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The Engineering Society

=For Advancing Mobility
and Sea Air and Space,
INTERNATIONAL- 400 COMMONWEALTH DRIVE, WARRENDALE, PA 15096-0001 U.S.A.

FormulatingAutomaticTransmission Fluidswith
Improved Low Temperature Fluidity
R.F. Watts
J.P. Szykowski
PARAMINS
Exxon Chemical Company
Linden, New Jersey

InternationalFuels and Lubricants

Meeting and Exposition
Tulsa, Oklahoma
October 22-25,1990
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FormulatingAutomaticTransmission Fluidswith
Improved Low Temperature Fluidity

R.F. Watts
J.P. Szykowski
PARAMINS
Exxon Chemical Company
Linden, New Jersey

ABSTRACT Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) rheol-

The driving force for reducing the low-
temperature viscosity of automatic transmission
fluids is improving low temperature transmission
operability. The need for this change in fluid
performance can be attributed to the evolution
from hydraulic control of transmissions to elec-
tronic control. This new requirement for auto-
matic transmission fluids of improved low tem-
perature fluidity causes a shift in the viscosity of
the base oil used to blend the fluid. Conventional
mineral oils are still acceptable bases for these
new fluids as well as specially refined mineral oils
and synthetics. The shift in fluid rheology and
base oils also impacts oxidation resistance, foam-
ing characteristics, anti-wear performance in
hydrodynamic regimes and fluid flash point. All of
these potential problemscan be overcome by the
correct choice of base fluids and additives. -
ogical properties affect transmission operation in
three ways. The first is the change in fluid vis-
cosity with temperature; the second, the change
in fluid viscosity with miles (shear stability); and
third, restricted operation at low temperatures
due to poor pumpability or sluggish flow (1,2).
The basic ATF viscometrics used today
are derived from the DEXRONBII specification
which was issued in 1973 (3). This specification
defines the rheology of the fluid by specifying
viscometric limits at low temperature for the fresh
fluid and at high temperature for the used fluid.
The DEXRONBII viscometric limits are shown in
Table 1.
Table 1

BACKGROUND ~
DEXRON "- II Fluid Viscosity Requirements
Fresh Fluid used Fluid
~1
Kinematic Viscosity No Requirement 5.5 Min.'
@ 100°C, cst
Over the last twenty years automatic trans- / Brookfield Viscosity, cP
I

missions have become increasingly more so- @ -23.3"C (-10°F) 4,000 Max. 6,000 Max."
phisticated each year. Over this time period @ -40°C 50,000 Max. No Requirement
torque converter clutches, electronic controls,
torque management systems as well as 5 speed
automatic transmissions have all been introduced.
In contrast, over the same span of time, the Lowest Viscosity during TURBO HYDRA-MATIC CYCLING TEST
" After TURBO HYDRA-MATIC OXIDATION TEST
viscometric requirements for the fluids used to
operate these transmissions have remained
essentially unchanged.

Page 2
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The majority of the ATF's used in the world
today conform to these DEXRONBII limits, the
exceptions being some factory fill ATF's which
are used by transmission builders in Japan. These
fluids have significantly improved low tempera-
ture fluidity and shear stability.
THE NEED FOR IMPROVED LOW
TEMPERATURE FLUIDITY
The move to ATF's with improved low tem-
perature fluidity is being driven by the desire to
have vehicle performance remain constant over
a wide range of temperatures and operating
conditions. Fuel injection has significantly im-
proved engine operation at low temperatures.
This improved engine operation has made the
low temperature performance of the transmis-
sion much more critical. The evolution from
purely hydraulically operated transmissions to
microprocessor control, through the use of sole-
noid valves, has also heightened the need for
improved low temperature fluidity. Table 2 shows
the change in viscosity experienced by a typical
automatic transmission fluid in the range of
-20" C to 120" C, a range of temperatures that an
automatic transmission can easily experience.
sluggish transmission operation, due to poor fluid
flow; the other is poor startability caused by high
ATF viscosity in the torque converter. This very
viscous fluid in the torque converter causes a
large drag on the starter motor during engine
cranking. Overcoming the high viscous drag
requires the use of larger starter motors, batteries
and battery cables, adding weight to the vehicle.
This phenomenon has been examined by previ-
ous authors using the Hydra-matic THM-12%
transaxle (4).
One question to be answered is: "How
much improvement in low temperature operabil-
ity of the transmission can be gained through fluid
viscometrics alone?" Phrased another way this
question would be: "In how much colder an
environment can the transmission be operated
by merely improving the low temperature fluidity
of the ATF?" Earlier investigators, using two
different approaches to the problem, have come
to a quite similar conclusion; that is, automatic
transmissions do not operate well, or will fail,
when fluid viscosity exceeds 5,000 cP (1,2).
Figure 1

