperature situations where other low-priced fluids may not and make it possible for you to shift just a bit faster. The odd design of the bottle makes it necessary to take care when pouring. Honda’s fluid does not contain sulfur.

 

AC Delco Modified Synchromesh Transmission Fluid

AC Delco’s modified synchromesh transmission fluid was formulated specifically for synchromesh transmissions, which gives it outstanding synchronizer performance. It keeps your transmission cleaner by minimizing varnish deposits and sludge and protects it from overall wear, corrosion, pitting, and distress.

 

This fluid is good for all climates and can manage temperatures from 40 below zero Fahrenheit up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. It is highly friction-modified so that it reduces the overall wear of transmission components. It is a great choice for Chevy S10s, year models 1996 to 2003, and GMC Sonomas year models 1996 to 2003.

 

Royal Purple Synchromax Manual Transmission Fluid

The Royal Purple Synchromax manual transmission fluid is another brand that will work in several different vehicles to give you a solid level of performance. This product offers protection against gear wear, rust, and corrosion, giving you smoother shifts.

 

This is a great product choice for those who have vehicles that have manual transmissions but need automatic transmission fluid because of its lighter viscosity. Because of this, it also works well for 2-cycle motorcycle gear boxes and transfer cases. 

 

Royal Purple’s Synchromax was created with their proprietary Synerlec Additive technology, which gives your car improved shifting and less gear noise over a wider temperature range than many other fluids can. It won’t damage the soft metals found inside many manual transmission synchronizers because it is compatible with various friction materials. It also gives you outstanding protection from corrosion and oxidation.

 

Triax Transyn Dual-Clutch Transmission Fluid

While automatic and manual transmission are both pretty well-known, the dual-clutch transmission, or DCT, is mostly in high-end sports cars and is therefore not as commonly heard of. 

 

This particular brand of DCT fluid is compatible with several different makes and models of cars and can work in the Ferrari 488 GTB or the Bugatti Veyron. It works well in vehicles from Porsche, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz but can also be used in the simple Ford Focus.

 

This versatile transmission fluid was created to meet the special lubrication requirements of the dual-clutch transmission, which works a lot differently than a traditional one. Triax features low-friction chemistry that smoothes out the quick shifts which these types of transmissions are known for. This fluid was not designed to address specific performance issues, however.

 

Triax Transyn fluid will help reduce the chances of wear and tear on the gear sets of these transmissions and can sustain temperatures as low as 60 below zero Fahrenheit without losing its fluidity. 

 

This dual-clutch transmission fluid is good for up to 300,000 miles, which means that there is a good chance you may never need to change the fluid again after adding it. 

 

Valvoline Maxlife Multi-Vehicle Automatic Transmission Fluid

Valvoline’s Maxlife is a fully synthetic automatic transmission fluid compatible with many different vehicles. Created with synthetic base stocks, it features advanced additive technology that helps it to meet the demands of most automatic transmissions,

 

Maxlife also has high-performance seal conditioners that can help prevent leaks by preserving the elasticity of the seals inside of transmission with high mileage. The anti-wear technology of this fluid improves the durability of your car’s transmission.

 

This Valvoline product was created to perform well at lower temperatures and protect better at higher ones. It was engineered with their proprietary blend of advanced additives and base oils to provide a better flow in most climates.

 

Mobil 1 Automatic Transmission Fluid

This transmission fluid from Exxon was designed specifically to meet the needs of modern passenger vehicle transmissions. 

 

This synthetic fluid outperforms many conventional automatic transmission fluids and helps prevent damage by resisting the breakdown of deposits and oil inside the transmission.

 

Mobil 1 has enhanced, long-term frictional properties that can help extend the transmission efficiency, its shifting performance, and the car’s fuel economy. In addition, even in severe driving conditions, this product will provide exceptional thermal and oxidation stability.

 

It retains its quality through a wide range of temperatures, providing fast and adequate lubrication in temperatures as low as 54 below zero Fahrenheit while holding its viscosity even in heavy-duty, high-temperature settings. 

 

It provides excellent prevention from leaks and is compatible with all common seal materials and mineral ATF fluids.

 

Benefits of Changing Your Transmission Fluid

 

You may wonder why you need to change your transmission fluid. Some people have the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ mentality and never see a reason to perform this maintenance unless their automobile is showing signs of transmission damage. 

 

However, according to The Drive, there are a lot of benefits to changing your transmission fluid.

 

One of the first improvements you might see after changing the fluid in your vehicle is better fuel economy. You may not think that transmission fluid would have anything to do with how far you can get on a tank of gas, but it does. When your transmission has fresh fluid in it, it can resist oxidation and hold viscosity better, as well as be more adequately lubricated. All of this means a smoother running car with better gas mileage.

 

You might also notice that your car shifts gears much more smoothly after changing the transmission fluid. Since new fluid coats and protects the gears and parts inside of the transmission better than old fluid, the gears will move much easier. This not only gives you a smoother ride but also protects the gearbox and other parts, making them last longer.

 

The life of your transmission, or how long it will last, can be increased by changing the transmission fluid. Synthetic transmission fluid lasts for much longer and, in some cases, can protect your car for the rest of the time that you own it. Keeping quality transmission fluid in your automobile can prevent rust, corrosion, moisture, chemical buildup, and other issues that can damage your car.

 

Conclusion

 

The main thing to remember about choosing the best transmission fluid for your car is to make sure that you use the type of fluid suggested in the owner’s manual. 

 

If your transmission fluid is a dark color or has particles in it, you might want to take it to be serviced. In such cases, a transmission flush may be needed before adding fresh fluid.

 

Keeping your car full of transmission fluid can extend its life, make it run and shift smoother, and give you better gas mileage, but only if you choose the right transmission fluid for your car.