Quick question about trans fluid

[mbtech208]

What is the factory recommended fluid in the '83 overdrive trans?

[mbtech208]

And is it also used as power steering fluid?

[asavage]

Quoting the 1983 FSM, pg MA-8:

Automatic-T/M and power steering fluid: Type DEXRON

That's it, that's all it has to say on the subject. I'll check the 1983 Owner's Manual when I get home.

Capcity of AT is 7.375 qts -- that sounds like for a dry trans.

PS takes about 1 or 1.5 quarts; the amount varies, as there are two styles of Atsugi PS pump and I can't recall which the diesel version uses.

[asavage]

Interestingly, the '83 OM say that the AT capacity is only 5.875 qts. US qts in both cases.

The '83 OM's AT & PS fluid spec chart looks identical to the one in the '83 FSM.


[Because I use synthetic fluids everywhere, I'd also use synthetic ATF.]

[davehoos]

simple dextron ATF is listed.and is all thats needed.

this type of oil has improoved dramatically..new options available to match the use of the vehicle.but as a rule any dexron type oil will do.other than honda powersteer oil i havnt found a trans oil that wont work.

dexron I,II,III,type F,D,E are all good enough for the auto.
the old Type F[ford] was used in early trans, and gives move grip[rough shift].the jatco shares engineering history with a common ford auto trans.
synthetic oil with give constant shift quality. it getting close to the same price so i recomend it.

i wouldnt use the mitubishi front drive oil due to the cost.it just has more additives.

[philip]

What is the factory recommended fluid in the '83 overdrive trans?

Look on the dipstick near the fill marks. Owners Manual too.

But know also that recommended fluids back in '83 have been superceded.

Fluids like Dexon are supposed to be backward compatable (Dexron, I,II, III).

Ford's Mercon family are not backward compatible to Ford's old spec Type F or FA fluid.

[kassim503]

Dexron 3 is reccomended, could be used in the powersteering without problems.

try to stay away from the really cheap stuff like brands like "costal" or whatnot, the store brand napa fluid runs pretty good, I ran that for about a month until i upgraded to Amsoil synthetic ATF, but that stuff costs something like 9 a bottle and you would need around 4 or 5 quarts to do the job.

[asavage]

NAPA = Ashland Corp = Valvoline. OK stuff.

I, too, use AMSOil ATF. I flushed the AT in the '82 Wagon two years ago (I had access to a commercial flush machine) but because I didn't have a case of AMSOil in stock, it got Chevron ATF instead. Clean is the most important factor, followed by cool. After those, the diff. between synth and conventionial begins to factor in.

[mbtech208]

Thanks for the replies. I just bought a couple quarts of Nissan OEM ATF from the dealer. Works just fine.

[davehoos]

had a few inquires about type of atf to use,from different people-different use.couldnt under stand why it took 3 trips for uncle to get oil for a N15 pulsar.

in a work shop we have LE95,dextron 3,mitubishi,and honda steering oil,
this covers just about any vehicle on road.

in i go to the parts shop.
Valvoline-they have an oil they list for GM trans and power steer.[dextron ?]
an oil for fords,borgwarner 3 speeds.japanese trans except mitubishi FWD 4 speeds.[Type F and other dextrons]
however castrol nissan original and one of the bigger suppliers.have a comply different listings for there products,with GM and jatco listed for the same product.

mercury specs given on some brands packaging on and not to use on others.im guessing thes are jatco front drive and european ZF trans.very different beasts.

castrol had a product "special blend" for all power steering aplications with aditives for longer life.the others ad seporate listed for different models that i know specify the same quality.