Ha, some of us work, this had to wait for lunch break. But since you ask...

Yes, friction modifiers can change fluid properties and have been used to resolve transmission shudder problems. Been there. My recollection was back to specific models of Ford automatics, many years ago. What the friction modifiers did was shift the fluid properties just enough to avoid the shudder. The shudder in that case wasn't damaging, or a sign of impending failure, it was simply a customer annoyance. The manufacturer determined through testing how much, of which additive, would help without hurting. That is exactly the situation of the SAAB technical recommendation on the vendor's site, although the vendor then turned around and claimed a broad endorsement without noting that it was in fact very specific.

The friction properties of the fluid are the biggest difference between the various ATF fluid specs. This has nothing to do with making the fluid perform better at lubrication (ie metal bits turning on metal bits), or as a hydraulic fluid, but simply changing the friction on the wet clutch plates at the point of engagement of each shift.

So, any claims that this additive can make the transmission run smoother by reducing metallic friction are bogus IMO. They may include additives that help with seal life, but you have to ask if those additives are what is required, ie are the original additives depleted? And what are the side effects of these specific additives? The vendor also claims to help with oxidation, but we would have to know that oxidation was a problem to worry about that.

For the above reasons, the claim that this is a wonder fix, or a preventative maintenance product, are laughable. Still, to resolve a problem with clutch engagement, things like this product can certainly work.

Now the question. Who says the fluid friction between the clutch plates is too high? What if it is too low for smooth clutch engagement, ie the fluid is out of spec? That would mean that this product would make the situation even worse. It is just like putting the wrong ATF in and hoping that it will be a better fit with the current transmission condition than the correct fluid would be.

To paraphrase Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry, "The question is, do you feel lucky today? So do you....?" If so, then Ghost should try it. You have a 50% chance of shifting the fluid properties in the needed direction, but that does not correlate to a 50% chance of fixing a shudder problem. Think about the consequences of damaged clutch plates that now don't engage, and continue to slip. They soak up the additive, and continue to slip even when you flush the fluid again. That requires a transmission tear down to replace those clutch plates (been there, after the wrong fluid was installed in a transmission by an owner).

I trust these won't be construed as simply negative comments, but rather a consideration of the positives and negatives.

Jeff

__________________
2007 X3 3.0si, 6 MT, Premium, White

Retired:
2008 535i, 6 MT, M Sport, Premium, Space Grey
2003 X5 3.0 Steptronic, Premium, Titanium Silver
2002 325xi 5 MT, Steel Grey
2004 Z4 3.0 Premium, Sport, SMG, Maldives Blue