Hey All
It has been a while, but I am nearing completion of my restoration of a 1961 super 88. My question, what type of ATF to use, I know it says type A, but....
Also, what type of power steering fluid are you all using?
Many thanks
Rob

 

The 1961 Oldsmobile service manual says that the fluid should have the following designation: brand name, including the words "...... Fluid Type A", plus the mark AQ-ATF and number and a letter "A" embossed on top of can as follows: "AQ-ATF-number-A". Change every 26,000 miles. 5-1/2 qts. for a conventional drain; 6-1/2 qts. for a pan removal; 9 qts. for an overhaul.
The original designation is hard to find (maybe now impossible?). Here's one that's a "maybe": http://www.warrenoil.com/
The last time I changed the fluid in my '55 Olds Hydramatic (a long time ago) I used whatever Dexron was current at the time. It has worked well since then. I did a complete change at the time, including the hydraulic coupling (which became a torque converter in '56) to minimize any possible incompatibility between fluids. Currently, "synthetics" may be available for it.
The manual says to use Hydra-Matic transmission fluid for the power steering.

 

ATF works fine for power steering but I have gone to using power steering fluid. i don't know why, it just seemed like the thing to do. Whatever the latest Dexron (I think II) is what I use in my 54 Olds. Works fine.

 

Since 2006 model years ,gm uses dex 6 auto trans fluid which supercedes all previous auto trans fluids, and is backwards compatible.


see or google bulletin # 04-07-30-037e. So,if your car was equipped with dex II for example,and it is no longer available, you can use dex 6.Hope that helps!




Juve