Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Full DTT installed

[MPlunkett]

My truck is back in the game after about a month on the sidelines Very glad to have it back on the road. For anyone about to decide or on the bubble... . DTT is a top shelf organization, all I previously read is not fiction. All the staff were very helpful and friendly. My transmission shop was impressed with the quality and attention to detail... . many thanks again to DTT... . Now for my question... ... What is the best fluid to run. The notes say the Mopar stuff is OK... ... . Will the extra cost of the synthetic be beneficial in the long run... ... ?

 

[Fishin Guide]

My truck is back in the game after about a month on the sidelines Very glad to have it back on the road. For anyone about to decide or on the bubble... . DTT is a top shelf organization, all I previously read is not fiction. All the staff were very helpful and friendly. My transmission shop was impressed with the quality and attention to detail... . many thanks again to DTT... . Now for my question... ... What is the best fluid to run. The notes say the Mopar stuff is OK... ... . Will the extra cost of the synthetic be beneficial in the long run... ... ?

This is a widely debated topic in reference to autos. Here's my take.



Use good old fashioned dino if you spend as much time on the highway as the city streets. Under these conditions, the TC is locked and you have a 1:1 transmission. Internal wear and heat are at thier lowest.



Spend lots of time in city traffic with constant shifting and heat issues? Synthetic.



Honestly though, I think dino changed often along with filters and band adjustments will net as many or more miles due to reduced slippage internally. Again, JMO.



I run Valavonie ATF +3. You could run the trick stuff, but I have yet to miss a shift and can't stomach the thought of fluid being in the trans for the thousands of additional miles to get the real finanacial benefit out of it.



Dave

 

[paulb]

I've run Chevron Dextron III in my DTT for about 65,000 miles. Of course I change it often, and adjust at least the front band everytime. If you get shuddering (during shifting or during lockup), go with a slicker ATF, like the +3. If you end up in high heat sitituations that you cannot avoid, go with a synthetic, like Royal Purple. This is all my opinion, if you really want to know the true answer call DTT...



Paul

 

[mcoleman]

I was told by my DTT installer to use Dextron III.

 

[azpete]

Glad to hear you are on the road again. What transmission shop did you use? ATF+3 is what I use although for some reason around here it's alittle hard to come by when change time comes. Don't forget the TC has a drain plug and total fill is around 15 quarts.



Now with our nice warm weather almost here keep an eye on transmission temp, it goes up quick in traffic when catching light after light. Have trained myself to throw it in neutal at every light. Your new investment should last you a long time.



Pete

 

[Regcabguy]

Border heatup

Glad to hear you are on the road again. What transmission shop did you use? ATF+3 is what I use although for some reason around here it's alittle hard to come by when change time comes. Don't forget the TC has a drain plug and total fill is around 15 quarts.



Now with our nice warm weather almost here keep an eye on transmission temp, it goes up quick in traffic when catching light after light. Have trained myself to throw it in neutal at every light. Your new investment should last you a long time.



Pete

Yeah,that neutral procedure is really necessary at the mex. border line-up these days. You can watch the temps cool down somewhat. I've hit 230 degrees coming off the Mopar line to the heat exchanger waiting in line.

 

[Sick Boy]

what shop told you dextron III it can destroy your trans. dtt will tell you only atf+3. it says never use dextron in their install book.

 

[OL RATLR]

My truck is back in the game after about a month on the sidelines Very glad to have it back on the road. For anyone about to decide or on the bubble... . DTT is a top shelf organization, all I previously read is not fiction. All the staff were very helpful and friendly. My transmission shop was impressed with the quality and attention to detail... . many thanks again to DTT... . Now for my question... ... What is the best fluid to run. The notes say the Mopar stuff is OK... ... . Will the extra cost of the synthetic be beneficial in the long run... ... ?

Just run in it what Bill told you to run.

 

[Bob Wagner]

glad to see you got it all sorted out now its power to the ground

 

[OL RATLR]

Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2002 1:34 pm** *Post subject:

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I find these questions the toughest ones to answer.



Chrysler recommends ATF +4 oil, whether some of us like to believe it or not they have spent more time and money researching what works best with their transmission than anybody else. They recommend ATF +4 to control the shift feel. Just because they recommend ATF +4 does not mean to hae to get it from them, you can buy it from automotive outlets as long as it meets their ATF +4 specifications.



Having said that we work mostly on high performance trucks rams and guys towing pretty heavy loads.

In our won personal shop we use Dexron Mercron oil because its lts less likely to slip compared to the atf + 4 that Chrysler reccommends.

The reason why Chrysler does not want you to use the GM oil is because it may cause TC shudder.

From DTT Web Site

 

[MPlunkett]

Thanks for all the input everybody... . I think I'll just stick with the synthetic due to the nice warm summers here, I just was curious as to what everyone else was using.



Pete, I used A place on Wetmore/Romero called RTT Transmissions. The came recomended by our Fleet Dept and were sincere and honest. They were impressed with the DTT folks... . No problems with the service. Do I just take off the dust cover to drain the TC?... Befor I've just drained the fluid and changed the filter.



Bob... . Thanks for your help with my truck earlier... I'll be ordereing up a Smarty fairly soon... ... .



Once again... thx everyone... .

 

[azpete]

Thanks, I'll have to keep them in mind if I ever need them.



Yes remove the dust cover and rotate the engine until plug is straight down.



Now you are going too far! Ordering a Smarty too :-laf

 

[MVieira]

When I had my DTT trans. done 2 years ago up at Bill K's shop, Vinny, who did the install, and Bill K. himself told me to run Dexron III/Mercon oil. They also said if I started to develop a shudder at T/C lock-up, then I should switch the oil over to ATF +3. They initially filled it with Penzoil Dexron III/Mercon at their shop and as per thier instructions I changed the oil, filter, and adjusted the bands at the first 1000 miles and every 12,000 miles since and have always used the Dexron III and have not had a problem. I remembered Bill saying if you have a factory stock trans. you have to use the chrysler ATF +3 or +4, depending on the year model. I don't know if there have been different recommendations over the years of evolution on the DTT trannys or if it was because in the early days people only upgraded the T/C and vavle body and still had the factory clutch linings internally. I did the complete trans. and I'm going by what they told me to do at that time. Regards, Mike.

 

[MPlunkett]

That makes sense..... Besides if you are dropping the pan every 12000 the cost of the synthetic might not be worth it... ..... thanks for the input. .

 

[bbodammer]

My truck is back in the game after about a month on the sidelines Very glad to have it back on the road. For anyone about to decide or on the bubble... . DTT is a top shelf organization, all I previously read is not fiction. All the staff were very helpful and friendly. My transmission shop was impressed with the quality and attention to detail... . many thanks again to DTT... . Now for my question... ... What is the best fluid to run. The notes say the Mopar stuff is OK... ... . Will the extra cost of the synthetic be beneficial in the long run... ... ?

Welcome to the club I love my DTT and glad you do too. You can run the fluid of your choice with the concensous on atf+3. I run Dexron/mercon III in mine and stephan at DTT does too. I like the aggressive shifts of the III and have not yet noticed a shudder problem. I was told by DTT that if you change you fluid often... than you might not want to run synthetic b/c of the cost to change the damn thing. The said the biggest thing was to keep the fluid fresh. I love synthetics and might switch over to amsoil's racing blend but that stuff is EXPENSIVE. I'll stick with the III for now and keep it changed. Hats off to Dtt and their staff for producing an A+ product. Oo.