ZJ Transmission fluid recommendations.

[It'sBigAl]

Hi all,

I have a 1999 ZJ Grand Cherokee with 265,000 km on it and I'd like to do a transmission service. I'm trying to make sense of what the reccomended fluid for these vehicles as, after some research I understand that just using Dex III as some people do is not good for the life of the box. I can't find any fluids that say they are specifically an ATF +4 though although I can find a few that say they're compatible with a whole heap of manufacturers transmissions from 3 continents which I'm slightly dubious of.

What's everyone's reccomendation for a good ATF that'll go well in the Jeep and help me get the most life out of my vehicle? I understand a transmission is not the sort of thing you want to skimp on, I'm happy to pay a bit more if the benefits will be there for me. Should I seek down a specific +4 ATF fluid, or will I be fine using a good quality generic ATF fluid, in either mineral or semi synthetic? Any fluids that are known to be bad with these boxes?

Also, whatever sort of fluid I settle in, would I be fine to run it in the transfer case as well?

Finally a mate of mine has suggested I may be worse off having the fluid flushed out of the box due to the sort of mileage the vehicle has done, he reckons this will cause more problems than it fixes, but that I should just drop the fluid, change the filter and put new fluid in. Should I be right doing this or would flushing the whole box still be reccomended?

Forgive me for being somewhat paranoid here, my other car is a 6speed ZF Falcon and I've heard all the horror stories from using the wrong sort of fluid, mostly tight cheapskates using DexIII beacause "that's what ATF is" and blowing a $10,000 gearbox and I'm determined not to have this happen to me.

Cheers Alex.

[Davivo]

Penrite ATF FS

[bodgie]

Originally Posted by It'sBigAl

Hi all,
Finally a mate of mine has suggested I may be worse off having the fluid flushed out of the box due to the sort of mileage the vehicle has done, he reckons this will cause more problems than it fixes, but that I should just drop the fluid, change the filter and put new fluid in. Should I be right doing this or would flushing the whole box still be reccomended?

Sounds like BS to me, flushing the old old out is a good thing to be doing IMHO. I've never heard anyone saying it is a bad thing.

If you had two meat pies, and one had been out of the fridge for a day and the other hadn't. You cook both, which one would you eat?

Having new, clean fluid will only help, not hinder.

You won't go far wrong with the Penrite recommendation made earlier.

Jason

[It'sBigAl]

Has anyone ever used Chief Oil ATF? They're big at SuperCheap, I've used their diff oil before with no complaints and know people have used their engine oils with good results. They make a universal synthetic ATF that's quite affordable at 39.95 for 4 litres with a special starting this week of 40% off.

http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/Pro...4-Litre/344506

Or would you still say I'm better off going for the more expensive Penrite stuff (a brand I've also had good experiences and have a positive image of)

[Grippy]

I bought 4 litres of the chief stuff last week to do my trans, haven't done it yet though, where did ya get the info for the 40% off?

Sent from under my Grand Cherokee

[It'sBigAl]

In this weeks SCA catalog.2 day sale, only good on the 19th and 20th.

[It'sBigAl]

Just curiously what the total capacity of the ZJ's trans is to do a full drain flush and replace of the fluid? My workshop manual doesn't list anything and it's all in imperial units anyway. I'd be sure to bugger the conversion up I'm sure.