Synthetic Auto Transmission Fluid

[TAMitchell]

I have my 1st diesel a 2005 Dodge 3500 with a 48re auto which I pull a 14,500 lb. 5th wheel. I have been thinking about changing the transmission fluid to synthetic. Have any of you done that? Are there any adverse effects to worry about? Good idea or bad idea?

 

[artie]

The ATF4 put in at the factory is synthetic.

 

[GaryCarter]

ATF+4 IS synthetic

Yes, the factory fluid is synthetic. An often overlooked fact by the snake oil pushers.



Link



Gary

 

[Diesel Power]

amsoil

yes ATF4 is synthetic, but it is the lowest grade---to cut down on cost! it is a good idea to go 100% synthetic instead of like 15-20%. no cons and all pros, fuel milage, extended drains, better protection. ect. ect hope this helps

 

[GaryCarter]

I figured it wouldn't take long to troll up a scamsoil seller.



Now just which Amsoil product meets ATF+4 specifications? And I mean just that: "meets the spec".



Gary

 

[Diesel Power]

amsoil

there universal ATF dosent meet but exeeds all ATF4 specs, go to amsoil .com and look! :--)

 

[DOWG]

Amsoil is not snakeoil. It is not scamoil. Check the specifications.



It is my observation (not directed at any one person), that folks who "object" to products made by Amsoil, Lubrication Engineers, Royal Purple, Red Line, etc. , simply can not past the "high price" of the product to objectively comprehend the lubricant specifications as it relates to the application.



The first thing I did, was drain the factory ATF in my 2006 Mega Cab 48RE and replace it with Amsoil ATF. On my previous truck, with a DTT transmission, Amsoil ATF was the only recommended fluid.



Of course the Chrysler ATF product meets the specifications for the 48RE, they wrote the specifications.



If I am not mistaken, the warranty on the transmission is 36,000 miles... ... ... ..... maybe 100,000 miles but I digress.



I plan on driving the vehicle 250,000+ miles. There is no doubt in IMHO, that the Amsoil ATF exceeds the specifications and will perform better over a longer period of time.



The factory fill for the rear end is also "synthetic". I was astounded at how bad the gear oil looked when I drained it at just 1000 miles and replaced it with Amsoil. Did not give me a warm fuzzy feeling for the associated quality of the Chrysler ATF.



To each his own.

 

[klenger]

If someone does not trust synthetic oils, then you'd better not fly. Every jet engine in the world uses synthetic engine oil. Try telling the engine mfgs that synthetic oil is "snake oil".

 

[2broke2smoke]

On my previous truck, with a DTT transmission, Amsoil ATF was the only recommended fluid.

when did DTT start using Amsoil as their "only recommended fluid"?

 

[CAW440]

I sell heavy duty truck parts and have for almost 20 years. In years past I would sell dozens of wheel bearings and wheel seals a week. In the early 90s I saw a drastic decline in the sales of these parts,the only thing that changed was the manufactures started using synthetics in the wheel ends and transmissions, its not hard to figure out that synthetics work well in the h/d industry, why would'nt they work in light duty trucks as well ! I can't vouch for one brand over another but in my experience they all work very well.

 

[Bertram65]

Who says Amsoil meets or exceeds the spec? API? Amsoil?

 

[DOWG]

DTT transmissions. Pardon the emphasis on only.



The fellow, James Northum, TDR member, who is a DTT builder and installer, told me to use Amsoil ATF. I was already using Amsoil ATF in the stock transmission. That is all he uses and that is what I meant.



No intention to mislead, disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer... ... ... ... ...

 

[WhiteSheep]

Heat and Hills Kill

If you live where it is flat, cool and don't tow, you probably will be happy with the DC transmission fluid. If you live where it is not flat, not cool and you tow, I highly recommend synthetic fluid in all your gear boxes .



Moving to Phoenix from Kansas 20 years ago, I was not aware what heat and hills can do to an automatic transmission until I burned up a couple . Now I sport coolers and synthetic fluid in every gear box, including the transfer case, transmission and differentials. I haven't been back to the transmission shop for a rebuild since (knock on wood).

 

[dieseldude]

amsoil atf

Now just which Amsoil product meets ATF+4 specifications? And I mean just that: "meets the spec".

