Brake Fluid in a transmission?

[69GMC396]

I was going to work the other day in my 1994 2500 6.5L and I passed someone and when it kicked down the tranny slipped. It really makes me mad considering the transmission is only 2,000 miles old. This guy at work. (When I tell you the next part people are going to say is he on crack? He is. Literally.) He told me to put a little brake fluid in the tranny to make it stop slipping. He said mainly all tranny oil is is brake fluid and oil. I didn't take his advice. But I wanted to know is that true that it will stop slipping or would it just fry the tranny.

[BobbyK]

I wouldn't do it.
Brake fluid will attack the rubber seals and anything else rubber.
It will cause the rubber to swell and eventually fail.

Crackheads...don't you just love em:p

[Class of 69]

I've used brake fluid in older trans, that have leaking seals, and slight slippage. It works great!!!. But in a trans with 2,000 miles, I'd be taking it back to the rebuilder and demanding a free repair ( and a new warrenty period to back up the repair! )

[Longhorn Man]

Every tranny company and rebuilder are very particular about what you put in there.
A junk tranny that you just want to milk the last 10,000 miles out of is one thing...but something that fresh needs proper attention.
I have talked about this kind of thing along with additives with the guys at our oil annalys lab, and they all say that anything you put in there other than tranny fluid will have a negitive effect over a long period of time. (although they agree about the milking it portion though.)

[oldsub86]

I have a friend that put a pint of brake fluid into the transmission on an old Pontiac 6000. He got another 6 months out of it and it ran fine for that period. I think he then changed it out before it totally quit. I do agree with the others though, and would only do that with a beater that I planned to scrap.

[LeRoy]

How much do you add to the tranny? Might have to try it someday

[Locutus]

I have one with no foward, but strong reverse. I need to get it to move so I can take somewhere to get it replaced(even if its to a friends house with a concrete driveway). How much would you put in or is this a hopeless cause.

Mike

P.S. I have heard that Power Steering fluid and Tranny fluid are the same type of oil different viscosities. I bought a truck one time that the PO was putting tranny fluid in the PS to stop it from leaking out so fast. (PO was my dad and I got a 96 Z71 4x4 for 300 bucks, I would normally skip over any truck that was cared for improperly. After replacing the PS pump it ran great for the 3 years I had it)

[COBALT]

HELL NO. Bad idea. Even for a "junk" transmission I wouldn't do that. Not because of some principle, but the fact that it literally eats rubber components up (plus the fact that you'll be hand cleaning every part in the transmission to make sure none is left when you rebuild it). Not to mention what it would do to any plastic parts you might not be able to replace.

One thing I have heard that I do believe is using power steering fluid in your automatic transmission in an emergency (road-side breakdown where you absolutely need your transmission to get you home before it goes to the shop for repair).

[Fred T]

Mike - It will be easier to pay a wrecker than to have to clean the brake fluid out. Or, y'all could use some practice backing up, couldn't you?

[69GMC396]

i run the tranny fluid in my power steering. works fine.

[Locutus]

The tranny in the truck is going to be trashed anyway. It has been so jury rigged by the PO that I would be afraid to rebuild it.
I have a clean core that I am going to have them rebuild.

Mike