The viscosity of the fluid changes by four Transmission Operability Gain

orders of magnitude over this temperature range. Temperature for 5,000 cP
Temperature for 5,000 cP, "C
I I
Table 2

Viscosity Versus Temperature -50 I

10 20 30 40 50 60
Typical DEXRONa-II Fluid
- 4 0 % Brookfield, cP (Thousands)

Temperature, "C
CB
Viscosity
-
CP
- 7.5 cSt @ 100°C A Full Synthetic

120 4.5
100 7.3 UsingASTM Standard Viscosity-Tempera-
40 35
ture Charts (D 341), which linearize the viscosity
-20 - 2,200
-30 - 8,000
versus temperature relationship, the plot shown
- 40 - 35,000 as Figure 1 can be generated. By drawing lines
from a typical 100" C viscosity of 7.5 cSt to
various -40" C viscosities, the temperature at
ATF's which have very high viscosities at which each fluid reaches a viscosity of 5,000 cP
low temperatures have two adverse effects on can be determined. For example, a fluid which
vehicle operation at low temperature. One is has a kinematic viscosity of 7.5 cSt at 100" C and
Page 3
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a Brookfield viscosity of 30,000 cP at -40" C will
have a viscosity of 5,000 cP at approximately
-28°C. Figure 1 shows that a fluid with a 50,000
cP Brookfield viscosity at -40" C would allow the
transmission to operate down to about -22" C
(about -8°F). A fluid with a 5,000 cP viscosity at
-40" C would allow operation all the way down to
-40" C. A typical synthetic, polyalphaolefin based
fluid, is also shown for comparison.
Figure 2
Transmission Operability Gain
Effect of -40 "C Brookfield
Degreesac Gain in Operability
t I
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
-40'12 Brookfield, cP (Thousands)
- 7.5 cSt @ 100'C
Plotting the data in Figure 1 another way,
as in Figure 2, shows the degrees Celsius gain in
operability made by reducing -40" C viscosity. If
afluid with a -40" C viscosity of 50,000 cP is taken
as the reference point, reducing the -40" C vis-
cosity by 50%, to 25,000 cP, only results in an
operability gain of about 4 degrees C. Use of afull
synthetic fluid results in a 10 to 11 degree C
operability gain.
The effect of fluid viscosity on transmis-
sion shift time and engine cranking torque has
been investigated using the Hydra-matic THM
12% transaxle (4). Figures 3 and 4 are con-
structed by re-plotting the data contained in refer-
ence 4. Figure 3 shows the effect of fluid viscosity
on peak cranking torque measured at -20" F
-(-28.9"C). The cranking torque is directly related
to the viscosity of the ATF. Cranking torque is
also affected by the speed of rotation. This speed
dependence is most likely a result of churning
lossesdue to fluid viscosity. The -40" C Brookfield
viscosities of the test fluids are shown by the
arrows at the top of the plot. Figure 4 shows the
effect of fluid viscosity on the operation of the
THM 125C transmission. As fluid viscosity was
increased, the time to fully engage the forward
clutch, and the time to accomplish the 1-2 shift
increased significantly. The data shown were
generated at -20" F(-28.9" C). The fluids used
35 40 45 50 55 have the -40" C Brookfield viscosities shown by
A Full Synthetic
the arrows. The conclusion which is reached is
that reducing viscosity of the ATF has a signifi-
cant beneficial effect on shift time and cranking
torque.
Figure 4
THM 125C Shift Time
Effect of Viscosity
Shift Time, Sec.
l2 l,,,OOOP 35,000, 130,000 sP

.I.-.

