400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001 U.S.A. Tel: (724) 776-4841 Fax: (724) 776-0790 Web: www.sae.org SAE TECHNICAL PAPER SERIES 2007-01-3975 Future Automatic Transmission Fluids Now! The Melding of New Technology with Global OEM Needs William D. Abraham, Pamela L. Lann, Masahiko Ikeda and Craig D. Tipton The Lubrizol Corporation, USA Powertrain & Fluid Systems Conference & Exhibition Rosemont, Illinois October 29-November 1, 2007Downloaded from SAE International by University of Liverpool, Monday, September 17, 2018The Engineering Meetings Board has approved this paper for publication. It has successfully completed SAE's peer review process under th e supervision of the session organi zer. This process requires a minimum of three (3) reviews by industry experts. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of SAE. For permission and licensing requests contact: SAE Permissions 400 Commonwealth DriveWarrendale, PA 15096-0001-USAEmail: [email protected]: 724-772-4028 Fax: 724-776-3036 For multiple print copies contact: SAE Customer Service Tel: 877-606-7323 (inside USA and Canada)Tel: 724-776-4970 (outside USA)Fax: 724-776-0790Email: [email protected] ISSN 0148-7191 Copyright © 2007 SAE International Positions and opinions advanced in this paper are those of the author(s ) and not necessarily those of SAE. The author is solely responsible for the content of th e paper. A process is available by which discussions will be printed with the pap er if it is publishe d in SAE Transactions. Persons wishing to submit papers to be considered for presentation or publicat ion by SAE should send the manuscript or a 300 word abstract to Secretary, Engineering Meetings Board, SAE. Printed in USADownloaded from SAE International by University of Liverpool, Monday, September 17, 20181ABSTRACT Fuel economy is well known as the main driver for change in transmission and automatic transmission fluid (ATF) technology. This driver has led to the reduction in size and weight of transmission components and also advancements in transmission design. Some of the key transmission design changes include the addition of continuously slipping torque converter clutches, the increase in the number of speeds, the use of more thermally stable friction materials, and other refinements. Specific adjustments to improve ATF performance in these new transmission environments include: 1) reduced viscosity for lower churning losses and improved fuel economy; 2) high shear stability to ensure adequate fluid film thickness throughout the life of the vehicle; 3) high Viscosity Index (VI) oil characteristics for improved fuel economy; 4) improved gear and bearing protection due to lower viscosity; 5) higher static friction for improved clutch holding capacity; 6) higher dynamic friction for greater torque transfer performance; and, 7) long-term anti-shudder performance to enable aggressive use of controlled slip torque converter clutches for fuel economy. We herein report the development of new ATF technology specifically designed to meet all seven of the ATF fluid performance areas mentioned. Extensive friction, oxidation, and wear data is presented along with information from field testing. Much of the friction testing involves the JASO LVFA (Low Velocity Friction Apparatus) measuring anti-shudder performance using graphitic-containing composite friction material, the modified JASO SAE No. 2 that measures torque capacity, the Ford Friction Durability test using either a paper composite or graphitic-containing composite friction material, the GM low speed friction test using woven carbon fiber plates, and the Ford Anti-shudder Durability test. The Ford Aluminum Beaker Oxidation Test (ABOT) tes