Dexron ATF is roughly equal to 7W Oil for the Forks...

Posted by sgtslag on Sep 16, 2011; 5:42pm
URL: http://vintage-and-classic-hondas.81.s1.nabble.com/Dexron-ATF-is-roughly-equal-to-7W-Oil-for-the-Forks-tp3342625.html

I just posted on another forum regarding the use of ATF (Dexron III/IV, currently around $3/quart, in my area) in the front forks, in place of expensive Fork Oil (currently around $15/quart, in my area).  Someone chimed in that ATF is roughly equivalent to 7W Fork Oil.  Thought I would spread the wealth around, in case anyone was interested in this somewhat obscure bit of information.

My Voyager spec's state to use "10W-20 Fork Oil" in it (have not found a multi-viscosity Fork Oil yet...  suspect they meant that as a range of straight weight oils to choose from), so I went with 15W Fork Oil, and it is too stiff for my tastes.  I planned on trying 10W in the Spring, or possibly even 5W.  With Dexron ATF being roughly 7W, I plan on using that, and saving myself around $9 on the fork oil change.

How Dexron ATF, specified by Honda for use in forks, compared to Fork Oils, had been a mystery to me for quite a while.  When I researched what was so special about Fork Oils, as opposed to engine oils, I discovered they are super-refined, super stable under a wide temperature range; Dexron ATF shares similar qualities in stability, but it is mass produced, at a fraction of the cost -- but it only comes in one viscosity, which, until now, was a mystery.  Cheers!