Hi,

This will be my first service on this tranny. I DO NOT know what type of fluid is currently in it. It is nice and red and was owned by a Jeep tech that worked at a local Jeep dealer. To my suprise, they do not have a record of this vehicle ever being serviced there and I can no longer contact him.

My question is, if it currently has the +4 fluid in it, am I safe to do a drain-n-fill using Dex III?

tia

 

Should be fine as long as you stick with Dex/Mercon.

 

Yes, I'd do the same thing. Drain the pan and refill with Dex/Merc III compatible fluid. Will take somewhere between 3-4 quarts, be careful not to overfill!

As long as the fluid is currently red in color, regular fluid changes were likely performed on it.

Repeat every 30k.

 

I guess you will be ok. But wise men with old jeeps tell me once you get around 150k on it. Don't change the tranny fluid or it will blow lol.

I changed my tranny fluid and filter on the Heep when i first got it. PIA I will never do it again. My fill plug said Dex II on it. Our Allison Trannies take DEX III and from what we were told DO NOT PUT DEX IV in it. We have switched to another tranny oil. Since Dex III is no longer available to us. But a allison tranny is a lot differ than a AW4.

 

My 1998 has 183,000 miles on it. 158,000 miles when I bought it 18 months ago. The fluid was red but a little dirty. I changed the fluid (3 quarts) twice, a month / 1000 miles ago. I didn't drop the pan or change the filter. So far, no problems and the fluid is a lot cleaner. I'm going to do it again at the next oil change.

 

^^^ sweet. Maybe I misunderstood what they say maybe it is just let the filter be...

Anyway doing the filter sucks on me 87. Broke a few screws, the drain plug wouldn't come out, and the dang dip stick is a PIA too separate then reattach.

 

That's a good and mild way to "flush" the transmission but imho, i would do a filter change.

Here is couple of write-up just in case.

Write-ups
• http://go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoAutoService.htm
• http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1031061

 

Pretty much my plan. Mine has 158,000 on it. I drained/replaced around 3.5 quarts today. I will do this again the next couple of times when I change the engine oil.

Changed oil in both differentials and the transfer case also. I read that I needed 4 quarts of lube for the diffs, but it only took 3 (dana 30/corp 8.25). The existing lube looked new.

Fluid in the transfer case looked terrible. Will do it again next oil change too.

 

FWIW, tranny pan drop made quick and easy, filter is a snap and comes with a new pan gasket. Small tubing cutter, rubber fuel hose and clamps.