Figure 3
#------
2
I I
2
' 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Peak Cranking Torque

Effect of Viscosity
THM 125C Transaxle
- Viscosity, cP (Thousands)
1-2Shift +FWD Clutch Engage

Peak Torque, First Crank, Lb.-Ft.

180.000 sP

30
20

-
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Viscosity, cP (Thousands)
45 RPM +99 RPM
Cranking Speed

Page 4
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Figure 5 viscosities of less than 20,000 cP at -40" C. This

target has been chosen since it is already being
applied for some factory fill ATF's in Japan and
Effect of Viscosity on Line Pressure will be included in the new General Motors
4L80-E Transmission - DEXRON"-II Fluid
Time to Reach 90% of Line Pressure DEXRONe II(E) specification (6).
Response Brookfield
Viscosity, CP
40,000
Low temperature fluidity of automatic
30,000 transmission fluids is controlled by the inherent
flow characteristicsof the basestock used. These
40
20
'w
2 .
20,000
10,000
basestock flow characteristics are normally a
0 0
-40 -35 -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 function of basestockviscosity(molecularweight),
Degrees Celsius
basestock composition (molecular type) and wax
- -- Response Time -.- Viscosity
content. Low temperature fluidity can also be
influenced by polymeric viscosity modifiers and
Figure 5 shows the effect of fluid viscosity flow improvers.
on the time it takes for a 4L80-E electronically
controlled automatic transmission to reach 90% Formulation approaches to ATF's with
of normal line pressure after applying actuating improved low temperature fluidity fall into four
voltage to the controlling solenoid valve (5). This broad categories; low viscosity paraffinic mineral
measurement includes the time it takes for the oils, medium viscosity mineral oils blended with
solenoid to stroke, as well as time for fluid to flow. naphthenic mineral oils, specially refined mineral
The plot shows that at temperatures above 0" C oils and synthetics.
the response is almost instantaneous. However,
as the temperature was decreased to -40" C the Figure 6
response time went up to nearly 80 seconds.

~
I
Fluid viscosity is plotted on the same chart. It is Impact of Lowering Brookfield !
not surprising that the fluid viscosity versus tem- on Basestock Neutral Number
perature curve is a virtual overlay of the response -40'C Brookfield, cP
time curve. 55,000 h Market Share: I
The conclusions that can be drawn from
this analysis of existing data are, that for conven-
tional transmissions, operability gains made by
moving to ATF's of improved fluidity may be
limited. However, based on the limited data Basestock Neutral Number

Vl Treat Adjusted to
which has been generated using electronically Meet THCT Used Oil Minimum

controlled transmissions, it would appear that

improving ATF low temperature fluidity is crucial Since the most cost effective way to fsr-
to satisfactory operation of these newer more mulate functional fluids is with mineral oils, most
sophisticated transmissions. emphasis will be placed on that approach. Figure
6 relates the Neutral Number of the base oil to the
-40" C Brookfield of the ATF it will produce. When
FORMULATING ATF's WITH IMPROVED the standard ATF Brookfield viscosity require-
LOW TEMPERATURE FLUIDITY ment was less than 50,000 cP at -40" C, conven-
tionally refined basestocks of from 100 to 120
This discussion of formulation approaches Neutral Number could successfully be utilized.
to ATF's with improved low temperature fluidity To produce ATF's with -40°C of 30,000 cP a
will focus on producing fluids with Brookfield normally dewaxed solvent extracted 100 neutral
Page 5
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basestock is satisfactory. Producing ATF's to The solvent extracted mineral oil formula-
meet a requirement of 20,000 cP at -40" C tions start with base oil kinematic viscosities at
requires either a 70 to 80 neutral basestock or a 100" C of about 3.5 cSt. The base oil viscosities
mixture of basestocks which yields similar vis- of the catalytically de-waxed, very low wax con-
cometrics. tent, and wax free synthetic basestocks are
Another class of mineral base oils which somewhat higher since no allowance needs to be
can be used to meet the 20,000 cP requirement made for wax crystal thickening of the fluid at low
is the specially refined mineral oil basestocks. temperatures. For comparison, ATF's formu-
These mineral oils are the products of special lated to be under the DEXRONw II Brookfield
refining operations, normally hydro-cracking fol- limit at -40" C of 50,000 cP typically have base oil
lowed by catalytic de-waxing. This process pro- vis-cosities at 100" C of 4.0 to 4.5 cSt.
duces high viscosity index base oils with very Table 5 gives the viscometric properties of
good low temperature properties (7). the finished ATF's made from these base oil
Table 3 shows the viscometrics of a range mixtures. To each base oil has been added the
of mineral oil basestocks. same detergent inhibitor package and an appro-
priate amount of viscosity modifier to meet the
Table 3 DEXRONw II sheared viscosity limit of 5.5 cSt at
100" C.

