Type F ATF

[Bass 67]

Has anyone ever used type f atf in their bikes? What kind of results did you have?

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

What is it ?

 

[Bass 67]

Automatic transmission fluid.

 

[Bass 67]

I have read about people using it in two stroke engines. They claim that it helps the clutch work smoother and shifts better.

 

[4DAIVI PAI2K5]

I use it in the boys 50's, have for years now. Gets changed very often with the auto clutch in the 50's

 

[MarctheSharc]

Never ran atf.
Ive always ran 80wt in a 2-stroke gearbox

 

[Jack Bierbower]

80wt honda or yamalube - people been doin that for centuries in their 2 smokers.

 

[Vet261]

Automatic transmission fluid.

Long time ago people would say to run ATF instead of 10w40. That was like in the 80's. Nowadays, run a good quality oil made for 2 stroke transmissions.

 

[Bass 67]

Myself, I have been running 75wt in the son’s bikes from 65’s up to 125 now. It has been working well with no problems.

 

[jfalat]

15w40 rottella.works great and cheap.

 

[Meister]

In my yz days I ran Valvoline 10w30.

In my 15 ktm, per Dowds mechanic (actually got info from his mechanics good friend who had him do his bikes up), I ran 50/50 atf/cheap oil. Supposedly that's what Dowd preferred, even in his factory bikes.

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

Didn’t they change the rotella formula ?

 

[MX_Implements]

Didn’t they change the rotella formula ?

Yes. There’s something in there now that makes too slick for wet clutches.

 

[SCHAFFERNOCKER]

I ran 50/50 atf/cheap oil. Supposedly that's what Dowd preferred, even in his factory bikes.

My RM has this grabby clutch issue that as soon as the oil breaks down after the first day of riding, its a pain to take off smoothly. I was too cheap at the time to redo the entire clutch setup, so I played around with different brands and ratio variations, I ended up with 50/50 ATF with straight 30W oil. It worked good, cost almost nothing (compared to brand name gear oils), and you could change it as often as you would clean your air filter. I did try the redline shockproof... looks like a shamrock shake It was really smooth and instantly noticeable in engagement, but still didn't last past the first ride for my problem. I also couldn't get over the thickness of it, it bothered me thinking that it would never fully drain out and I would be over filling it each time.

Long story short, yes, I tried the ATF and liked it. If you're a full-time 2-stroker, it will pay off in the end. No, I never fixed the clutch.... bought a new 450 instead

 

[jfalat]

Yes. There’s something in there now that makes too slick for wet clutches.

Yes. There’s something in there now that makes too slick for wet clutches.

i still run it with no issues.. rotella T-4 15W40 is conventional oil.. you maybe thinking of the new t-5 and t-6.. they semi and full synthetic oils.

 

[ck1racerx]

Never ran ATF in a fart bike. But always used it in the smokers. Never had a problem and never replaced clutches

 

[kevin921]

 

[MX_Implements]

i still run it with no issues.. rotella T-4 15W40 is conventional oil.. you maybe thinking of the new t-5 and t-6.. they semi and full synthetic oils.

They changed the formula when they updated the bottle. Hinson and Rekluse both stop suggesting use several years ago. I use to use it and shortly after the change I had some clutch issues.

 

[jfalat]

They changed the formula when they updated the bottle. Hinson and Rekluse both stop suggesting use several years ago. I use to use it and shortly after the change I had some clutch issues.

Interesting..I have been running it in all 3 of my yz smokers with no issues. wonder what they added to the oil to cause issues. the usually don’t add tons of friction modifiers to conventional oils. May have to keep a eye on this..

 

[mcso434]

Interesting..I have been running it in all 3 of my yz smokers with no issues. wonder what they added to the oil to cause issues. the usually don’t add tons of friction modifiers to conventional oils. May have to keep a eye on this..

I too run Rotella T4 15w-40. I use it in a Beta 250rr, KTM 150 xc, YFZ450 and a Grizzly 660. I have used it in every two stroke bike I have had. (many) They definitely use a new formula. It says it meets the JASO MA/MA2 requirements, but it sure doesn't act like the older formula. It seems that it breaks down quicker, or the friction modifiers don't break down while the other materials do(?). With the new formulation, I get clutch plate noise, and some squeals after about 4 hours. It is cheap, so I change it at that point, but I never experienced this with the old formulation.

As for using ATF in a two stroke transmission, I did that a few times on a '99 KX250 I had. No issues, good shifting qualities.