APPLICATIONS
AMSOIL Synthetic Universal Automatic Transmission Fluid is completely compatible with other synthetic and petroleum automatic transmission fluids. AMSOIL ATF is a universal, multi-functional fluid that greatly reduces the need for specialized fluid inventories and the possibilities of misapplication.

AMSOIL ATF is recommended for transmission, hydraulic and other applications requiring any of the following specifications:

• GM DEXRON® II & III
• Ford MERCON®, MERCON® V
• Chrysler ATF+ through ATF+4®
• Honda Z-1 (Not for use in CVT transmissions)
• Toyota Type T and T-IV
• Mitsubishi/Hyundai Diamond SP II & III
• Allison C-3, C-4
• Caterpillar TO-2
• Voith G607, G1363
• ZF TE-ML 14A, 14B & 14C
• Mercedes Benz 236. 1, 236. 6, 236. 7, 236. 9
• BMW 7045E
• JWS 3309
• Vickers I-286S & M-2950S Excellent for power steering units that use ATF.
  

 

[Nate]

Personally I would rather change it more often and use dino oil. Synthetic is just too expensive for me. Look at gear oil... 8 quarts of Amsoil is ~ $80 before shipping. I bought a 5 gallon bucket (20 quarts) of dino for $30. So for the price of a 5 gallon pail of Amsoil, ~$180 plus shipping. That would be 6 pails of dino oil.

 

[dieseldude]

Personally I would rather change it more often and use dino oil. Synthetic is just too expensive for me. Look at gear oil... 8 quarts of Amsoil is ~ $80 before shipping. I bought a 5 gallon bucket (20 quarts) of dino for $30. So for the price of a 5 gallon pail of Amsoil, ~$180 plus shipping. That would be 6 pails of dino oil.

yes but what kind of protection are you getting with the dino oil? with all of the impurities in the oil all you are doinig is wearing on all of the vital parts in your transmission. Amsoil atf is manufactured with only the purest of chemicals. If you like supporting taliban then go ahead! I prefer products made in the U. S.

 

[Diesel Power]

amsoil

well it seems as though most people don't want to pay much for anything. well have you guys seen the phrase "you get what you pay for" it means what it says. if you dino oil guys cant handle the FACT that there are better things on the market, then why did you become a tdr member. not to find out something you already knew? but to learn and find out why certain things are better or worse. as far as amsoil goes they have tested all oils on the market, proven that they are superior, then printed it. no one even comes close. if you don't belive it then why cant just one oil company test there oil against amsoil and put it on paper????????---cause it is a known fact that amsoil is the best. period. :--) let the debait begin :-{} :-laf

 

[Bertram65]

If you live where it is flat, cool and don't tow, you probably will be happy with the DC transmission fluid. If you live where it is not flat, not cool and you tow, I highly recommend synthetic fluid in all your gear boxes .



Moving to Phoenix from Kansas 20 years ago, I was not aware what heat and hills can do to an automatic transmission until I burned up a couple . Now I sport coolers and synthetic fluid in every gear box, including the transfer case, transmission and differentials. I haven't been back to the transmission shop for a rebuild since (knock on wood).

The factory fill from Dodge is synthetic.

 

[Nate]

I don't think anywhere did I say that Amsoil was not better. I'm not sure where that came from?



If the price of synthetics came down to a more resonable price, I would use them.



Amsoil ATF is $8 a quart. Regular ATF is around $2 a quart.



I think I'd cry if a transmission line busted and pumped most of the oil out if I was using Amsoil!



The other downside is Amsoil is harder to find. Let's say I'm at the gas station and realize I'm low on engine oil... . chances are they'll have Rotella T, but probably not Amsoil.



If buying dino oil is supporting the Taliban, then what are you doing everytime you fill up your truck?? You buying Amsoil diesel too? :-laf

 

[Bertram65]

yes ATF4 is synthetic, but it is the lowest grade---to cut down on cost! it is a good idea to go 100% synthetic instead of like 15-20%. no cons and all pros, fuel milage, extended drains, better protection. ect. ect hope this helps

Sure... can you back that up with any facts?

If Amsoil is so great, what cars reconmend using it? As far as I know Mobil 1 is the only synthetic oil specifically named by certain high performance cars as the required oil.