Manufacturer specifications exist for a reason. We’re just as guilty as the next guy of not following them to a tee every time, but the overall goal from their standpoint is pretty simple: protect the customer’s investment. Dumping any old fluid into a high-dollar aftermarket transmission, for example, puts the user at a high risk of failure and puts the manufacturer in a position of not being able to honor the warranty due to incorrect installation.
Silver Sport Transmissions wants every one of their TREMEC customers to be successful so they provide all the resources to do so. “When you get your kit and installation manual, on the very last page you will find a list of acceptable fluids for use in your transmission. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you only use these fluids. Other fluids will void your warranty and for good reason,” they noted in a recent newsletter.
Unfortunately, one buyer failed to heed the warning and ended up with big problems. “We recently had a TREMEC transmission come back for shifting troubles. The customer had used an unapproved fluid. The fluid was too thick, which slowed down the synchronization and caused gear clash which damaged the clutching teeth of the gears and synchronizers.”
It seems like such a simple thing to read and follow directions, especially on a purchase of this magnitude. Missteps are all but inevitable when time and patience wear thin, but we’ll go ahead and reiterate those three words most hot-rodders hate to hear: read the instructions.