Typical Viscometric Data on Mineral Table 5

Oils Useful in Formulating ATF's
Hydrocracked
Solvent Refined Catalytically
Parameter Neutral Oils --
Naphthenics Dewaxed
Finished ATF Properties
Neutral Number 75 100 150 75 100

Kinematic Viscosity A
- B
- C
- D
- -E
@ 100°C, cst 3.2 4.1 5.0 2.9 4.1 Kinematic Viscosity
@ 100mC,cSt 7.7 7.5 7.6 7.1 8.3
Kinematlc Viscosity
@ 40°C, cSt 13.5 20.4 29.2 13.0 20.3 Kinematic Viscosity
@ 40"C, cSt
Viscosity Index 104 103 93 60 98 Viscosity Index 210 188 180 175 168
Brookfield Viscosity, cP
Pour Point,"C -6 -18 -18 -30 -15
% -23.3"C 1420 1930 2115 1810 1680
@ -40°C 18,400 19,500 19,300 15,500 12,000

High Temperature
High Shear Viscosity
Table 4 shows four mineral oil approaches @ 150"C, 10' Set-' , cP 2.24 2.09 2.15 2.12 2.27

to formulating ATF's which meet the 20,000 cP

Brookfield viscosity target as well as a fully syn-
thetic formulation. All of the fluids meet the 20,000 cP maxi-
mum viscosity target; however, the solvent
Table 4 extracted mineral oil formulations are very close
to the limit. The 'wax-less' formulations meet the
target much more comfortably. The high tem-
perature high shear viscosity of the fluids reflects
Formulation Approaches to ATF's
with Improved Brookfield Viscosities
their hydrodynamic film forming capability. The
lower high temperature high shear viscosities
A ! ! ? ? ! !
Base Fluid
Solvent Extracted 150 Neutral 8 -
obtained with fluids formulated using conven-
Solvent Extracted 100 Neutral 42 43 50 - tional mineral oils are due to lower base oil vis-
Solvent Extracted 75 Neutral 50 30 -
75 Neutral Naphthenic - 27 50 -
Catalytically Dewaxed 100 Neutral
Poiy-Alpha-Oiefin
- - 100
- 100
- cosity and non-Newtonianviscosity modifier shear
thinning.
Viscometric Data
Kinematic Viscosity @ 10OnC, cSt 3.8 3.5 3.5 4.1 6.4
Kinematlc Viscosity @ 40mC,cSt 16.6 15.9 16.7 20.3 35.2
Brwkfieid Viscosity @ O'C, cP 110 210 260 210 280

Page 6
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Table 6 Figure 7

Extrapolated vs. Measured Viscosity

Brookfield Viscosities @ -40" C Fluid A
Extrapolated Versus Measured Kinematic Viscosity, Centistckes
100,000
10,000

1,000
. 4 0 a C Brwkfield, cP
Measured 18,400 19,500 19,300 15.500 12,000
Exbapolated 3,975 6,320 8,565 8.475 7,955 100

