I had the Dodge dealer to flush my transmission today. When I got the bill it said they put valvoline transmission fluid in my truck. I was a little upset that they had not used Mopar ATF+4 but I've always had good luck with Valvoline products so I never said too much about it to the service advisor. When I got home I checked Valvoline's web site to see if they make an ATF+4 compatible tranny fluid. Nothing was listed. According to the web site, Valvoline makes an ATF+3 compatible fluid but nothing was listed for ATF+4.

Does anyone know if Valvoline makes an ATF+4 compatible fluid. If not I am going to demand that the dealer replace the fluid with Mopar ATF+4 fluid. You would think that a Dodge dealership would use Chrysler recommended products!! Thanks for your help.

 

I called the dealer today to find out which valvoline fluid was used in my transmission. They couldn't/wouldn't give me anything specific, but said they buy valvoline in bulk and add additives to make it compatible with ATF+4. Sounds like a crock to me. I told them I wanted to buy a quart in case I needed to add any to the transmission. They said the only fluid they could sell me was Mopar ATF+4. I've had a lot of problems with this dealer. Guess this is the final straw.

 

There is a additive that can be added to OTHER fliuds to make it compatable.At least I've read this many times in the past.Go by the dealer and say SHOW ME the additive please or re flush my trans with ATF+4

 

You do know that the Mopar ATF +4 from the dealer is pretty expensive, correct.

SO why do you think they would use their own product. It isn't in their budget plan to do so.

Just another way to make money from the customer. Unfortunately.

 

Thanks Hounddog and Scott. Reluctantly, I guess I need to talk to the dealer again. Dealing with the service department of a dealership is one of my least favorite things. It rates right up there with things like getting a root canal.

 

not to worry about the Valvoline tranny fluid. when I got mine changed they put it in mine too...things have been great. I did my research when I got home because they wrote "Mopar" on it but put in Valvoline Max Life

http://www.valvoline.com/pages/produ....asp?product=6

you'll need to click on the "Product Specs"

 

I called my brother-in-law who is a tech at our local Dodge dealership and asked him about this...he said that they use Valvoline oil for the engine only and Mopar ATF+4 for the transmission only, he's not sure why the dealership put Valvoline transmission fluid in your truck but as far as he knows if something goes wrong with your transmission it won't be covered under warrenty if your take it to other dealerships maybe only the dealership you deal with. The other question he brought up to me is why do they only sell the Mopar ATF+4 and not the Valvoline transmission fluid, that doesn't make sense.

 

Thanks YFZ and ITs All Good. I have always liked Valvoline products but, because I think the transmission is probably the drivetrain component most likely to be a problem in the long term, I thought it would be best to use Mopar ATF+4 and have the transmission serviced by a dealer. Also, when I researched Valvoline fluid I read about Max Life but the Valvoline site just said Max Life was recommended by "Valvoline" for transmissions requiring ATF+4. It did not mention that Chrysler approved of the use of Max Life. Valvoline also makes an ATF+3 fluid for older Chrysler products which they refer to on their site as "ATF+3 fluid". They never labeled Max Life as ATF+4 fluid, they just said that Valvoline recommends it. Maybe all of this means nothing but I was concerned that in the event there was a problem with the transmission, Chrysler might try to say that it was because of the fluid. Also, because I use the truck to pull a camper, I sure do not want to have transmission problems far from home on a busy Interstate.
You made a good point Its All Good, what they are doing doesn't make good sense except they are doing everything they can to make a buck regardless of how the customer feels about it, ie, they are using bulk fluid which is cheaper to do flushes and they sell the most expensive bottled fluid if the customer wants to do their own maintenance. The problem for me is, this is the only Dodge dealer in a fifty mile radius.

 

I hear on that one fifty mile radius, I guess that seems far but hear were all stuck with 2 dealerships one on each side on the island both owned by the same guy...good thing my brother-in-law works at one on them...

 

I had this same problem when I had a transmission flush on my old truck. I went to an independant shop and had a transmission flush done. I asked them what type of fluid they used and they had just used some type of bulk ATF fluid. I asked them why they didn't use the specified fluid and they said their rep told them this one fluid would do it all. I did some research and the fluid they were using was made by Chevron I believe. Well Chevron makes an ATF specifically for Chrysler products (not what they were carrying). I aslo printed out a bunch of literature that said Chryslers must use ATF 4. In the end they ended up refunding my money because I had my transmission flushed by another shop. I would try calling corporate customer support and filling a complaint. I would also avoid that dealer at all costs.

 

Thanks MedicShawn. Sounds like some good advice to me. Glad you were able to work out your problem. I havn't done anything yet because I dread having a shouting contest with the dealer. I either want proof that the fluid they used meets Chrysler's specs or a reflush.