That's great, but what about the fluid for manual trannies? (i.e. Dakota,
Ram, etc.)
Jon W.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-dakota-truck@buffnet.net
[mailto:owner-dakota-truck@buffnet.net]On Behalf Of David Stewart
Sent: Monday, December 20, 1999 1:13 PM
To: dirt@moab.off-road.com; dakota-truck@buffnet.net; mml@ChE2.tamu.edu
Subject: DML: transmission fluid, the inside scoop
I work for an oil company and today I sent an interoffice email to a
specialist at our Lube Plant to see what he thought about using alternatives
to mopar transmission fluid in my 46re equipped Ram. I am posting his reply
to me here as it may be informative to others..
david stewart
begin quote..............
Chrysler Corp. has been struggling for 10 years or more to overcome a
shuddering problem with their torque converters. Although Chrysler has had
its own spec for ATF, called MS 7176, for many years already, until recently
most Chrysler owners (and many of the transmission shops) used the more
commonly available Dexron/Mercon fluid. Chrysler did not like this but they
were shown test results that proved SOME Dexron/Mercon approved fluids
satisfied the requirements of MS 7176. Other Dexron/Mercon fluids did not.
(Irving's Transflo is one of those that had proven satisfactory for
Chrysler). Chrysler had a factory-fill ATF made for them by, I believe,
Texaco and that was dedicated to satisfying MS 7176 only, without any of the
compromises needed to also pass Dexron and Mercon programs. This fluid was
packaged and sold by Chrysler under their Mopar brand name as ATF Plus 3. I
have no idea what the significance is of the number. Texaco also packaged
and sold that product under other brand names, all referencing "Plus 3" so
as to differentiate it clearly from the Dexron/Mercon fluids, encouraged by
Chrysler in an effort to make the appropriate ATF as available as possible
to Chrysler customers. So you may be able to find a Walmart ATF Plus 3, or a
UAP ATF Plus 3. There is always your friendly local Chrysler dealer.
Faced with on-going transmission shuddering problems, and at least one
class-action suit as a result, and unwilling to launch a complicated
testing/certification program like GM's Dexron and Ford's Mercon, Chrysler
issued an updated ATF spec called, I think, MS 9290. Chrysler hopes this
will cure their transmission ills, but it also happens to make it virtually
impossible for Dexron/Mercon fluids to pass. Chrysler sells this as Mopar
Plus 4. I believe that, at this time, the only place to get a Plus 4 fluid
is under the Mopar brand name from a Chrysler dealer.
Which one do you need? - Check your owner's manual. If the vehicle is less
than 2 years old, it probably needs the Plus 4. If it is older and Plus 3
(MS 7176) is specified, try that: But if you have a shuddering problem, you
might then try the Plus 4.
end quote..................
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