PCM transmission fluid

I have a 1996 Ski Nautique with 1.23:1 PCM transmission. I want to replace the transmission fluid...........what should I use?
It calls for Dexron ll-d but that is no longer available.

Zach, multipurpose fluid? What the heck is that?

Dex/Merc or Dex III are recommended for both PCM and Velvet Drives. Stick with conventional (do NOT use synthetic) and avoid high mileage formulations.

TRBenj wrote: Dex/Merc or Dex III are recommended for both PCM and Velvet Drives. Stick with conventional (do NOT use synthetic) and avoid high mileage formulations.

OK I'm bringing this thread up because I was under the same impression as what was stated by Tim.
So when Tullfooters new to him boat was advertised as having synthetic oils in both the engine and transmission it threw up a red flag to me.
So I pulled out my manual from my '95 and it states...

PCM transmissions: All PCM transmissions use 20-20W engine oil

Warner transmissions: Use only automatic transmission fluid Type "A" suffix "A" in this transmission. This fluid is GM type and is trade named Dexron or Dexron II.

I knew the BG's use Dexron but I've never heard of the 20-20 engine oil in the PCM's.
I'm 100% sure I've been running Dexron in my PCM 1.23:1

Gary S wrote: I seem to remember a thread Paul that when the PCM's first came out that they used 20 weight oil. Later they changed to Dexron.

This is true. Actually, when the reduction gear first came out in 1989, it used ATF. We (CC) complained bitterly about the whine, so they put a stick-on tag on them saying to use 20W motor oil. Not only did it not fix the whine, but you could hardly find it in the South. Soon they went back to ATF. You can put anything you want in it and it will be perfectly happy. Under high loads (like wake boats) I prefer ATF, as it has less lubricity to it and the clutches might hold better uder load. And it makes no difference if youj use Dexron 1,2,3,4,5, or whatever. Just don't use the stuff that's specifically labeled for only Ford/Mercury vehicles. It has pretty much disappeared off the market anyway.

Art

74Wind wrote: but my bro has a 72SW20 318 Chrysler in which his Transmission co-mingles and so requires oil, not T-fluid. My 74 SW20 takes DExtron

74wind...... This is interesting to me. There are still a lot of Paragon mechanical-shift transmissions out there that use the engine oil for lubrication. However, I've never seen one in a CC as late as a '72 model. Is it possible that the engine and/or the transmission in your bro's boat is not original but came out of an earlier model boat?

If it is a mechanical Paragon, it will likely have a flat, almost square bolt-on cover on the top, about 6 X 6 inches. There will be a shift lever sticking out of the floor next to the driver's seat connected to a rod or pipe in the bilge that operates a lever on the starboard side of the transmission.

If he is interested in researching this, send me the boat HID and the model and serial number of the engine (it will be on the bellhousing at about 10 o'clock position) and I can look up the build record on the boat to see whether the engine is the one installed at the factory. The boat HID will either be on a plate attached to the coaming just ahead of the throttle control or in the standard location on the transom.

Art   

Tim, It covers all the revisions of the dex/merc family. I have used it in the BW in my boat for all 600 hours. N3 was already using it before I go there.

If it has a conventional Morse shifter/throttle, it is certainly a hydraulically-operated transmission, probably a BW. If it doesn't look like a BW, it's remotely possible that the Borg was replaced with a hydraulic Paragon or a Hurth. But in either of those cases, it does't mix with the engine oil. I hope he's checking the transmission dipstick and NOT adding engine oil there!
Art

True what Pete says. I think the first BWs were in '56 or '57. The ones with the plate on the back side of the pump.

Pete, I wonder whether you know if the bellhousing bolt pattern where the transmission mounts was standardized from the start. The only Paragon I ever owned was mounted to the damper to attain RH rotation, but I don't remember what the mounting system looked like.

Art,
The mechanical's as well as the early hydraulics (Dearbo's) were direct coupled and didn't use a dampner. Also, in the day's of the true marine engine like a Gray or Universal, they would buy a Paragon gear set and mount it in their own case matched to their engine. I believe that Chrysler even used the Paragon gear set in their own housings.

When I run the photo up to 200%, I think I can see the characteristic "rib" that runs fore-and-aft on the top center of the BW trannie. It's partially hidden by the electrical panel. Need more light in that hole!
Art

Looks like a BW Velvet to me. Considering it's on the tail end of a 318, I would expect nothing else.

No, they never used engine oil for their hydraulics.