Actually up through at least 89 Chrysler spec'd Dextron for their trannies. My
89 Dakota stated to use 7176 or Dextron II. I have always been under the
impression that ATF+ was just Dextron with a friction modifier so the torque
converter clutches would not shudder (kind of like the stuff you put in the
rear end of a sure grip vehicle). On my 89 I regularly changed the filter and
fluid and used Dextron with no problems. It wasn't until after I had the rubber
line at the tranny cooler come off and all the fluid pumped out onto the ground
that I found the issue of needing the friction modifer was real this happened
at approx 220,000 miles on the Dakota). I guess the fluid that was left in the
torque converter after each filter change was enough to prevent the shudder.
Also, it is common to use Mercon in torqueflite trannies in racing applications
to obtain firmer shifting.
It does not suprise me that one fluid is claimed to meet a bunch of different
specs. It's very likely the specs are all about the same.
The ATF+4 seems to be unique since there are so few people claiming to be
compatable. The interesting thing was the marketing propaganda on the back of
the Valvoline MaxLife reads almost the same as the propoganda on the mopar
brand ATF+4, they both claim the same benifits. I also find it interesting that
the mopar ATF+4 bottle also claims it is a "for the life of the vehicle fluid".
Dave Clement
99 SLT+ CC 4x4
In article <000e01c3fcc4$20727f30$020aa8c0@system>, fasstdak@hotmail.com
("Bernd D. Ratsch") writes:
>
>
> Kinda scary....
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net
> [mailto:owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net] On Behalf Of
> jon@dakota-truck.net
> Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 11:11 AM
> To: dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net
> Subject: Re: DML: Re: RE: ATF+4 an alternative
>
>
>
> "Tim Berry" <coolva1@cox.net> wrote:
> : this is from their website...
> : Product Specs
>
> : Recommended for use where the following fluids are specified:
>
> : Ford MERCON
> : GM DEXRON III, DEXRON III-G
> : GM DEXRON, DEXRON II, DEXRON IIE
> : Ford M2C138-CJ
> : Ford M2C166-H
> : Allison C-4
>
> : Valvoline also recommends for use in Chrysler vehicles (including ATF+3
> and
> : ATF+4T).
>
>
> The same fluid is recommended to replace all those different
> types? How is that possible? Traditionally, the Ford/GM/Chrysler
> blends have been fairly incompatible - it doesn't seem likely that
> one fluid would be able to replace all of those? Seems like there
> would be some compromises being made somewhere...
>
>
> --
> -Jon-
>
> .-- Jon Steiger ---- jon@dakota-truck.net or jon@jonsteiger.com --.
> | 1970 Barracuda - 1990 Dakota 'vert - 1992 Ram 4x4 - 1996 Dakota |
> | 1996 Intruder 1400 - 1996 Kolb FireFly - 2001 Ram QC 3500 CTD |
> `------------------------------------ http://www.jonsteiger.com --'
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Mar 01 2004 - 00:34:04 EST