ATF +4 For $2.44 Per Quart ?

[Tom G]

Hi all:



Hope the subject line caught your attention?



Had my transmission serviced a couple of days ago, had a drain plug and TransGo kit installed and had the mechanic install Mopar ATF +4 which is what my truck requires. Mopar ATF+4 is significantly over priced in my opinion but the truck was still under warranty.



But then I began to think about traveling this summer and its availability only from dealers or maybe some other brand like Reline, or Amsoil and thought well what the heck it can't hurt to call Valvoline since I use all of their other products.



Per the Valvoline Tech they now have a new ATF called MaxLife ATF which also qualifies for use in Chrysler vehicles where ATF +3 and +4 are required.



Got the part number and product description and went off to Wally-World. $2. 44 per quart or my calculators makes four quarts equal $9. 76 per gallon. This is MUCH less expensive than Mopar ATF +4.



Here is a link for some further research if you desire.



http://www.valvoline.com/pages/products/product_detail.asp?product=6



Click on the "Product Spec" to see note regarding Chrysler product use.



I might give it a try next year when I do my annual transmission service which will be much easier now that I have a drain plug installed.

 

[rrowdy]

Yep Got my attention!

Thank's for the information Tom,

I've been looking for another source. Tried Pep Boys and a few others but they didn't have +4. I wound up buying a Five gallon bucket of Amsoil for Seven bucks a quart. I'll save it for my transmission upgrade and head off to Wallyworld and try the Valvoline as my transmission is ready for an oil and DD pan change. I never gave walmart a thought.

 

[zman]

Great find, Tom!



I cringe every time I buy the ATF +4. Good to see there is a much cheaper (and probably better) solution.



Steve

 

[OL RATLR]

atf+4

Thanks! But you do know that ATF+3 and ATF+4 are totaly different?

 

[DMC]

I'm picking up a case of ATF + 3 from my local Chevron distributor $28. 15 for a case 12/1 qt bottles. If Delo is in my motor then Chevron gets my biz for atf.



Good Luck



Don

 

[raychem]

my solution

I hear you guys on the cost of atf+3 or 4... ... I got mad one day at the money I was spending since I do transmission oil changes every 12K miles. To remedy this, I did a DTT upgrades to my transmission (TC, VB, Update kit, Different truck all to gether after that) and switched to Dextron III, $1 a gallon from my trans shop. I love it because it has no friction modifiers and gives nice firm shifts... not to mention... . the price!







Richard

 

[rrowdy]

Re: My solution

Hey Richard did you do the upgrades yourself? The reason I'm asking is that I want to do the exact same thing but don't trust anyone around my area to do the modifications, or re-build.



I just bought some Valvoline Maxlife which on the bottle read

Dextron lll / Mercon but in real small print said recommended

for Chrysler too. I called Valvoline and talked with a tech and he said it would work fine as a replacement for +4 and the reason they don't label it as +4 is because of a licensing agreement with Chrysler. I had no idea you could use straight Dextron lll, this +4

requirement for our trannies is a real PITA.



I'm going to try the Maxlife and see what happens, Next week I have to tow my racecar and trailer to the desert and up some pretty good grades and I'll see what happens.

 

[raychem]

Rowdy,



No... I sent my transmission to DTT, but I know what you mean about transmission builders though. I had sent my 1st transmission to Art Carr to get rebuild since they have done an excellent job for me on my gas powered cars. But I was very disappointed with the results of the way they rebuilt the transmission for the dodge to the point that my dad's transmission (stock) shifted better and felt tighter. I know Art milled my stator... but they really messed it up. Sooo like most people, I learned from my mistakes, joined the TDR and found DTT.



Remember that at the time that I joined... DTT had one of the better trannies at the time. Well to make a long story short, I sent my trans to DTT and had them rebuild my transmission. They were extremely help full and Bill understood my situation. They rebuild my transmission and delivered on their promise.



Now. . I have been running dextron III for over 20k and have never had a problem. Atf +3 or + 4 just have friction modifiers to help smooth out the shifts and to prevent clutch packs from shuddering, but with the higher line pressures, that is not a problem.



Now I'm no expert and there are more people here that can shed some light on this issue, also do a search... you may find a lot of results addressing this issue. If there are any other questions i can help you with, let me know.



Richard

 

[JTBMC]

Has anyone used Mobil 1 Full Synthetic trans fluid and is it ok to use in the Dodge trans. It says Dextron/Mercon on he bottle

Thanks TJ

 

[Tom G]

rrowdy might test for us?

Hi rrowdy



Saw your post and that you were considering the use of the Maxlife trans fluid and then were scheduled for some towing up and over the California mountains. Sounds like a perfect test run to me.



PLEASE let us all know how it works out O. K.

 

[rrowdy]

RE: Test

Yeah,



If I fry my transmission believe me, you guys will the first to know. Today after I test the line pressure I'm installing a temperature gauge and deep pan and will monitor the transmission. We won't be towing heavy because the truck weighs 6480, trailer weighs 1970 and car weighs just over 1700 plus about 5-6 hundred pounds of fuel, tools and all my wifes junk, should make it around 11K. Actually I feel pretty good after talking to the Valvoline tech but of course he is biased.

 

[Dennis Garrett]

When Dave Goerends re-built & upgraded my transmission, & installed his custom built 3-D TC, he told me they usually fill with Dexron III, unless the customer insists on using the Mopar "+" stuff. He told me Chrysler has just 2 or 3 vehicles (cars or vans) that actually require the + types, so to make it a no brainer, they make it a blanket requirement for everything they build. I took his word for it, had him re-fill with Dex III & have been living happily ever after with it.

 

[rrowdy]

Hmmm,



That makes Two people in this thread using Dex lll, Reading the service manual, DC seemed pretty adamate about using +4.



Makes me wonder if we are being "duped" into something more expensive not to mention hard to find. If the only difference is in the friction modifiers, I'd rather use Dex lll and have firmer more positive shifts and having no prior experience with the 47-re

I thought +4 was an absolute requirement.

 

[1dslram]

I had ATF+3 in my trans at my last drain my trans shop refilled with Dextron III Mercon fluid and I have had no problems on the street, strip or dyno.

Bruce

 

[rrowdy]

RE: Maxlife test

Well We just got back from our trip and the transmission worked flawlessly with the Valvoline Maxlife. We were at about 11. 5K in 97 degree heat and towing up some pretty long grades.



We accelerated up these grades pushing 25# of boost then backing off to about 17 or so, it never slipped or gave any indication of acting up. It worked great all weekend. At a little over $2. 40 I can change the stuff as often as I please and it seems like a good alternative to the harder to find and more expensive +4.



The only thing I did to the transmission was adjust the bands, increase the line pressure and install a DD pan and temp gauge.

The sender was installed in the line to the primary cooler.



The fluid temp really climbs out of lockup but in lockup it would stay around the 190 range. This is still hotter than I would like to see and might try a larger aftermarket cooler but I'll check the gauge accuracy first because a cheap Chinese gauge was all I could find on short notice.

 

[Tom G]

Thank You For The Test

Thank you rrowdy



This is exactly what I was waiting to hear. Sounds like the Valvoline Maxlife can be a good replacement for ATF+4 and the price is sure right I use a lot of other Valvoline products and this will be just another one to add to my shopping list.



Keep on truck'in and have a great day and thanks again for the test report.