The FSM recommends "ATF Plus":
"The recommended (and preferred) fluid for 42RH/
46RH transmissions is Mopar ATF Plus, type 7176.
Dexron II is not really recommended and should
only be used when ATF Plus is not available."
ATF Plus I think is the precursor to ATF+3, which was of course replaced
with ATF+4, which is supposedly just ATF+3 with a synthetic base and
some new anti-foaming additives. The FSM has a lot of interesting info;
they made a lot of running changes to the 42RH/46RH in '95 to beef
things up.
I know on the newer transmissions using Dextron II is bad. I've heard
that it will delaminate the clutches and spew the resulting debris into
the filter, plugging it up and starving the transmission for fluid,
resulting in the need for a rebuild in short order.
I'm wondering if the dealership I bought it from changed the fluid
before putting it up for sale. If so it's only been in there for about
3,000 miles. It'll be pricey to get it flushed out with ATF+4 but I
think the peace of mind will be worth it, especially with winter coming.
M.B.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: DML: How does this look?
From: Don <radon220@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, October 12, 2010 12:46 pm
To: dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net
ATF+4 wasn't around until a few years ago, right? I would think
anything built into the mid 2000s would run just fine on
Dextron/Mercon I/II/III.
I've never used ATF+4 myself, so I can't tell you its stench
characteristics. Makes sense that it would stink significantly more
than Dextron, though. I do know synthetic gear oil stinks.
Don in CT
On Tue, Oct 12, 2010 at 2:45 PM, <mailinglists@moparhowto.com> wrote:
>
> Smells ok, but I don't think it's ATF+4, someone must have filled it
> with Dextron II or something, thankfully it's a '95 so that's not quite
> as bad as it is on the later trucks. Unless after a while it stops
> smelling as bad as it does in the bottle. Oh well, it's getting flushed
> out Thursday.
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: DML: How does this look?
> From: Don <radon220@gmail.com>
> Date: Tue, October 12, 2010 3:16 am
> To: dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net
>
>
> Looks ok to me too. Smell it... it will smell pretty nasty, but it
> shouldn't
> smell burnt. I like to feel it for grit between my fingers too.
>
> Don in CT
>
>
> On Tue, Oct 12, 2010 at 2:16 AM, M.B. <mailinglists@moparhowto.com>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> As every vehicle I've owned until now and driven personally has been a
>> manual transmission car, giving me lack of experience in such matters, and
>> as I'm planning on having the transmission fluid/filter changed on Thursday,
>> I thought I'd get people's opinions on how decent the current fluid looks:
>>
>> http://www.moparhowto.com/pictures/1995-Dakota/transmission/dipstick.jpg
>> http://www.moparhowto.com/pictures/1995-Dakota/transmission/atf_rag.jpg
>>
>> Looks ok to me. Looks a little darker on the wipe rag as I had to take it
>> inside since the wind was blowing the stupid thing away outside.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> M.B.
>>
>>
>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Nov 01 2010 - 10:47:34 EDT
