'04 2500 2wd, what transmission fluid to use now that ATF3 is history?

[John - K5AWO]

'04 2500 2wd, what transmission fluid to use now that Dexron III is history?

I know this has been talked about a lot, but I have spent a good while searching.... usually I find what I want that way.
I sold my '98 24V a couple years back, so quit following the forum.

However, my son still owns an '04 and when we found out that Dexron III was going to be extinct, he bought a barrel of the stuff.
He changes transmission fluid every time he gets home after pulling heavy trailers on long trips, so a lot more fluid changes than most folks.

His truck now has 200,000 miles on it by the end of this week, and it is time for the transmission fluid to be changed out.

Question is, to what? Just accept what the dealers are selling, or use something else?

The transmission is doing good, he keeps the bands tight, and never lets it slip.
right now, financially is not a good time for him to have to replace/repair a transmission so he wants to know what fluid to keep it healthy.

As always, thanks in advance for your attention to this request.
John

 

[Ozymandias]

ATF+4 like the rest of the world.
All RH & RE Boxes are ready to use the much better ATF+4.

 

[p-Bar]

ATF 4 is backward compatible to ATF 3 .

 

[p-Bar]

Ozy funny we posted at same exact GMT time

 

[AllianceDiesel]

Wow its been a long time since I have even heard atf+3 mentioned. Use any brand of fluid as long as it says atf+4. Dont use anything else or you will be sorry. Also do a band adjustment and I always install an upgraded governor pressor solenoid and also a new governor pressure sensor.

 

[AH64ID]

Unlike the change from CI to CJ engine oil the ATF+4 change was a good thing.

 

[John - K5AWO]

Thanks all, my son corrected me on the ATF3, he said he was using Dexron III so I changed the title and my post....
but you good guys already beat me to the punch :-laf

He just had a band adjustment done 3 weeks ago to make sure the internals are tight.

I will let him know that ATF+4 is good to go.

 

[John - K5AWO]

Wow its been a long time since I have even heard atf+3 mentioned. Use any brand of fluid as long as it says atf+4. Dont use anything else or you will be sorry. Also do a band adjustment and I always install an upgraded governor pressor solenoid and also a new governor pressure sensor.

My son is on the phone and is asking about this Upgraded Governor Pressure solenoid, and also the new Governor Pressure Sensor.

Is there a specific source or versions of those that should be used?
He definitely needs to keep this transmission working. Would appreciate info on those two items.

thanks,

 

[AllianceDiesel]

http://www.cascadetransmissionparts.com/48repressuretransducer2000up.aspx

http://www.cascadetransmissionparts.com/48regovernorsolenoidborg.aspx

 

[AllianceDiesel]

http://www.cascadetransmissionparts.com/48repressuretransducer2000up.aspx

http://www.cascadetransmissionparts.com/48regovernorsolenoidborg.aspx

 

[Ozymandias]

Dexron III was the absolutely wrong fluid for this Trans, he's a lucky guy that the Trans worked till today.

 

[Ozymandias]

Dexron III was never a fluid that Chrysler recommended for their Transmissions, except the AW4 from Aisin.

 

[AH64ID]

Dexron III and ATF +4 appear to be similar style fluids but ATF+4 is a MUCH better and more advanced fluid.

What was the reasoning behind not running the recommended fluid? The 48RE has spec'd ATF +4 since day 1.

 

[AllianceDiesel]

I had a kid that had his transmission serviced at a "oil change" place. He drove it 300 miles from the town he lived in to his college town where I worked for dodge. Anyways, he brought the truck in because it would barely pull itself. So I pulled the dipstick and smelled the fluid to see if it was burnt. ATF+4 has a unique smell and color, right away I knew something wasn't right with both. I looked in his truck and found the receipt, they used dextron and I would of assumed it didn't hold up in that trans. That was a 46re but is similar to the 47/48s

 

[cerberusiam]

Dexron has been used for many years in Dodge transmissions. Until they went to AT+3 it was all that was used. Its issue is won't take heat for very long. In these hi-TQ diesels that is a given the fluid will warm too much. In a gasser it is generally fine given eveyrhting else is good. If the pressures are low the Dexron is not grabby enough to not slip with the low OE apply pressures.