Im fairly new to Cherokees. I have been looking through the forums and havnt been able to find anything about the best brand for transmission fluid. I have a 94 Cherokee sport 4x4 with the aw4 43LE trans. What brand do you guys use and what oil composition(semi synthetic, mineral.....?) any help would be appreciated.

 

Use ATF-4 in the transmission, brand is not that big of deal, just use the correct type of fluid.

 

The AW4 uses Dexron III fluid. Since GM no longer licenses Dex III, most major brands label it as D/M III or similar. Any name brand is fine (Shell, Valvoline, Mobil, etc). One very good option is Valvoline Maxlife. If you want to spend the extra coin, synthetics provide longer service life and better performance at temperature extremes, but this trans really will do well on any quality dino fluid, too.

 

DexIII was recommended in 1994 because ATF-4 was not around back then, but ATF-4 can be used in the AW4 without any issues.

 

ok thanks guys, by the way how much fluid is needed to do a complete flush? its a 94 sport 4x4 with the aw4 trans. Mines well change it since im gonna do the gasket and filter. I hear 3 gallons from someone on here.

 

Just to note, ATF+4 is not recommended by Chrysler for this trans. Will it work? Maybe, but why take a chance?

 

No, ATF+4 wasn't around in '94, but it's predecessor was, and it wasn't recommended by Jeep.

 

"Also note 4.0L Automatic XJs have an Aisin-Warner AW4 transmission which requires DexronIII/Mercron....The AW4 does not like ATF+3/4. "

 

I recommend Dex/Merc III compatible fluid. Widely available.

I don't use or recommend ATF+4 because some (not all) experience slippage that has been absolutely linked to it.

Dex/Merc III will give you a nice, long service life.

 

I found this table, derived from the FSM, for most Jeeps. It claims the capacity for a '94 AW4 is 8.5 pints. Considering the capacity for the same transmission in an '89 is 8.45 quarts, I'm going to assume this is just one of many typos, but a significant one.

http://www.kelleyswip.com/fluids.html

My understanding is that a service fill is 4-5 quarts while an overhaul fill (drained torque converter and pan) is 8.5 quarts. Someone can correct me if my numbers are off.

 

If by "service fill" you mean just a drain and fill, then my experience has been only about 2 quarts are needed to get back up to full. This is with a 98.

 

I just dropped the pan yesterday to change the filter and I had to fill it back up with about 4-5 quarts. When I'd do the plug it would take around 2-3 quarts. That's just from my experience

 

Thanks for all the info guys.

 

I have used ATF+4 in all my AW4s with no ill effects. My tranny shop also said that ATF+4 was to be used in there. To each their own. If the AW4 uses Dex/Merc III, hell I have it made, since my Scouts use that kind, and they share having Chrysler 727 Autos. The early XJs have that weird 406 or 409 something auto tranny that the RWD Dodge, Chrysler, and Plymouth cars of the mid to late 80s had. The later ones with 4.0s typically had AW4's in them. Since I didn't get an owners manual with it, but have a service manual, it states, "Recommended fluid for AW-4 transmissions is Mopar Dexron IIE/Mercon. Mopar Dexron II may be used if Mercon fluid is not readily available." So I guess I answered my own question, since I didn't know either, but again, I have never had an issue, and the bottles don't say or show anything indicating that they cannot be used, so I guess the FSM has paid for itself....

Jeff

 

Dex/Merc III for the AW4. The AW4 prefers Dex/Merc III. I would use only Dex/Merc III in a AW4. The reason ATF+4 wasnt recommended for 1994 AW4 transmissions is because ATF+4 was first introduced in 2000. It would have been the last of the ATF+2 and the first of the ATF+3 recommendations at that time. But the recommendation for the AW4 has always been DEX/Merc III. As far a brand recommendation, I use any major brand(with SuperTech-Wal-Mart brand the most common) Dino based(Conventional oil base) DEX/MERC III.