AViscosity, CP 14,425 13,180 10,735 7,025 4,045

(Measured-Extrapolated) 10

Containing Basestack 100 73 50 0 0

-40 0 40 100 150
Temperature, Degrees. Celsius

ASTM Standerd vlscoslty.Temperaturs Ch&

fa Llquld Pelroleurn Pmdusts ( 0 341)

Table 6 compares the measured -40" C PERFORMANCE OF ATF's WITH

Brookfield viscosities of the five fluids to the
values obtained by extrapolating from the meas-
ured viscosities at 100° C and 40" C. Quite large
differences are found between the measured and
extrapolated values. This difference, or delta
viscosity, is shown graphically for fluid A in Figure
7. This departure from linearity is due to an
increase in viscosity at low temperature caused
by crystallization of the wax contained in the
conventionally refined mineral oil basestock, and/
or wax/viscosity modifier interactions (8). The
area contained between the two curves should
be roughly proportional to the amount of wax in
the fluid. This appears to be true, since the
magnitude of the delta viscosity at -40" C de-
creases as the amount of wax-containing base-
stock decreases. Conversely, as the ao i unt
non-wax containing basestock (naphthenicbase-
stock) increases, the departure from extrapo-
IMPROVED BROOKFIELD VISCOSITY
Reducing the basestock viscosity and increas-
ing the viscosity modifier treat can impact a
number of fluid performance areas. The most
important of which are: oxidation resistance,
foaming characteristics, wear under hydrody-
namic conditions and flash point. The impact on
these performance areas will be addressed indi-
vidually.
Oxidation Resistance
Table 7
of Ford MERCON" Aluminum Beaker
Oxidation Test
Ford
Limit -A -B -C -D -E
- I

lated viscosity decreases. The practical conse- Pentane Insolubles, %

at Zoo Hrs.
Delta TAN
o,ll o.18 0.33 0.32 i
quence of this is, that when using very waxy at 2 5 0 Hrs.
at 3 0 0 Hrs.
5.0Max. 2.6
2.8
4.3
6.3
5.4
6.4
1.3
1.5
2.0
2.2
basestocks, formulations must be constructed Delta IR
at 2 5 0 Hrs. 5 0 Max. 17.4 39.5 51.2 17.0 11.6
which allow for considerable thickening at low at 3 0 0 Hrs. 21.6 50.5 61.2 18.6 12.0
Viscosity Increase
temperatures due to wax crystallization/interac- at 40% %
at 2 5 0 Hrs. 5 0 Max. -3.7 23.6 46.7 -8.1 -1.5
-
tion effects. This observation is further supported at 3 0 0 Hrs.
Hours to Fail -
28.7
>300
79.7
-275
137.8
-250
-7.7
,600 SO0
-1.1

by the lower delta viscosities observed for the l

fluids formulated with catalyticallydewaxed base-
stock and the synthetic basestock. Table 7 shows the Ford MERCONBAlumi-
num Beaker Oxidation Test (ABOT) results for
the five fluids shown in the previous section
(Tables 4 and 5) (9). The fluids A through C
contain increasing amounts of naphthenic base-

