Clear Transmission Fluid?

[cbonner757]

Good morning. Got all kinds of small stuff sorted out and as soon as I replace a defective fuel pump, the 51 Champion automatic is ready for the road after purchasing it. Checking the AT fluid, I looks colorless. I plan on having it changed to Dextron/Mercron anyway, but what could the clear fluid be?

If I decide to change it myself, I read to access the torque converter bolts from a cover at the bottom and rotate the converter to take the bolts out to drain it. I'm trying to picture how to get it refilled without the fluid running back out of the final bolt hole. How would you get the fluid into it, and how would you prevent it running out while you put the bolts back in? May sound silly, but I've not done any work of any kind on an auto before, just manual.

Regards,
Clarence

[41 Frank]

I don't know what excactly is being used in the 51 automatic drive nowadays but the shop manual clearly states it originally used 10w oil. That would explain the clear fluid you are seeing. As far as refilling, all transmissions refill the convertor by adding fluid to the transmission fill and from there it migrates to the convertor. The convertor drain bolts are only used to drain old fluid. Sounds like you need to get yourself a shop manual to prevent making expensive maintenance mistakes. Someone more knowledgeable than me will chime in with the proper fluid to use.

[Mike Van Veghten]

It is "trans." fluid" NOT engine oil....!

I bought a 60 Lark, 2dr. wagon a few years ago with 22,8xx original miles on it. Still had the original brake shoes and a few other "original" parts still intact.

I also noticed that the trans. fluid was clear. After doing some research, it IS transmission (or "hydraulic fluid") fluid...NOT 10W or any other weight normal oil. At the time, they saw no need to color it during its manufacture. But people were mixing the trans. fluid with "other" fluids (water, oil !) and ruining their transmissions.
So the companies got together and decided on a color and started adding it to their fluids.
Today, you can find not only red, but blue and purple also. Maybe even others in the speciality market.

An automatic transmission will not go far on normal oil! Just like your brake system won't work very well with normal oil...!
That's the short story, I'm sure if you look around the net..the full correct info is out there somewhere.

Mike

P. s. - As most other transmissions, the Stude transmissions will work with "any" of the current fluids on the market...including the blue and purple racing fluids. Once a type (type F or the Dexron/Mercron) is decided on...just try not to mix them unless it's an emergency.

[1954khardtop]

Frank, the '51 used a Detroit Gear trans, the '60 used a Borg-Warner trans. They may not require the same fluid. Check with John Metzker, email trans-fixed@earthlink.net He's the expert!

[Mike Van Veghten]

Funny.....1954k -

He's (John M.) a friend of mine and "one" of the sources of the above info...!

Mike

[cbonner757]

Thanks, guys. I do have the shop manual and separate transmission service manual but haven't dug through those yet. I'll email John about the fluid type, but sounds like the forum consensus has been Dextron Mercron is a good replacement. The biggest sticking point was how to fill, and you explained that.

Regards,
Clarence

[Johnnywiffer]

I hate to admit I may be mistaken but at the time the Studebaker Automatic Drive was introduced, I seem to recall the Studebaker Corporation advertised many differences between it and other automatics, one of them being that you could use 10w motor oil instead of "expensive" Type A trans fluid. I understand that later, maybe about 1952, Studebaker decided they would begin using Type A instead of 10w, presumably to get in line with the other manufacturers.

I have had DOZENS of Studebaker Automatic Drive-equipped cars (NOT Flight-O-Matic) and NEVER used anything but 10w, even in the later ones. Once, on a trip, I checked the trans, found it low and told the service station guy (Remember them?) to put in half a quart of 10w. He wouldn't do it. Said he could not be responsible for putting the wrong fluid in my trans. Of course, I put it in and went on my merry.

So my feeling is, either one will work. HOWEVER---I'm not a mechanic!

John

[cbonner757]

Thanks, John.