Turkeybaster115

I did a lot of research as to what in the world our mystery factory fill ATF could be, and I think I finally found it. After a lot of searching, and phone calls to shell USA I have deduced the following:

According to the australian petrolium institute: http://www.lubeandtune.com.au/html/lubekey.asp their ASP15 classification includes the following fluids:

-Ford Specification No. M2C 919D

-Mercon SP Fluid Part No. XT-6QSP

-Shell ATF M-1375.4

-ZF 6-speed Automatic Transmission Fluid, (Shell M-1375.4)

Mercon SP Fluid is a newer transmission fluid made by shell for Ford dealers. Its easy to find online, and it retails for around $4:00+/quart. Things get really interesting when you look at the specs of lifeguard 6 found in the MSDS:

http://www.tsgparts.net/images/pdf/Lifeguardfluid6.pdf and compare them to the specs of Mercon SP:

http://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubricant...ERCON%20SP.pdf and http://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubricant...us175325us.pdf

VERY similar specs, and the same color fluid.



You can get the lifeguard6/Shell M-1375.4 fluid for $4.68/quart here: http://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/cg...uct_detail.jsp



Before you get this fluid consider the following; which are my opinions, drawn from online research. Shell was tapped by ZF/Ford, to make this fluid for maximum fuel efficiency. it has very similar specs to amsoil's fuel efficiency transmission fluid:



http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/atl.aspx (Scroll to the bottom of the page).



If you are in/out of warranty, want to change your ATF fluid, with oem, for considerably less than what the dealer will charge, then get the mecron SP stuff. Now for those who have higher torque vehicles with the 6hp19/26 transmissions, you might want to opt for a fluid that will trade you gas mileage for decreased fluid temps. This is especially true if you plan on occasional racing, or power increasing modifications. If you look at amsoil, and redline, you find that they each offer a line of racing/high temp fluid products. These products offer better thermal protection for racing or high torque vehicles. Looking closely, there're specs differ from the fuel efficient lines. Most notebly: KV @ 40C 7.5-10cst; KV @ 100C 34-53cst VI: 177+, Flash point 225 F+. Clearly the higher the fluid's KV/VI/Flash point, the more sheer stable it is under abnormal stress.



The above listed racing fluids are on the high end. You can have slightly more thermal protection than stock with several other fluids(KV 40C: 7-8, KV 100C 34-38, VI 165+, Flash Point 212 C+:



-Castrol multi-vehicle atf TE ML 11A

-Pentosin ATF 1 TE ML 11B

-castrol transmax TE ML 11B, 14C!



None TE ML optoins include:

-amsoil universal atf

-valvoline max life

-royal purple max gear

-etc.

Loudgoldwing

"None TE ML optoins include:

-amsoil universal atf

-valvoline max life

-royal purple max gear

-etc."

Do you mean that these are good for non-racing use? Or, just no good at all...?

Turkeybaster115

They are good for regular, and light racing use, but they aren't on the approved options list, written by our transmissions manufacturer.

audisport1

Excellent writeup! Well done research.

am_ver

Thanks for sharing!!

Do you own a 335i as well?

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1332371

Turkeybaster115

Yes

mystrodo

Very helpful, Looks like Shell is behind Lifeguard 6.. should take the fear/shock from a few of those who wanted to put fresh fluid in the trannie.

Thanks

BVegas

Great research. BUT I am still not sure what to use in my A6 3.2q tranny if I want to drain/refill.

Funny that this board is discussing this topic, as I also have a Land Rover LR3, which uses the 6HP26 ZF transmission with the exact same shell Shell ATF M-1375.4 / ZF 6-speed Automatic Transmission Fluid.

Lots of discussion on the rover boards too (as the new RRsports, Range Rovers and LR3s all spec this fluid out.

The stuff is ridiculously expensive.

Turkeybaster115

Could you please cut and paste this info in the rover boards for me bro, to spread the word, considering the savings. To answer your question, I used Pentosin ATF1 for our transmission.

LarryJa

What a great Post! Just what I was looking for on LG6.