Page 7
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stock: A has none, B contains 27%, and C con-
tains 50%. The ABOT results show that the
naphthenic basestock has a detrimental effect on
oxidation resistance. Fluid A passed the Ford re-
quirements easily, even at 300 hours. Fluid B
passed at 250 hours but failed at 300 hours. Fluid
C failed at 250 hours. This effect is most notice-
able in fluid viscosity increase. Figure 8 is a plot
of the percent increase in kinematic viscosity at
40" C versus test hours. It shows the negative
impact of the naphthenic basestock on oxidation
quite clearly. The hydro-cracked catalytically de-
waxed stock and the synthetic basestock pass
the Ford conditions easily, even when the test is
extended.
Figure 8
Ford Aluminum Beaker Oxidation Test
Percent lncrease in K V @ 40°C vs. Hours
<20,000 cP Fluids
% Increase in KV @ 4 0 ° C
160 1
- .- , A, NO Naphthenic
27% Naphthenic
100
80
60 1 ..
:
-
-..a-
I---
C, 50% Naphthenic
D. Cat. Da-Waxed
E. Svnthetic
20
0
-20
0 100 200 300 400
Test Time, Hours
500 600
Foamina Characteristics
Foaming characteristics of transmission
fluids are dependent on many variables (10).
Base fluid type and viscosity, along with additive
types and contaminants can all have dramatic
impacts on fluid foaming. Reducing basestock
viscosity increases the tendency for stable foam
formation at high temperatures. This could be
due to changes in the base oil surface tension
characteristics as a result of inclusion of lower
molecular weight oil molecules, or due to changes
in additive or anti-foamant solubility characteris-
tics at elevated temperatures. Table 8 shows the
impact of changing fluid viscosity on foaming.
Table 8
I
Foam Test Results
Effect of Lowering Brookfield Viscosity
Anti-Foam Level
-40%
Standard Double Treat
Broakfield, cP
27,500
Procedure: DEXRONB-II MERCON'
Pass Pass
0EXRON'-II
Pass
MERCON'
Pass
14.750 Fail Fail Fail Fail
All Fluids Contain Same Detergent Inhibitor Package
The two fluids shown in Table 8 both
contain the same detergent inhibitor package
and the same DEXRONB IID type of anti-foam
system. A fluid blended with pure solvent ex-
tracted 100 Neutral mineral oil basestock, which
had a -40" C Brookfield viscosity of 27,500 cP,
passed both the DEXRONB IID and MERCONB
foam tests with the conventional treat rate of anti-
I
foamant (3,9). To show that the anti-foamant did
not have a detrimental effect at higher treats the
H tests were rerun with double the treat rate. The
fluid again passed both tests. When a naphthenic
basestock was added to the solvent refined 100
700
Neutral base oil, to reduce the -40" C Brookfield
to approximately 15,000 cP, it failed both foam
tests at both a conventional and double treat of
the anti-foamant. Treating ATF's of lower
Brookfield viscosities to give adequate anti-foam
performance requires judicious selection of anti-
foamant type and treat rate, as well as a good
knowledge of the basestock types involved.
Anti-Wear Performance
Chemical additives are excellent at con-
trolling wear under boundary and extreme pres-
sure conditions. However, many wear areas in
automatic transmissions operate in hydrodynamic
or mixed hydrodynamic and boundary condi-
tions. In these areas of the transmission, fluid
film strength is very critical. High temperature
high shear (HTHS) rate viscometry can give
some indication of fluid film strength under these
Page 8
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conditions (11). Table 5 lists the HTHS viscosi- the fluids in Table 5 might be expected to be weak
ties for the five typical sub 20,000 cP Brookfield in hydrodynamic film formation.
ATF's used as examples earlier. These viscosi-
ties were measured at 150" C under a shear rate Flash Point
of 1O6 sec-I. For comparison purposes a typical
DEXRONB IID fluid would have a HTHS viscos- As the viscosity of mineral oil basestocks
ity of about 2.1 to 2.3 cP measured under the decreases, flash points generally decrease as
same conditions. well. This is due to the higher vapor pressure
exerted by the lower molecular weight constitu-
Table 9 ents of the basestock. When using these low
viscosity base oils as blendcomponents to achieve
fluids of lower -40" C Brookfield viscosity, prob-
Output Carrier Pinion Pin Wear
Turbo Hydra-Matic Cycling Test lems meeting fluid flash point requirements can
THM 350 Transmission occur. The most severe requirement for fluid
Fluid HTHS, cP'
Number
of Tests Pinion Pin Wear
flash point is contained in the Ford MERCONB
-
1 2.2 3 All Pins Heavily Worn specification. Ford requires a Cleveland Open
8 14,000 to 15,000 Cycles
2 2.3 1 Completed to 20,000 Cycles
Cup flash point (ASTM D-92) of greater than
3 2.5 1
with Light Wear
Completed 20,000 Cycles
177°C (9). Figure 9 shows the effect of using
Minimal Wear several low flash point naphthenic basestocks as
blending components to achieve 20,000 cP
Note: All Fluids Contained the Same Additive
Brookfield viscosities. The two curves represent
System in a 9 0 Neutral Base Oil fully formulated ATF's made from a standard
solvent extracted 100 Neutral oil and one of two
The practical significance of film strength different naphthenic basestocks. The two
can be shown in the DEXRONB IID Turbo naphthenic basestocks are from different pro-
Hydra-matic Cycling Test (3). In this test a THM ducers and differ only in COC flash point. The
350 transmission is cycled from idling to wide COC flash points of the two oils are 138°C and
open throttle 20,000 times. The output carriers, 149" C. In each case, it took approximately 25
which house the sun planet gears of this plane- percent of the naphthenic stock to achieve a
tary reduction system, go from rest to a very high -40°C Brookfield of less than 20,000 cP. The
rate of speed in about 1 second. At the onset of fluid formulated with the 149" Cflash material met
acceleration the lubrication mode changes from the MERCONB requirement, although barely,
boundary to hydrodynamic, and then returns to while the fluid formulated with the lower flash
boundary as the cycle ends and the carrier again product was well outside the MERCONB limits.
comes to rest. The higher the film strength of the
lubricant, the longer the pinion pins in this plane- Figure 9
tary gear system, run in a hydrodynamic mode.
The longer the pinions run in a hydrodynamic
Finished ATF Flash Point
mode, the longer they would be expected to Effect of Adding a Low Flash Component
survive. Table 9 gives the results of several THM
Flash Point, "C
350 cycling tests on fluids of various HTHS vis- 200 ,COC.-.-. I

