You know, it use to be that you could only get ATF+4 from Mopar, but now I'm seeing different brands out there. Because of this, I'm wondering if all ATF+4 is a semi or full synthetic or if it can be dino. Can anyone confirm?

Thanks.

 

the valvoline version says synthetic on their bottle.

 

you can by a off brand for 2.90 a qt. and the best for 4.50 at some auto parts stores.So i would think it is dino. Ive never seen anything in writing that said it was syn. IF IT WAS SYN. OR SEMI. DONT YOU THINK IT WOULD SAY SO ON THE BOTTLE EVERY OTHER AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCT DOES.I THINK JUST BECAUSE IT COST SO MUCH AT THE DEALER PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS SYN.not sure about the valvoline

 

Just Checked The Amsoil Trans Fluid Price Its Around $10 A Quart.it Will Work In Place Of The Atf+4 Or Mixed With It .that Just Seems To Be To Much Price Difference For The Regular Atf+4 To Be Syn. Amsoil Is A Little High But Not That Much.

 

Wal-Mart carries Mopar.

 

I am sure many will have opinions on this, but I have been running the advance auto atf+4 for over 20,000 miles. Didn't see a bit of difference compared to the first couple Mopar atf+4 changes. I also run advance auto cheap Ftype atf in my drag car.

 

I dont think they are all synthetics because I have a spare quart that I bought to keep in the back seat for $2 at walmart.

 

bought a bottle of valvoline +4 at autozone last friday knowing i was going to lose alittle fluid when i installed my new tranny line for my tranny probe. says synthetic right on the bottle. don't know if it is a "true" synthetic or not, though.

 

Biggest way I can tell a differance between a Group III and Group IIII synthetic is price! BUT the DEALER Mopar ATF +4 is a Group III if I'm not mistaken.But in a FAIR market full synthetics (group IIII) is always more costly.

 

ATF+4 i s a full synthetic. The reason that there are other brands is that DC finally licensed this product to other manufacturers. They must make it according to ATF+4 specs though, which means it is a full synthetic just as MOPAR ATF+4 is.

 

Yeah,I was just at Walmart yesterday. Mopar ATF+4 is still $4.42/quart.

 

Well on www.bobistheoilguy.com the Mopar Atf was discussed as a Group III while Amsoil,Redline and some other were a Group IIII .

 

My take on the synthetic stuff in any fluid, oil, or version there of. If it doesn't say 100% synthetic then it's just a blend or group III. Right or wrong that's my take on it. Reason, why not say 100% synthetic if it is, would be a great marketing tool. If it isn't 100% synthetic then It can not be marketed as such.

 

Hounddog, I read a lot of your posts and agree with so much of what you say. You experience in the automotive maintenance environment is very similar to what I have seen and believe. One thing I may see a little different from you is the way products are priced. Just because something has a higher price doesn't necessary guarantee that the material ingredients are better. For example I could purchase Amsoil from the wholesaler cheaper than I could get Castrol Syntec from another wholesaler. The Amsoil was a PAO as you know. (15w40). Some other viscositys of Amsoil were not PAO. Pricing is based on what the vendor believes the customer receives and is willing to pay. The COGS may have no significant difference. I don't know if the ATF-4 is PAO, however I would not base my answer on an internet sight or the price. Call the manufacturer for the word from the horses mouth, thats what I do.

 

Bluebell, the term used for 100% synthetic is "full synthetic". The term synthetic is loosely used these days. For example a fuel additive may be listed as a synthetic. What does that mean? Well according to the engineers (and the manufacturers) it means that the product was engineered to meet the exact objective if the product (for example to clean the injectors). Sounds funny. The fuel injection cleaner is not a class III or IV in this case. The same with synthetic materials. There is not a specific synthetic material. In the case of lubricants, the oils used to be listed as full synthetics or 100% synthetics if they were a class IV lubricant (PAO). That term changed when Castrol highly refined a Class III lubricant (paraffin based) and called it a full synthetic or 100% synthetic. Mobil 1 challenged this claim in court and lost. Since then motor oil companies have formulated their full synthetics Group IV or highly refined Group III or a combination. If you call the manufacturers and ask their fluid technical support if their full synthetic is 100% synthetic they will respond "yes". What I don't understand is why the motor oil companies don't list their products as 100% group IV petroleum motor oil.