I'm gonna change the tranny fluid and filter next weekend. Before I buy the stuff, what kind of fluid and filter should I get? Additives? Also I want to put a drain plug in. Where can I get a kit for that? MonteC please chime in!

Thanks!

 

ATF+4 only, and no additives. i think there are 3 brands, mopar, valvoline, and wal-mart brand. its all pretty expensive, mopar is about $8/qt, valvoline about 5 and wal-mart about 4. i use the valvoline.

get a filter/gasket kit at your local auto parts store. if you have a choice, get the better kit with the rubber gasket.

also get a universal filter kit at local autoparts store. $5-10. napa has them. last time i looked in my autozone they did not. when you put your drain plug in, be careful where you put it, so it doesn't hit the solenoids. you'll need to drill a 1/2" hole in the bottom of the pan (with it removed of course lol).

 

My Walmart has Mopar fluid for $6 a quart. Im gonna get that. How many Quarts do I need?

Do you mean something like this?
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/S...sku=ZX814722XF

 

about 6 - 7. when you fill it back up, check fluid level with engine running and transmission in neutral, not park.

your link above is a remote filter. i've got one and it seems like a good idea. you'll still need the internal filter and gasket kit like this.
http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...asket+-+Carded)

drain plug.
http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...it+-+Universal

 

So with the External filter, I might need 7-8 Quarts?

 

the external filter will probably only add about 1/3 qt. 7 is probably still enough. maybe 8 if you have or add an external cooler.

 

After your done Put in 5 quarts then start the truck up and while holding the brake put it up and down though all the gears slowly. I normally do a 5 seconds pause in each gear up and down though the gears 3 or 4 times, that way you know the gears are filling up with the fluid you just put in, the first time you may not feel the tranny ingage in the gears, After 4 times the truck should try to pull itself while in Gear (Except park and neutral) Checking it in Neutral without doing this will give you a false reading. After that Let the truck idle in Neutral for a few mins so the tranny can warm up (dont forget to set the E brake). If the fluid is cold it can give a false reading too. Then keep checking the dip stick and fill accordingly, normally I do 1/2 quarts at a time. Once it shows good on the stick take it out for a quick spin (i normally hop on the highway for a min so it can go though all the gears) then put it in neutral and set e brake and recheck the dip stick.

I had my Tranny cooler line blow off a few weeks ago, And I had to put in 6 &1/2 quarts, I drive it for a day then would check and fill accordingly.

 

just to hijack a tiny bit, can one use Mobil 1 synthetic ATF fluid? It says that it's compatible with Mopar ATF (doesn't specify +3 or +4). I put it in my xfer case, but of course there are no clutches in there so it's not so critical.

If these guys say it's OK maybe use synthetic.

 

Do not use the Mobil1, there is a reason why it doesn't state +4. Simply because it's not.

 

If Royal Purple made ATF+4 I'd put it in. That is the only brand I use, besides Mopar in the transmission.

Did some research. RP says that their MAX ATF is compatable with Mopar ATF+4. Do you guy think I should but it in?
http://www.royalpurple.com/transmission-chart.html