Thoughts on Lube Gard automatic trans additive

425k on this original tranny. Changed fluid every 30k zero issues. No additives needed.

 

I know of 3 import specialty garages that use or recommend that in all there AT service. (Subaru/Toyota/Honda) and I use it in all my vehicles and seems to improve shifting.

 

Don't know why anyone would use additives in a transmission that's operating correctly, or incorrectly for that matter.
If you want to get long life out of your 1st Gens, leave them alone.

 

A couple years ago , lubeguard was " Not " available to the general public . Only transmission shops and dealerships were able to get their hands on the products they offer .
Have any of you taken a trip over to their website and sniffed around ? This stuff aint snake oil gentlemen . Read what the product does when you blend it in with regular OEM fluid .
https://www.lubegard.com/automotive/#submenu1
At my transmission shop , every trans I overhaul or service gets a bottle .
Its the LXE compound within the additive that makes the stuff work so incredibly well with new transmissions as well as old transmissions . LXE is highly friction modified !!!!!!!!
You dont have to believe me , I challenge you to call any reputable transmission shop and ask their opinion . I already know what they are going to tell you
Now that the stuff is available to you at Amazon , I highly suggest you spend the 10 bucks and get a bottle circulating even if you have to drain a little fluid out to make it fit .

With this said , there are off the shelf conditioners ( Snake oils ) that are designed to fix certain issues but after a heat soak of 100 miles the additive turns to acid .
If not removed after the conditioner depletes , the acid destroys your transmission fluid .
Lubeguard doesnt work this way .lubeguard is designed to stay working with your transmission fluid until the next transmission service is due

 

I appreciate you sharing your input and experience with this stuff, especially since you actually repair them and use it and have experience with it. Thanks for typing that up

 

Which one of the Lubegaurd's do you recommend? It looks like there's 3 options of lubegaurds.

 

Who, me?!
I have no idea, but I trust gearcruncher's take on things transmission related. I think he mentioned which one, I'll double check his post

 

Only thing I see mentioned is LXE but that sounds like part of the additive

 

oops quoted the wrong person. LOL

 

Which one of the Lubegaurd's do you recommend? It looks like there's 3 options of lubegaurds.

 

LXE is what I remember about it as a whale oil replacement.

When whale (ester) oil was removed from ATF in the early 70s, after a fluid change, I remember it wiped out a bunch of hydramatics and powerglides from the 1960s.

I will never forget the weird smell that came along with overhauling an old GM transmission that had been running fluid with whale oil. If walked by shop with a transmission overhaul going on, you could smell it outside.

 

I used the red lubeguard

 

Oh, their resistance to thermal breakdown is what helps make this stuff so good.
That means it could help those with heavy loaded armored tacos, those with the blower, and those beating on the tacos offroad. And of course in general for anyone, as these tacos age we're gonna see where the lack of maintenance really affects it. These things were so good at being neglected that not very many followed the preventative maintenance plan Toyota designed for them. It's the American way, unfortunately, if it ain't broke don't mess with it.
And Toyotas being so resilient and durable make it real easy for owners to not perform the factory specified maintenance.... Me included. I have to check my valve clearances this spring/summer. I'd rather replace a few shims instead of rebuild a head or buy a new head
So maybe this stuff will help as these transmissions age and IF they start to have issues....i guess you should be preventative about it and do it beforehand huh?

 

Let me clarify: I know of 3 import specialty garages that use or recommend that in all there AT service. (Subaru/Toyota/Honda) and I use it in all my vehicles and DOES improve shifting.

 

First gen trucks with the A340 series 4 speed transmissions , I use either the red bottle or the black bottle as they are very similar in composition and both carry the LXE additive . I make the choice after a hot test drive to determine which bottle to use .

For second gen trucks with the A750 series 5 speed transmissions as well as third gen trucks with the AC60 series 6 speed transmission , I use the Platinum bottle

 

Thanks Man,
Just about to service mine when I read this thread.