Hey people, quick question. I changed my tanny fluid/filter this afternoon and am wondering if the MaxLife ATF Dexron III/Mercon fluid is acceptable in my truck or am I draining again tomorrow and replacing it? My vehicle is a 2001 Ram 1500 QC 4X4. The Valvoline website says its "compatible" but alot of people here say don't use it. Any advice would be great. I feel like a dumbass asking after the fact but oh well. Also, just a sidenote, after I replaced and filled with fluids, I drove the truck around and noticed when at stop signs or turning the transmission would kinda hesitate and lunge. I'm guessing just low fluid level. I used 3.5 qts. and the dipstick seemed low but I could use some input.

Thanks,
Chad

 

uhm, no. you'll need ATF+4, avail from wal-mart, autozone, napa, etc. it should also take about 5-6 qts to fill it back up.after filling, let it idle in neutral (not park) for awhile to fill up tc. something about the pump doesn't work in park. check fluid level hot and in neutral.
http://www.valvoline.com/pages/produ...asp?product=63

consider a drain plug to make it a lot easier. $5.
http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech/trans.php

 

LMAO...I'd bet his tranny dumped already. Why would anyone put DEX3 in a late model mopar? It probably meant ATF+3 which most people confuse with Dex 3! It is not compatable with any Mopar fluid. As far as the rest, the post above me covers the rest of the details.

BTW, that Max life crap is designed as a marketing tool to sell something expensive... that normal maintenance would deem unnessesary. When I used to sell it toat the parts store, I'd always snicker...

 

shouldnt laugh my trans dip stick say use either ATF/DEX III this is on a 96 truck.... But i use only ATF +4 ... also says use dex III in the owners manual....go figure.

 

also be aware, dropping pan and filter only gets about 1/2 of the fluid out. a lot remains in the torque converter, lines, and cooler. you've got a few options.
1. drop pan, install drain plug in pan, fill w/atf+4, and see how it drives, then re-drain and fill again in a couple of days or a week. no need to drop pan the second time due to newly installed plug.
2. carry it to a shop with a transmission flush and make sure they use atf+4 and have them install a drain plug.
3. buy a whole case of fluid, disconnect one of the trans lines at the cooler or whereever else is most convenient and connect hose into drain pan or bucket. crank truck, put in neutral, pour in new atf+4 at about the same rate that its pumping out. i guess you'd call this a 'trans'fusion. ha ha i'm so funny.

 

Looks like I'm buying a case of fluid!! Great who the hell writes for Haynes. Their manuals seem to be a little misleading. So, should the flush take care of the problem or in this case my screwup.

Thanks dog56, thats funny. Glad to hear my misfortune could make your day!!

Thanks,
Chad

 

i don't think the trans will be damaged, but i'd get it out of there.

did i screw up in the flush instructions ? what drains the torque converter ?, does the cooler return line push cool fluid into TC, and so if he has the cooler disconnected does that mean TC won't get drained ? somebody help me out here.

 

What year is your truck ? and what is on the dip stick ? And its better to ask now then come in and say you have tranny problems... change it before to long hell use super tech from walmart ATF+4 And do a quick change , like others said do a flush....good luck !!

 

Valvoline will tell you that their MaxLife is all-purpose and covers the needs of ATF +4. I ran this for two transmission changes with no problems but then switched back to Mopar ATF +4 when Valvoline put their ATF +4 into the market. Think of it this way, if MaxLife met the specs of ATF +4, they wouldn't have created an ATF +4 - at least this is how I view it.

 

If you have a 46RE trans it won't hurt the trans, if you have the 45RFE or 545RFE it will give shudding problems.