Thanx Dodgeram, I'm gonna have to check that out, 'cause I'm about due for a tranny service, again.

 

i have a 2003 dually auto 373 gears i pull 48000 pounds every day i now have 38000 miles no problems,i also always pull in over drive,some time in hill areas i will take it out but not often.its a tough tranny. i just bought a neww 2004.5 1600 miles has vibrations sucks and poor fuel mileage its got 410s auto. but they are still good trucks.!!!!!!1

 

I have no extended warranty(yet), but my tranny has warranty($100 deductable) up to 7 years or 70000miles. My drive train warranty doesn't end at 3 yrs./36000 miles. I agree that we should have a choice, and it should be under warranty as long as the fluid meets requirements.

 

48RE owners make sure you read this

http://www.dieseltrans.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=472

 

I've had a full upgrade DTT tranny, TC, and VB for a little over 3000 miles now. A DTT-recommended/qualified company (Chip's Trans. in Sevierville, TN = super company) did the install for me. Dexron III was the first fluid that this tranny saw (break-in ATF). After 1000 miles, the pan and TC were drained and a new filter installed. I was told by the installer and DTT that the ATF+4 had additives that make it more slippery than Dexron III. To speed up break-in, the Dexron will allow more of the Kevlar "fuzz" to wear off the clutch plates at a quicker rate. After break-in I had the option of using ATF+4 or Dexron III; both the installer and DTT said that either was perfectly fine and would work well in the rebuilt tranny. The only consideration that I would need to make was that the TC lockup clutch might chatter when locking up with Dexron III. The slippery additives in ATF+4 would prevent that from happening.

I put in Dexron III after break-in to see what would happen. I figured that the worst would be chatter during lockup, and I would drain the tranny to refill with ATF+4. This chatter hasn't happened at all during one single TC clutch lockup. The issue isn't about earlier shifts (1-2, 2-3, 3-OD), it's about lockup. The tranny shifts a lot firmer than stock, but it's supposed to. With no chatter to worry about and the blessings of DTT and Chip's Trans., I'm going to save my money and use Dexron III. I'll even save money if I change the fluid more frequently that I would have normally with ATF+4.

 

Volkswagen changed it's oil requirement for the TDI. 2003 and older TDI's require at least an oil that meets VW505.00, which includes most CF rated 0W40, 5W40 and 15W50 synthetics from Valvoline (SynPower), Mobil 1, etc. CH-4 and above diesel grade oils (5W40, 15W40) can also be used (I use Delvac 1300 in my 98 and Shell Rotella synthetic in the 2003).

2004 and newer PD (unit injector) TDI's require VW505.01 spec oil, right now made by 2 manufacturers, Castrol, sold ONLY through VW dealerships, and a company called Motul, which is hard to find.

On top of that, VW requires a special coolant that I've so far only been able to purchase from VW.

I guess VW isn't the only one playing "Monopoly".