96 Cherokee 4.0L 2WD trans fluid type
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 24
Likes: 4
From: St Petersburg
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
hey guys! Doing fluid changes on my new cherokee. What type of trans fluid does trans use? Is it Dex/Merc ATF fine? I read Bulletin about ATF +4 But I'm hearing the AW4 does not care for that fluid and will overheat trans.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/VCA773636 is this what you guys use? Thanks in advance!
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/VCA773636 is this what you guys use? Thanks in advance!
CF Veteran




Joined: May 2012
Posts: 7,965
Likes: 964
From: Lost in the wilds of Virginia
Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Dex/Merc. Stay away from the ATF+4.
Any DexMerc will do. Don't sweat the brand. WalMart's house brand is fine.
Any DexMerc will do. Don't sweat the brand. WalMart's house brand is fine.
When I changed mine I used ATF+4 because some stupid site listing all the fluid capacities said that's what it took lol.
Thankfully only a couple hundred miles later I found out it should really have Dex/Merc fluid and I drained/refilled again with Valvoline Dex-III/Merc same as you have linked.
After researching what fluid it really calls for and why there is confusion I found out a bunch of political bull is behind the confusion.
End result of plenty of research and common sense says that Dex/Merc is the proper fluid even if ATF-4 does work in many cases.
Plus Dex/Merc is cheaper! 😉
Thankfully only a couple hundred miles later I found out it should really have Dex/Merc fluid and I drained/refilled again with Valvoline Dex-III/Merc same as you have linked.
After researching what fluid it really calls for and why there is confusion I found out a bunch of political bull is behind the confusion.
End result of plenty of research and common sense says that Dex/Merc is the proper fluid even if ATF-4 does work in many cases.
Plus Dex/Merc is cheaper! 😉
Last edited by Zingo; Apr 30, 2020 at 10:21 PM.
Old fart with a wrench
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14,398
Likes: 741
From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Chrysler dealerships decided to only stock 1 transmission fluid so as to not make mistakes and the XJ was about to be discontinued at that time anyway. That's the story I got from a parts manager I trust. They've also changed their power steering fluid to a different formulation at about the same time.
CF Veteran




Joined: May 2012
Posts: 7,965
Likes: 964
From: Lost in the wilds of Virginia
Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
You got that exactly right!
Plus, the transmission's manufacturer, Asin Warner, has never recommended anything but Dex/Merc.
Old fart with a wrench
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14,398
Likes: 741
From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
I find it amusing that the AW4 and other Asian Warner transmissions are used in Toyota trucks, especially the smaller ones the ragheads like to use!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 24
Likes: 4
From: St Petersburg
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Thanks everyone! Been a nice weekend. Trans fluid changed now nice and pink/red. New LED headlamps installed. Hitch installed, new muffler installed and did a full interior detail and 303 aerospace the interior.
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