I suggest everyone to file a complaint with the FTC about DC's lock on ATF+4. We should all file this as to DC breaking the Magnason Moss Act.

If you chose to file a complaint, you can do it on the FTC site.

FTC complaint page

 

Were you denied warranty coverage or something? I'm wondering what brought this up to make it time to file a complaint.

 

He's probably bitter that you can't go to the local "Cheep guys" parts store and pick a quart up for .99.

 

I just did a quick search and there are quite a few manufacturers out there that are making ATFs that they claim meet or exceed the ATF+4 standards. Amsoil is one of them.

 

LubeGard added to good old, cheap, easy to find Dexron III will make it equal to AFT+3 or 4.
This is exactly what most of the tranny rebuilders use.

http://www.transmissioncenter.net/lubegard.htm

 

HERE WE GO AGAIN.... they can say it MEETS ATF4 all they want, if you have a warrenty problem , and you used ANYTHING other that ATF4 your stuck with a BUSTED tranny.

 

A good chunk of us went WAY past the warranty limits within the first couple of years of owning our trucks. I had gone over 36,000 within the first 2 years of owning it and went over 100,000 over a year ago.

There are many reputable companies making good alternatives to ATF+4. I don't have any issues in using those products.

 

Not sure what is being recommended for a change interval or how long the warranty is nowadays but if it's still 24k changes and 36k warranty you only have to buy ATF+4 once and you're done if you're concerned about warranty.
I personally wouldn't have my tranny done under warranty if it broke anyways, they're just going to fix it the same way it was, not improve it.
You're going to have to up grade it eventually anyway.

 

What's wrong with that? Is it right for DC to say to use this fluid type to protect the warranty, then rape you hard when you buy it? I dont mind paying a little for good quality products, but to pay a lot for the only brand of that product is IMO a load of Crap. I run Senthetic blend oils in my truck, and the wifes car, but not at $30 a gallon.

 

Hey infedel, I must be missing something. What do you mean by only 36k warranty on the tranny??

 

1st, it's illegal for DCX to have a lock on the market. and 2nd, what's the problem with getting a lower cost alternative that meets the warrenty requirments (I'm talking a manufacture approved fuild)?

You can say that it's fine to use someone else fluid that meets or exceeds the spec, but it's not. Not only because it's not approved, but how can a fuild meet multiple specs when different trannies require different types of fluid?

Not sure if it was on this site or another site, but there was a guy that used Amsoil and was denied warrenty until DCX found that he was a loyal Dodge man. They didn't cover it because Amsoil met or exceeded the spec, it was done as a courtesy to keep a loyal customer.

I don't know anyting about tranny fluid, but how can you have a universal fuild?

I remember reading somewhere that ATF+4 was a syn based semi-slippery fluid. If Amsoils Universal fuild meets the spec, but is a slippery fluid, it doesn't meet the spec.

Even Ford has 2 different specs for their autos. One is Mercon, the other one Mercon V. My understanding on Mercon is that it's semi slippery, where Mercon V is slippery. No way can one fluid meet both specs when Ford flat out says NOT to use Mercon V in some of their trannys and on others, to only use Mercon V.

Bottom line is that I want a choice, other then Mopar, that is approved by that manufacturer, as required by law!

 

Not sure what your driving, because of LACK OF SIG... but i have a 100,000 mile warenty( yes i sprung for the EXTENDED warrenty)... so why would i use anything other than what is SUPPOSED to be in there.

CRAB is right on with his post, its against the law to require me to use something that i can only get in 1 place... use your amsoil, and redline all you want. but if you want it fixed for free, you better use atf4.....nuff sed

 

If its indeed illegal, you may want to take this up with the US Atty General rather than the FTC. I remember reading that post you were referring too, and like many of the posts you see on the internet, its based more on folklore and bull malarky than in fact. The guy who posted it, was posting it 3rd or 4th person - He had a friend who owned a car repair shop who had a customer that was denied coverage. There are guys on this site who said that there dealer wouldn't honor the DC warranty because of "speeding" - its nonsense. Or dealer tech writers who won't look at vibrations because the owner exceeded a supposed 3000 rpm redline - again, nonsense. More folklore & you know what....

In my manual here (DRM) it says quote "Mopar (R) ATF +4 is the recommended fluid for DaimlerChrysler automatic transmissions. DEXRON II is not recommended. Clutch chatter can result from the use of improper fluid. unquote. It then goes on about the fluid is dyed red, and that it is normal for it to change color, may eventually turn to brown - says it normal. And to not use color or odor to determine fluid condition or need for change.

Nothing there about Mopar ATF +4 being REQUIRED, merely recommended. The bold is in the manual - I didn't bold it for jollies. Says Clutch chatter can result, not the total and complete annihilation of the transmission. The way I read it, is that DEXRON II fluid will make it chatter, but an abusive operator would be able to ruin a tranny.

Other than DEXRON II being mentioned, nothing there that says anything else is prohibited. I bet the M-M Act is behind that. DC has legions of lawyers (like all the other OEMs) and are smart enough to know better.

Warranty work is big business for dealers. Not all dealers are in the same financial position, and not all have the same outlook on care and feeding of customers after the sale. Service Managers can also see those guys with chips on their shoulders a mile away who come in looking for a warranty fight. Guess what, they'll get one - its human nature. Unfortunately, its those guys (who I categorize with frivolous lawsuit folks) who ruin it for everyone else.

If a person is looking for trouble, they'll find it (or it will find them).

I suggest that you should go purchase a couple cases of Mopar ATF +4, keep all reciepts and meticulous details on when you changed it out, because I'm sensing a warranty battle brewing. Better yet, bite the bullet and let your dealer change it - then you're covered. Whats a few extra bucks for peace of mind? When you're 80 years old, it ain't gonna matter anyways.

Here's a good website that I got from this site to browse around and learn something about oils and fluids:
http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi

Edit: since I have no desire to even try and look up dealer codes for your sig block, nor is it clear to me if you're concern is with the tranny or transfer case, the same manual says the same thing for transfer cases: Mopar ATF +4 is recommeded.

 

Fluid might be the least of your worries if you have an '03 or '04. Better keep that extended warranty intact no matter how much it costs.

48RE DESIGNED TO FAIL???

 

I used mobil one synthetic atf for my power steering and it said ATF+4 on the bottle ......................................... bought it at walmart