john smith

Thanks to those who replied to my posting about removing the transmission
line.

New problem. Fortunately this occured BEFORE I dropped the pan.

I went to Dodge and picked up my ATF. I told them I own a 2000 Dakota R/T
with a 46RE transmission.

They said that I needed ATF+4, so $60 later I leave with 3 gallons of ATF+4.

I pull the dipstick (I know, I know, I should have done it first) and it
says Fill with ATF+ 7176. Which is ATF+3...

I check my Dodge service manual and it does indeed say ATF+3.... I know
that ATF+4 is better than ATF+3, but I also heard that ATF+4 is no longer
recommended for ATF+3 transmissions.

With me, price isn't the issue, reliability is. So do I..... Return the
ATF+4 and fill with ATF+3 or fill with ATF+4?
I saw the guy punch up the codes into the computer so I know that unless the
change was recent and my local dodge dealer didn't update their computer, Ma
Mopar wants me to use ATF+4. What is the verdict? Please tell me it is
ATF+4 so I don't have to use synthetic from some other company.

Thanks in advance

jerry

Seems I recall there was a TSB out by DC recommending the service
departments change all vehicles to ATF+4 as they came into the shops.
I assume this was if the customer agreed to the change as it wasn't
necessary if the customer didn't want it. Last time I had my truck
serviced (99 Cummins auto) I asked the service manager about this and he
said he would change over if I wish but he recommended I stick with the
ATF+3 because of price. In addition you can buy ATF+3 from several
different companies. He also told me once you switch to ATF+4, you
cannot switch back to ATF+3. Mike Simmons should have the info on this
so maybe he can chime in.

Jerry

tbone

I am not sure if this is true. The last time I read this I was curious and
looked into it a little. From what I read, it seems that if you have a
transmission that requires ATF+3 and are low on fluid, you can top it up
with ATF+4 but a transmission that requires ATF+4 cannot be top up with
ATF+3. It seems that they are chemically compatible (can be mixed) but
they do have different properties and the properties of ATF+3 dilute the
required properties that ATF+4 transmissions need. The fact that ATF+3
dilutes ATF+4 may be where he came up with the "cannot go back" idea but in
a transmission that only requires ATF+3 to begin with, I see no reason that
you can't but then again, I never claimed to be a chemist.

--
If at first you don't succeed, you're not cut out for skydiving

j haggerty

Here's a link to a TSB regarding ATF 4 use in older Dodges;
http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2004/21-004-04.htm

JPH

greg surratt

I like where it says:

"FLUID COLOR

Mopar ATF+4T is a World Class Fluid having exceptional durability.
However, the red dye used in ATF+4T is not permanent; as the fluid
ages it may become darker or appear brown in color. ATF+4T also has a
unique odor that may change with age. With ATF+4T fluid, color and
odor are no longer indicators of fluid condition and do not support a
fluid change."

IOW, "Sir, it's supposed to look and smell burned. The only way we
can tell for sure is to charge you a -->small<-- fee to tear down the
tranny and check for actual damage." ;-(

william boyd

:-(

--
BILL P.
Just Dog
&
ME

transurgeon

you heard wrong

you can upgrade from +3 to +4, but not go from 4 to 3

transurgeon

wrong

you can switch or mix 3 or 4 in a vehicle requiring type 3

jerry

No, that is not correct. This is from the TSB:

"NOTE: ATF+4 is compatible with ATF+3 and ATF+2. ATF+4 can be used to
top off vehicles that currently have ATF+2 or ATF+3. Do not use ATF+2 or
ATF+3 to top off vehicles that have ATF+4 fluid".

So if you read carefully you see you can add ATF+4 to ATF+3 but, you
cannot add ATF+3 to ATF+4. In other words once you completely change
over to ATF+4 there is no going back unless of course you can drain 100%
of the fluid out first.

Jerry

tbone

That is not what it say's Jerry. If you can add ATF+4 to ATF+3, then it
makes absolutely no sense that you can't do it the other way. The reason
that they say this is because ATF+3 does not have the required properties
for a vehicle requiring ATF+4 and using it to top up a ATF+4 transmission
will weaken those properties, possibly to the point of doing harm. If the
transmission only required ATF+3 or lower to begin with, it really doesn't
matter which one you use or how you mix them but who in their right mind
would pay the expense of a ATF+4 conversion and then add ATF+3 to it later
anyway. This TSB is making the assumption that the vehicle with ATF+3
requires ATF+3 and the vehicle using ATF+4 requires ATF+4 and is not taking
"upgrades" of ATF+3 transmissions into account.

--
If at first you don't succeed, you're not cut out for skydiving