I changed out my original fluid at 12,500 and replaced it with Royal Purple Synchromax. There's no comparison in performance and shifting, what a huge difference...

Bob

 

I drove my 2002 30K miles and 350+ drag passes and the tranny was smooth throughout its time with me.

I changed the tranny fluid (and diff) twice, at 17K and 27K miles.

Used stock GM fluids in the tranny and diff.

It also helps to do shifting drill. Helps avoid missed shift which accumulate damage to the tranny.

Ranger

 

Just under 4 Qts.

 

Should come out to about 3.7 quarts.

 

Are you guys talking about Dexron IV? Is this a new synthetic transmission fluid for the 4 spd. automatics? Is is synthetic? What are the drain intervals? It outperforms synthetics??

 

Is your car an A-4 or a 6 spd. manual? This Dexron VI is it synthetic and is it better than REDLINE synthetic?

 

Ranger: What is your shifting drill?
Thanks in advance,
Ron

 

Fast driving is like any other athletic endeavor, a combination of techniques and practice to embed muscle memory. Think about the difference between two b-ball players' foul shot percentage. One averages 62%, the other 89%. Why the difference? Practice, practice, practice.

An Enzo's F1-derived paddleshifter completes its shifts in 400 milli-seconds per shift. Think about that; it's 400/1000=4 tenths. So accelerate through three full shifts and the engine has been "clutch-in" for 1.20 seconds. That's with an automatic...an F1 auto at that. So how long does it take you to make three shifts with an M6/M12 manual tranny? If you practice, you can beat the Enzo shifts. And guys that achieve the really fast times at the drag strip, do so, in part, by fast shifts. Note I didn't say "power shifts." Just fast shifts.

Here is a good drill for improving shift speed and eliminating missed-shifts.

Step #1
Check your hand position.

My advice is always keep your thumb OFF the shifter.

Pull the shifter with cupped fingers (no thumb).

Push the shifter with the heel of the hand, no fingers.

To go 1-2, pull the shifter straight back (remember cupped fingers and no thumb.)

To go 2-3, push the shifter toward the radio (remember heel of the hand and NO thumb). This will allow the strong centering device to find the 3d gear shift gate.

To go 3-4, same as 1-2.

Step #2
Using the step-#1 hand positions, Do shifting drills.

My experience has been that the magic to strong shifts under heavy acceleration (with no missed shifts) is practice, practice, practice.

To reduce wear, I practice with the oil warm (over 100 degrees) and engine off and omit the throttle but include the clutch.

1-2, 2-3, 3-4...repeat. Sets of five. I do perhaps 50 sets per week, usually 5 sets at both ends of my daily commute, and then 10 sets between passes in the staging lanes. This routine embeds muscle memory and makes each shift a preparatory queue for the next.

I suspect that practicing these step would end missed shifts for most owners.

A second and related practice is taking care of your clutch. Pedal woes lead to tranny issues, because of incomplete disengagement of the clutch during shifts. Changing the clutch fluid regularly helps keep the pedal acting normally.

More clutch fluid details are here and here

Following these approached, I've got 533+ passes is three Z06s without breakage and with three still very smooth trannies...and the record stock/near-stock for the 2001 C5Z, 2002+ C5Z and now C6Z.

A lot of that comes from doing these shifting drills.

Ranger

 

Thanks Ranger!
I`m off to the garage!
Ron

 

I have to wonder if it will make a difference or will you notice or feel any difference switching to to a synthetic in the automatic A-4. Will it shift any different?

 

Thanks Ranger

 

I am thinking on the lines that Ranger suggested. My tranny shifts fine with no venom mod and using stock GM fluid. I am at 15000k and have been thinking about switching to Royal Purple. My question, is it really better than GM's oil? Most say it shifts easier, but does that mean it's a thinner oil and thus less protection in the long run? Just speculation at this point. Any insight would be helpfull.
Robert

 

Robert,
Can't comment specifically on the RP, but most of my customers also report smoother shifting with the AMSOIL ATF as can been seen on this recent thread:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1407837

I do feel confident in stating that the AMSOIL synthetic basestock will hold up to the heat in our trannies much better than the stock fluid. In addition, since this ATF meets Dexron III specifications, its viscosity must be in the range GM specifies for our tranny so it wouldn't be what I would consider "thinner". I suspect the same is true of RP.

 

But where does licensing and warranty coverage play into all of this? As previously mentioned the GM licensing person told me he has not issued any licesnes to any company for the DEXRON VI auto trans fluid.

 

I put it my 03 ZO6 and could tell difference in shifting. Put some RP in your hand and you will feel the difference in the fluids. Very slick stuff.

 

I drive my car fairly hard on the street and take it to the track(road, not drag strip). I'm very satisfied with Amsoil products. I'm running them in the engine, transmission, and differential. Even if they are just equal to other products I would rather support companies that support racers. I don't mean Castrol supporting John Force, I'm talking about regular guys that want to go fast. I definitely wouldn't buy GM lubes just because of the way dealers treat their customers.

A good product with a reasonable price from a company that supports your need for speed. What more could you ask for?

Dog

 

So those of us with C-6 Corvettes under warranty won't void our warranties if we use Amsoil in the auto trans A-4 and the rear end differential?

 

This thread is in the C5 Z06 forum and the AMSOIL ATF does meet the standard for this car's manual transmission. It is not labeled to meet GM Dexron VI standards yet.

 

Hopefully Amsoil will come out with an equivalent that meets GM spec.

 

I got stuck putting chevron dextron atf in my z just to go get some mobil one, anyway the 99cent chevron atf made a huge difference, much smoother shifting , accel, quieter. Im sure if i would have left it in there it would have broken down much faster than top brand aft's. Man made synthetic oil's could not be that different but i know the time and money invested in the additives is what makes the oils superior.