ATF Additive Effects on Lead Corrosion

This paper presents data on the effect of ATF additives on lead corrosion as measured in a simple bench test and the MERCON^® ABOT. The correlation between the bench test and the ABOT test will be discussed. The effect of base oil, carboxylic acids, and oxidation products on lead corrosion will also be discussed. Two types of additives used in automatic transmission fluids can reduce lead corrosion. Each additive has shown a statistically significant linear correlation to lead loss. There is also a statistically significant detrimental interaction between the additives when both are present in the fluid simultaneously. A mechanism to explain this interaction will be presented along with analyses of the lead surfaces after ABOT testing.