AW4 Correct Fluid?
Seasoned Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 358
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Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Dex III/Merc is the correct stuff... Put it in be happy....
Chrysler didn't design, buy or specify the AW-4. Aisin Warner and Toyota(the other AW-4 user) NEVER specified ATF +4. Chrysler owns ATF+4, so they have a vested intrest in selling that to you. While AW-4s were under warranty by the thousands Chrysler's TSB specifically exempted AW-4s from ATF+4 recommendations. It wasnt until 2007 when all but '01 models would have had their warranties expire, so Chrysler wouldn't be on the hook for tranny failures caused by using ATF+4 in the AW-4.
So ask yourself two things... Why after exempting the AW-4 for 18+ years in ATF+4 recommendations why suddenly did Chrysler start recommending it??
Also.. we know what came from the factory(Dex II,III), why would you want to change that???
Chrysler didn't design, buy or specify the AW-4. Aisin Warner and Toyota(the other AW-4 user) NEVER specified ATF +4. Chrysler owns ATF+4, so they have a vested intrest in selling that to you. While AW-4s were under warranty by the thousands Chrysler's TSB specifically exempted AW-4s from ATF+4 recommendations. It wasnt until 2007 when all but '01 models would have had their warranties expire, so Chrysler wouldn't be on the hook for tranny failures caused by using ATF+4 in the AW-4.
So ask yourself two things... Why after exempting the AW-4 for 18+ years in ATF+4 recommendations why suddenly did Chrysler start recommending it??
Also.. we know what came from the factory(Dex II,III), why would you want to change that???
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: caledon, ontario
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: '92 4L I6 H.O.
I had my tranny cooler lines replaced last year, and they put in ATF+4, and now, after it's been sitting a while, the transmission slips constantly (especially when i first start moving) and shifts at about 3500rpm. In otherwords I think it's toast, so i would just stick with Mercon or Dexron Fluid I wish I had of known about this beforehand
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 41
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Yeah I ended up following Mike's advice and draining the fluid from the pan and I didn't see any particulate matter, but the fluid was almost black. So I disconnected the return line and flushed all the old junk out and put in new Valvoline Dex III / Merc. Now it's running great, it even feels like there's less vibration, but that could just be my imagination.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: caledon, ontario
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: '92 4L I6 H.O.
Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 198
Likes: 5
From: Rochester, MI
Model: Cherokee
Digging up an old thread here, but it has good info. Would there be any benefit to me taking out 3 qts of the regular valvoline dex/merc I have in there and adding 3 quarts of synthetic like this: http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=51&pcid=9 every 20k miles, or stick with the regular? My Xj has 201k miles.
CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,127
Likes: 2
From: Hell, CA
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Digging up an old thread here, but it has good info. Would there be any benefit to me taking out 3 qts of the regular valvoline dex/merc I have in there and adding 3 quarts of synthetic like this: http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=51&pcid=9 every 20k miles, or stick with the regular? My Xj has 201k miles.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 467
Likes: 0
From: Crystal Lake, IL
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
The day after i bought my jeep 3 years ago I changed the oil and flushed the radiator and changed the tranny fluid too. I drained it at the pan and filled it in the dipstick tube, however I was 16 and figured that Chrysler ATF should go in a Chrysler vehicle... didnt know better and put ATF+4 back in it. However I havent had a single issue with it, unlike what some of you are saying. Knowing what I know now I would have put Dex/Merc in. Does anyone think I should flush it again and use dex/merc? Before something DOES happen? Or should I just leave well enough alone? It shifts real smooth and never slips.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 320
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From: long island
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
The day after i bought my jeep 3 years ago I changed the oil and flushed the radiator and changed the tranny fluid too. I drained it at the pan and filled it in the dipstick tube, however I was 16 and figured that Chrysler ATF should go in a Chrysler vehicle... didnt know better and put ATF+4 back in it. However I havent had a single issue with it, unlike what some of you are saying. Knowing what I know now I would have put Dex/Merc in. Does anyone think I should flush it again and use dex/merc? Before something DOES happen? Or should I just leave well enough alone? It shifts real smooth and never slips.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 467
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From: Crystal Lake, IL
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Yea bout 3 or 3 and a quarter. Ill probably do it in the spring cause I think its starting to leak out of the gasket, figured I'd do a gasket and filter change and a flush. And I like the idea of flushing through the trans cooler line as well ive never thought of that before
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
Dexron 3/Mercon. I wouldn't drop the pan. To much of a hassle. Just do two drain and refills, and this will get most of the old fluid out. Drive it for a little between the two changes.
It will take somewhere between 3.5 and 4 quarts to refill.
It will take somewhere between 3.5 and 4 quarts to refill.
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1
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Model: Cherokee
Aw-4
Aisin warner 4 speed transmissions are a Toyota transmission so dex merc or atf4 would not be the fluid to use for it, castrol import multi vehicle is the fluid that is compatible with what they use in those transmissions, just cause its a jeep doesn't mean it needs mopar, its not mopar its Toyota
::CF Moderator::
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 43,971
Likes: 1,578
From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Aisin warner 4 speed transmissions are a Toyota transmission so dex merc or atf4 would not be the fluid to use for it, castrol import multi vehicle is the fluid that is compatible with what they use in those transmissions, just cause its a jeep doesn't mean it needs mopar, its not mopar its Toyota
It was meant to use dexron right off the bat. Never anything else.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 939
Likes: 71
From: Abysmo, NJ
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Sometimes there are variations in the friction materials used in the same transmission depending on application. For example, the Borg-Warner Type 35 (predecessor to the AW4) would use either Type A/Dexron or Type F transmission fluid in various vehicles.
I'm planning to change the trans fluid in my XJ with Dex/Merc. Which trans cooler line is the return? I like that idea of doing a complete fluid change by disconnecting it.
I'm planning to change the trans fluid in my XJ with Dex/Merc. Which trans cooler line is the return? I like that idea of doing a complete fluid change by disconnecting it.