dealer/transmission

[DARK270]

i went to the dealer today and wanted a trans fluid flush..which was fine except i asked about mobil one ATF..and they said' NO it would void your warranty and mess up the trans'.....according to mobile one it would work...does anybody know anything about this?? dealer said only use ATF +4...but i want something better...seems like there should be something out there that works better with a turbo...shifting isn't bad but i think it could be better.....!!!???

[CREWZIN]

You might find something better, but Chrysler is pretty stringent about only using the ATF-4, so while your still under warranty the best bet is to go with that. If you do happen to blow the tranny and they see another fluid...you can guess what comes next.

[bigtommy83]

ATF+4 is the only way to go. Just like Fords use Mercon and GM uses Dexron. All the little tiny valves and check balls require a certain formulation to run. The one it is designed with. So where it may be trans fluid, it may not be the right kind.

[SuGamer]

Actually there is nothing better for your tranny than ATF+4 or the new ATF+5. Mopar tranny fluids are made for ...... Mopar trannies. Don't believe all that crap about this fluid and that fluid is equal to ATF+4! There is an ATF (ATF ALL) that claims they are universal ... I don't think so! And like Crewzin said, if your tranny goes and they open it up and find any other fluid besides ATF+4 you'll definately be in a world of hurt! Use the Mopar fluid and just follow the maintence schedule. The biggest problems people have with their cars is the regular maintence. Use premium gas in the GT's, change your oil and filter every 3,000 miles regardless if it's synthetic or not, and change you tranny fluid on schedule. I'm not getting on you, just making a general statement. I know you are taking care of your car since you went to get a tranny fluid change and are asking about something better![^][?]

[SteelBlueGT]

IMHO the scheduled tranny fluid change is not good and no tranny should be changed later than 3 years or 36,000 miles. No matter how you drive your PT turbo! I am not sure what the difference is between ATF+4 or ATF+5 but I say go with the better or newer standard. I would never use a lower standard for motor oil even if the engine was built for the older standard.

[DARK270]

well my GT cruiser has 25000 miles on it and 2 years old..(barely) i ALSO asked the dealer about ATF +5 and they said 'it doesn't exist'...
yeah whatever......so knowing this now..should i change my fluid?? oh wait till 30k looks like the manual says 30k...but i have driven it somewhat hard....and maybe it's time now?

[MichaelDay]

quote:Originally posted by DARK270

well my GT cruiser has 25000 miles on it and 2 years old..(barely) i ALSO asked the dealer about ATF +5 and they said 'it doesn't exist'...
yeah whatever......so knowing this now..should i change my fluid?? oh wait till 30k looks like the manual says 30k...but i have driven it somewhat hard....and maybe it's time now?

I had my dealer change my tranny fluid about 25,000 miles. It can't hurt (other than your pocketbook) and it might just help extend the life of your tranny.

[TurbozCS2003]

I dont think there is such a thing as ATF+5, ATF+4 is latest flavor chrysler released for their transmissions.

I dont have a 41TE in my PT, have the 5 spd, but I would dump the fluid and change the filter and clean the magnet. I would also install a B&M drain plug in the pan. In the future you wont get an ATF shower

If the tranny has a cooler, here is a good trick to get all the fluid out. Dump the pan, change the filter, clean the magnet, reinstall. Add the required amount of fluid for a pan/filter change.
Disconnect the RETURN line from the cooler to the trans. Shove a piece of hose on the diconnected line and put opposite end into bucket.
Start up car and put in neutral(I believe this will activate pump, but may have to put in Drive, with foot on brake of course) and wait about 30 seconds and shut off. This should pump about 1 qt out but you should dump into a qt container and vary time to get roughly 1 qt. Then add 1 qt fresh ATF fluid thru the stick. Do this "dump and Pump/Add" procedure until you push about 6 or so more qts and added the 6 qts thru. On the last repetition, dont add any more fluid. since you dont want to overfill. Simply reattach the return line. Then drive the car until warm, park on level lot and check fluid level. Note you should read Owners manual on procedure to check fluid, may have to drop selector thru R,1,2 etc.
Add fluid to bring to bottom dot on dip stick. Then set overnight, drive again until warm and do final check/add until in correct level on stick. Do not overfill. You have basically "pushed" all the old fluid forward thru the trans and cleaned all the fluid out of the converter and cooler.

Problem with pan drop is you only get 40% of hte fluid. THis mehtod you get all of it.

I have done this on my Durango 46RE and WJ 545RFE, used 14 qts synthetic Amsoil ATF each.


Oh, Mobil 1 Synthetic is NOT compatible Dexron base, that is why they dont recommend it.

[SuGamer]

Mobil 1 synthetic may not be Dexron compatible, but that doesn't matter. You CAN NOT use dexron or dexron compatible fluid in DC auto trannies! By the way, ATF+5 does exist, it just hasn't been released yet. Supposedly, it will come in all '06 DC autos. Again, it is recommended you use nothing else than ATF+4 or later ATF+5. Just 'cause you put in synthetic doesn't mean you're safe. My understanding is that dexron/mercon ATF is to "clingy" for DC auto trannies. There is NO universal transmission fluid. The same way you would not put 30W oil into your engine when you get an oil change, don't put anything else into the auto tranny besides what the auto maker states. If you do and the tranny breaks down, it's your a$$.

[Cal Cruzer]

Tuboz's fluid change method is good advice. I used to use this on a Volvo automatic and that tranny went for 200,000 miles plus. My only caution is to have someone watch your catchcan when you are running the car with the return line open, and use a big pan. The tranny is a very high pressure system and it can pump out the fluid real fast. I put a piece of clear tubing on the end of the return line so I could see when the fluid was running clean. The cooler is usually a bypass system so it does not get all of the old fluid but it is much better than not doing it