Any positive or negative feedback concerning Valvoline's Maxlife Dex/Merc ATF? I have been considering using it in the '96 with an E4OD as opposed to the regular Valvoline ATF. Both fluids meet Dex/Merc III spec. The Maxlife also meets Mercon V spec, and the Maxlife is a synthetic blend if that matters... Truck is pushing 165K miles.

Folks over on BobistheOilGuy, prefered the Maxlife(as I do too, in some applications) but I wanted to hear from the guys that actually drove these trucks.

Let me know. Thanks guys.

 

My truck has had the Valvoline Max Life transmission fluid used in it for quite some time. I'd say 2 or 3 services. It's 4R70W is original and is nearing 300000 miles.

 

^ Well then haha. Hard to argue with that. Thanks man.

 

cool, here's another one, my truck is also a 96 and it's on it's second transmission service with valvoline. it also has 279,000 miles on it.

 

WOW 300,000 miles. what mileage you see since it was first day and now?

I haven't able find synthetic ATF at local stores.

 

My truck has always gotten about 15-17 mpg except for the period when it was lifted then it was a couple mpg lower.

 

No problem. Don't forget to drain the torque convertor when you service it. Also, I suggest a Motorcraft or Wix filter.

 

I'm using it in my ZF5 right now.
Not that it makes a bit of difference to those of you with automatics, but it seems to work well in my manual that calls for Type-H.

Couldn't source RP Syncromax locally so I had to order it online and wait.

 

i have a ******** for RP and synthetic fluids in genteral... Somtimes they are a bad idea putting in for motor oil after 100K-150K but as for gear fluid, transfer case fluid and tranny fluid...

I LOVE ME SOME RP!!!!!!!!!!!

I know this sounds silly as all get out but I put a little dye in my atf before filling my transfer case... Reason being if I have a leak between tranny and transfer case the color will tell me what's leaking... Just a thought as you fill up your tranny... powdery or grainy dry dye isn't good for the tranny... I used liquid dye in transfer case only.

 

And, It's here!
Damn, Amazon is fast sometimes. Now I wish I HAD waited.
I might just run it a little while.
Dropped what looked like a strawberry milkshake out of the ZF last weekend.

ATF is red and the RP is, well... purple.
What color do you add to your fluid Nathan?

I already know both output seals on the 1356 are leaking.
I have a spare that I hope to rebuild as funds allow.
That way it's just a swap and I can save on downtime.

 

I have 1 or 2 spare t-cases depending on the day and what I think Zues's future holds (parts or fix it). Anyhow I am going to rebuild my spare t-case as time and money allows also but have neither right now. I want to change the speedo drive gear for a fresh one and change shaft seals at least... then get a new driven gear so the speedo will finally work. unfortunatly i'm not leaking and have a gps with speedo on it so it might be a while b4 i get to the tcase rebuild...




RP was a little expensive and I was in college when I did my tranny and t-case. I know a Ford Tranny mech. so he got me Motorcraft ATF to put in both. So I put blue dye in the ATF that when in the tcase... RED+BLUE= Purple!

I don't know what I'll do when I do my t-case work... I have RP in the front and rear diff of my truck since I could afford it after college. I'll probably put RP in my ZF and then put RedLine ATF in my t-case when I get around to opening them up again. That way I still have synthetics of different colors in my zf and t-case.

I just saw RP's Maxfilm at O'Reillys the other day... AND JEEE WIZZZZZZZZ that is some expensive stuff $8-$9 for a little 4oz spray can!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would buy way more RP products if they were a little more reasonable on price... I'm sure a lot more of us FTE guys would in fact. I know they have awesome products but you can't price yourself strait out of the market! I mean the normal guy doesn't have a Drag-Racers budget for fluids!

I'm going to talk to a couple local shop owners I know and see if they get it any cheaper (ie: wholesale) or something...

 

I just like knowing where my drips are coming from if I have any and when you have a different color in the engine, tranny, and t-case it makes finding the drip easy!

As of now I don't have a single drip or leak anywhere...

Well I take that back I think i have a antifreeze leak by my head b/c my expansion tank needs some extra fluid every 7000-9000 miles and my exhaust is a little white sometimes... either way not worth doing the work... yet...

When it gets worse I'll do a cam, P&P work and maybe injectors with FPR... Of course that means either carb or maf swap... but the 4.9maf stuff is cheap since no one around here cares about their 4.9 being maf...

I'm sure that's more than anyone wanted to know so i'll shut up know...

 

Thanks guys. I currently have the Maxlife in the T-Case.

The only time I have used RP products, was their Synchromax in my car's T5 car and their 75W-90 in the axle. The tranny fluid was used up by 20K miles... notchy shifts. The basic Valvoline ATF that replaced the RP made a big difference .One reason for synthetics is extended drains, but I guess manual trannies are not the place for extended drains. The gear oil is still in the car. Will probably be replaced soon with Motorcraft synthetic 75W-90.

 

rp 75w90 isn't good for manual trannies. Just a heads up. That was a $40 lesson. I put it in my jeep and ended up draining it after a few weeks. It doesn't do well with yellow metals(synchros). I think I'll put synthetic atf in my m5od next drain.

 

I won't run Royal Purple in anything I have. I have heard from multiple sources that in motor oil form it is better for race applications not extended driving. I don't know if any of that is true, but I have not heard many good comments about it to even consider buying it.