cosities. The fluid with a HTHS viscosity of 2.2 cP

repeatedly failed output carriers at less than 170
MERCON' Limit

15,000 cycles. Raising the HTHS viscosity to 160

between 2.3 and 2.5 cP, by addition of viscosity Relative Percent Naphthenic Stock
modifier, allowed the carriers to complete the Naphthenic Stock Flash Point

20,000 cycle test. Based on this data, some of

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CONCLUSIONS

Automatic transmission operation at low

temperatures can be enhanced by reducing the
-40" C Brookfield viscosity of the ATF. The
biggest gains in operability are seen in newer
electronically controlled transmissions, as com-
pared to conventional hydraulically controlled
transmissions.

Automatic transmission fluids can be for-

mulated to meet these new requirements using
several approaches, including the use of: syn-
thetic basestocks, hydro-cracked and catalyti-
cally dewaxed basestocks, as well as blends of
more conventional mineral oils. When using any
of these formulation approaches, special consid-
eration needs to be given to the oxidation resis-
tance, foaming characteristics, anti-wear per-
formance and flash point of the finished ATF.

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REFERENCES

M.L. Haviland, E.D. Davison, "Automatic Transmission Fluid Viscosity Requirements",

SAE Paper 710838.

T.W. Selby, "Automatic Transmission Fluid Viscosity at Low Temperature and its Effect on
Transmission Performance", SAE Transactions, Vol. 68(1960), Paper 124T.

"DEXRONB II Automatic Transmission Fluid Specification", Fuels and Lubricants Dept.,

General Motors Research Labs., July 1973.

J.L. Linden, S.P. Kemp, "Improving Transaxle Performance at Low Temperature with
Reduced-Viscosity Automatic Transmission Fluids", SAE Paper 870356.

Data provided by Hydra-matic Division of General Motors.

"DEXRONa IIE Automatic Transmission Fluid Specification", GM 6137-M, Hydra-matic

Division, General Motors Corp.

B.K. Lok, "Base Oil Effects on Low Temperature Performance of Lubricants", NPRA FL-86-
105, November 1986.

M.F. Smith, Jr., "Effect of Basestock and Additive Components on the Viscosity of
Crankcase Oils at 0 F", SAE Paper 680068.

Ford Motor Company, MERCONa Automatic Transmission Fluid Specification for Service,
March 5, 1987.

T.V. Friesen, "Transmission - Hydraulic Fluid Foaming", SAE Paper 871624.

"The Relationship Between High-Temperature Oil Rheology and Engine Wear", ASTM
Publication DS62.

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