ATF+ 3 or ATF + 4

Hello:
need to ask, which fluid should i use for a 97' G Voyager w 3.3 and 4sp 604
trans.

THANK YOU
EARL

 

+3. +4 is OK unless the transmission goes through a retraining sequence,
then the clutch may chatter, causing damage.

Richard.

 

ATF+3 is what you need.

Good Luck

 

Richard, what is that based on? I know the TSB (No. 21-006-01) says
that "ATF+3 should continue to be used for 1999 and earlier minivans
because of the potential for torque converter shudder during break in",
but "break in" is not the same as "retraining". Is a misinterpretation
of that sentence from the TSB what you base your statement on?

It has been suggested on this ng that the dealers (with or without
Chrysler's blessing?) are using ATF+4 for everything because it is
assumed that any '99 or earlier minivan's tranny will be well broken in
by now. so the potential for shudder and damage is therefore a moot
point for those vehicles.

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")

 

Another ATF+4 question. On my son's 2001 Dakota we have been changing the
fluid and filter every 35,000 miles.
First time around the service department indicated to use the ATF+4 which we
did. Last week at 70,000 miles a trip to a different Dodge truck dealer for
fluid we were told that trans uses ATF+3 just fine and thats all they use.
BUT the service manager also mentioned that once ATF+4 is installed then you
cannot go back to using ATF+3. Anyone else heard this?

To be on the safe side we of course continued using ATF+4. Big difference
in price but a tranny costs a lot more than the occaisional fluid change.

--
Mike....................................................
"Opportunities are spawned from crisis"


It has been suggested on this ng that the dealers (with or without
Chrysler's blessing?) are using ATF+4 for everything because it is
assumed that any '99 or earlier minivan's tranny will be well broken in
by now. so the potential for shudder and damage is therefore a moot
point for those vehicles.

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")

 

ATF +3 and ATF +4 have properties that are close enough so they
can be used interchangably in these trannies, the main difference though
is that ATF +4 is synthetic, ATF +3 is not. Thus, the lifetime of ATF +4
is in theory tremendously greater than ATF +3, plus it will stand up a lot
better to
heavy work that generates a lot of heat such as towing.

With an ATF +3 regimen the current Usenet wisdom is to follow the
Severe Duty change schedule in the owners manual. With ATF +4 there
is really no current consensus, because it hasn't been mandated for
long enough for people to get a feel for what is best. Obviously if you
come from the "pro synthetics" camp your probably going to claim that
ATF+4 lasts the life of the car.

ATF +3 is a lot cheaper than ATF +4, because Chrysler currently holds
a trademark on the names "ATF +4" and "ATF +3" and will not permit
anyone to use the trademark ATF +4 on transmission fluid. They even
have gone so far as to block the 2 licensed ATF +4 fluid manufacturers
from OEMing ATF +4 to anyone else. There are a few trans fluid
manufacturers that skirt the rules (Amsoil) and claim their stuff is ATF +4
"compatible" which they can get away with doing because nobody pays
much attention to them, but of course since they do not have licensing from
Chrysler for this, there's no way of knowing if their stuff really is
compatible
or not. (plus it's about the same price anyway, so what's the point)

If you believe that synthetic transmission oil is far and away superior than
non-synthetic trans oil, most likely you would buy off on the idea that it
can last 3 times longer, in which case the total price between ATF +3 and
ATF +4 is pretty much the same since you would have to change ATF +3
3 times for every 1 time you changed ATF +4. I personally do not support
the notion of "extended drain intervals" for motor oil or tranny fluid.

Ted

 

Are you the famous Earl of Chicago who rides 30,000 miles on a turbo trainer?

Dick Longer

 

If you're having it flushed than +4 is fine. +4 is all my local dealer sells
btw and says they got a tsb saying that it can and should be used. I"ve been
using it with no issues whatever in my vans. If you're not having it flushed
though than use +3 as there is nobenefit to +4 in that application except to
make your wallet a little lighter.
Larry