I do believe I have the select trac transfer case which I believe is the NP242 model.

I have been reading online and some people have said that the transfer case responds well to the ATF +4 fluid, but the transmission requires dexron/mercon III.

I have been hearing mixed results, and was wondering what would happen if I put ATF 4 in the transfer case but I put dex/mer III in the tranny.


Also, what kind of gear fluids would you guys recommend for the axles? I am thinking of going with mobil 1 synthetic.

 

You can run +4 in the t-case no problem.Also Chrysler recently released a updated T.S.B. to run +4 in the aw4.The trans and t-case are seperate and sealed from each other. The synthetic oil is fine for diffs,I run 75w140.

 

they only want your tranny to now fail so you'll buy a new one/new car.
why stray from the original specs?


original spec called for dex II in both.
they dont make it anymore, so...

dex III is what you need for the t case and aw4.

 

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/tra...d-4483/index2/

Refer to the above thread, as this issue has been brought up in the past. Chrysler put out the TSB, yes, however it appears that Aisin Warner does not recommend/support the use of ATF +4. A friend of mine has run +4 in his AW4 for about 100,000 miles with no issues, BUT it isn't wise to stray away from factory specifications.

 

agreed. Stay with the dex3. Period. As far as that dumb tsb goes It suddenly dissapeared over time...so dont even listen to that ( just imagine why it quietly left and got changed back...)

Again not sure why this stuff always becomes a big deal when brought up........if its not the fluid specified in the manuals, dont use it unless the fluid has been updated like the dex2 to dex3.

 

Absolutley... dex 111 , in the trans not +4, it will shorten the trans life!

 

So, I am guessing for my own personal satisfaction I should just swap out the TC fluid and put dex/mer III in there?

 

Agreed stick with original specs.

 

Lets organize this a little bit....

First. The environment and operating conditions of the transfer case are completely different than those of the transmission. The transfer case will run just fine on ATF+4. But... for most people, they run exactly the same fluid in the transmission that they run in the transfer case, due to not wanting to keep another kind of fluid around and accidentally putting the wrong one in the transmission.

Second. I NEVER recommend a synthetic fluid to be used in an AW-4 that has significant mileage on it using conventional Dex II/III. A large share of the problems that have been reported with the AW-4 and sudden failures has been a situation when the tranny has been run with Dex II/III fluid and then service changed to a synthetic multi-grade. If a tranny is a fresh rebuild or new unit, then running a synthetic multi-grade has not posed problems.

Third. On the issue of that TSB. Until Apr of 2008, Chrysler specifically exempted the AW-4 from the recommendation for ATF+4. In a Oct/Nov 2007 TSB for Dodge trucks, the AW-4 had a specific foot note in bold type removing it from the ATF+4 recommendations. Six months later.. Chrysler adds the AW-4 to the ATF+4 recommendation. The reasons behind this are unclear. There is more than a passing belief that this was to reduce the amount that Chrysler had to pay to GM to license the Dex III formula. It is also to be noted that when Apr 08 was reached, only the last few 01 model XJs were still warrantied under the 7/70 powertrain warranty offered when they were sold new. Additionally, Aisin-Warner and Toyota have NEVER recommended ATF+4 for the AW-4.

 

Wish I saw this thread and related threads before my shop did the trans service on my Cherokee...67,000 miles and put +4 in it...I'll probably drain it out and put in Dex III or VI.

 

Valvoline makes a DEX/MERC Max Life Transmission fluid. It states on the back that its "Recommended for a broad range of vehicles requiring MERCON-V, DEXRON-III/MERCON fluids" But in the list of vehicles, it doesnt list chysler or jeep.

My XJ has 158k on it so I was thinking the maxlife might be a good option.

Will this Valvoline MaxLife fluid work in my transmission, transfer case, or both?

Thanks in advance.

 

Bump.

Any input on this Valvoline MaxLife in an AW4 and a NP231?

 

Yes, it is perfectly safe. Valvoline doesn't mention Jeeps due to that TSB from Chrysler. Read my last post in this thread, that will explain the TSB issue in detail without me re-posting it her.