Transmission oil - $30 per litre!!!

[Smokey5159]

Hey guys - I've been tossing up whether to get my Auto trans serviced as per my Mech's advice (every 20,000k) - but have just been informed by Jeep here in Adelaide that a 3.8 litre bottle now costs $115!! That means I need 2, and all up the parts are gonna set me back $340 alone!
Do you guys reckon that interval is too soon? I have done (since the last service - 12 months and 20K ago) mostly city driving, and a couple of 400K runs in between - so I'm wondering if you reckon I'd definitely need to have it done before I go from Adelaide to Victoria in 3 weeks for a month holiday towing my 18' van?
I just don't want to burn up my money if it's too soon!!
Thanks in advance, Smokey.

[timbotrog]

Unless it's a high Km vehicle or is made to work hard you really only need to get your transmission serviced once a year and that's mainly drop the pan, change the filter and put new fluid in.

It uses a Dexron III type fluid. Pop into your local Burson store and grab a couple of 4lt bottles of Penrite Full synthetic or Semi synthetic.

It's good quality stuff and will set you back less than $80 for both bottles.

[axiom]

Unfortunatly Timbo our KJ's only run on the ATF+4, so we cant get away with the cheaper stuff.

However 20k KM intervals seems a bit close however, im doing much more than that in a yr, and i would be happy to change my fluid every 12 months. Im looking more at 40k KM yearly over the life of the car, but i dont need to tow anything nearly that heavy for extended periods of time, and i already have a transmission cooler installed to keep the fluid at lower temps. Overheating/Overworking the autos is one of the major reasons the fluid dies and thus kills the transmissions

[JEEPaul]

The service manual seems to indicate transmission service every 48,000km for severe duty, or every 163,000km for non-severe. Far from the 20,000km you've been recommended.

As for the oil, penrite and nulon indicate on the packaging of their synthetic multi vehicle trans oils they 'meet' the chrysler spec, but neither have the ATF+4 rubber stamp of approval..

[Lancer]

You are lucky - I pay £59 for 5 litres of ATF+4.

[glend]

I agree that 20,000km service interval is very close together and not at all cost effective. My Jeep mechanic mate services his every 12 months, regardless of kilometres, and I tend to do the same (usually before bigger trips). Don't forget the diff fluids as well, they should be changed as well if you can, expecially if your towing or working it offroad and don't have breather extensions fitted.

[GMEMUD]

http://www.datateck.com.au/lube/NulonAus/Default.asp
I have been using this for several years with no issues. It states on the web site it meets ATF+4 spec but not on the bottle. Tend to change about 12 months or soon after it has been over heated. I was using the Mopar +4 when I over heated the tranny and did not change the oil and before the next due service the tranny died and the tranny repair place said it was because the oil was overheated and not changed soon enough. There is an article written someplace about how the tranny oil deteriates greatly the hotter the oil has got.