I want somebody whose tranny has actually died to try this so I know if it's true: I have been told that "a little" brake fluid poured into a slipping auto tranny will swell the clutch pack friction surfaces just enough to get a dying tranny working again. What transmits the power in a transmission is a stack of peened-surface steel disks, alternating with another set of steel disks with a thin friction coating sort of like brake lining, one set keyed to a center shaft, the other set keyed to an outer hub. Brand new, the total stack, counting lining, comes to an exact measured height. When not in gear they slide past each other but when they are compressed just a little bit, they lock up against each other and transmit power. One of the main things that kills an auto tranny is that over time the steel surfaces polish and the friction surfaces wear to the point where the clutch pack stack for a given gear isn't tall enough to lock up any more.
As you may know brake fluid has a softening effect on surfaces such as paint and evidently has the same effect on the friction lining - - softening, and swelling.
While the remaining friction surface might be more inclined to wear down quickly, you might get lucky and find that if you drive gently, a cup or so of brake fluid might revive a dead tranny and buy you enough time to be worth the experiment.
I don't think I'd recommend a trial to you, Bill S., as you don't describe a car that's dead yet, just so far a little inconvenient at cold-morning startup.

posted by 70.105.227...

• AT won't shift when cold -- any remedies?, Bill S., Thu, 17 Feb 2005 00:34:37
  • Auto-Rx, then flush, Eiron, Fri, 18 Feb 2005 13:00:29
  • Re: AT won't shift when cold -- any remedies?, Saana88 , Thu, 17 Feb 2005 21:00:04
  • Re: AT won't shift when cold -- any remedies?, phil, Thu, 17 Feb 2005 08:51:22
  • Re: AT won't shift when cold -- any remedies?, Dick in Falls Church, Thu, 17 Feb 2005 07:38:38
    • Re: AT remedy (?!?), RayF, Thu, 17 Feb 2005 10:11:06 <-- Viewing This Message
      • Re: AT remedy (?!?), saabwoman, Thu, 24 Feb 2005 17:07:22

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