Replacement of fluid in Torque converter

1999 was the first year for ATF+4.

 

Ignorance is bliss, isn't it?

What is so hard for you to understand about "The newer fluid can replace
the older fluid, but the older fluid cannot replace the newer fluid"?

That's right.

You're paying more than double what you should. Find another source.

This past week, I posted a reference to the exact publication that
contains this information in *GREAT* detail. Here it is again:

http://www.sae.org/servlets/productDetail?PROD_TYP=PAPER&PROD_CD=982674

ATF+4 has much greater thermal stability, much more consistent frictional
characteristics across a much wider temperature range, a lower pour point
for shift consistency at low temperatures, and greater resistance to
shear-induced deterioration. Any of that sound trivial to you?

They're not.

You've got all the information you need, you're just trying to rationalize
your cheapskate behavior. +4 is the correct fluid for your transmission,
+3 is not. But hey, it's your transmission. Save a few bucks now, pay a
few thousand later, and if that makes you feel smart...go for it!

 

Was the change to ATF+4 not also a mid-'99MY change?

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
adddress with the letter 'x')

 

Well, I just talked with both of my local dealerships' parts and service
departments. They both said that they use +3 for my vehicle, the 99
Concorde, even the ones that have the manual that says to use the +4.

He said that the +3 better be good enough, because it's been in my vehicle
since the LAST time it was serviced!

Well, it runs fine and shifts perfectly. What more could I ask, except
maybe for it to continue this way for another 100k miles.

I think that I'll run it as is for 30k, and then on the next change, I'll go
ahead and go to the synthetic +4. Price is not an issue, just effort.

The service department associate said that they use the +3 for all of their
fluid changes. The only difference is longevity. They confirmed that the
+4 was the "leave it in" option.

The service department also verified that the transmission was mechanically
the same in a 98 and a 99 Concorde. As I was guessing.

Then, my personal mechanic told me that he only uses Mercon V in EVERYTHING!
I mean, this guy is REALLY good, and he's telling me this. He said that
he's never had a problem with any cars serviced this way. And he also said
that he only uses aftermarket filters. Wow, what an eye opener.

By the way, the fluid was $4.80/qt. Not too bad at all.

 

As far as I know, ATF+4 was factory fill on all '99 models.

 

And people wonder why their Chrysler product transmissions fail with
alacrity "even though I always had it serviced at the dealer!".

 

I wouldn't worry too much about it. ATF+IV is an incremental improvement
over ATF+III, not a night-vs-day difference. Change the fluid, use +IV,
and don't worry too much about a little residual +III lurking in there.