transmission fluid question

[KWIK96]

Can someone who really knows the goods on oil help me out here?
It's time to change my tranny oil and reading past threads on this subject has me more confused than ever.
I have a 96 RT (gen 1.5 hybrid/mule/thingy)
My factory workshop manual says Dexron 11E
My in car small owners manual says Dexron 111
Reading the label on a bottle of Dexron 111 it states "meets or exceeds Dexron, Dexron 11, and Dexron 11E.

So the question.

Is it OK to use Dexron 111 ?

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Yes. OEMs make sure fluids that are (almost) fill-for-life are backwards compatible. Dexron III will be fine for Dexron IIE applications. And in fact, you probably can't find Dexron IIE anymore anyway.

 

[Steve-Indy]

KWIK96...what Tom says is the straight stuff...since he KNOWS HIS STUFF !!!

You can find DEXRON III at most Dodge dealers...and it is cheap.

If, at a later date, you are bothered by NGR (neutral gear rattle), you can change your tranny fluid to Mopar's "Synthetic Manual Transmission Lubricant 75W-85"...which is NOT cheap...but other than requiring a little more effort to shift when the fluid is cold, it's GOOD STUFF...P.S....I use Dexton III in our red/yellow 96 RT/10.

 

[Fiorano]

What is the recommendation for changing the transmission fluid in terms of time or miles?

 

[99 R/T 10]

Get any decent Syn. Dex. III. DON'T pay the dealer mark up! And be happy that you aren't required to us the 75-85W gear oil. Your cost=$2(per qt.), my cost=$23(per qt.)

 

[Jerry Scott[CO]]

In my opinion, you will likely find the NGR with the Dex. III to be very noisy when the transmission gets hot. I would go with the Mopar Synthetic Manual or you will likely wind up doing it twice. Otherwise, the noise will drive you nuts after a while.

 

[99 R/T 10]

In my opinion, you will likely find the NGR with the Dex. III to be very noisy when the transmission gets hot. I would go with the Mopar Synthetic Manual or you will likely wind up doing it twice. Otherwise, the noise will drive you nuts after a while.

Possible, but I never had the NGR with my Gen I(actually 1.5 ), and shifting was smoooooooooooooooooth

 

[Iceman]

Go with the "Synthetic Manual Transmission Lubricant 75W-85". It's about $70 at the dealer. I changed the fluid last month and it actually says on the transmission casing to use this stuff.

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Older car transmissions have different stickers advising use of different (DEXRON) fluids.

 

[Schulmann]

Just a precious advise to everybody:
Transmission oil is different from Gear oil.

Even if your local part dealer or your local dodge dealer say that they are same: don't believe them. It just indicates that they are not familiar with manual transmissions. In long term, you can destroy the sync rings in your transmission using regular gear oil.

The best gear oil that I have found are for Mercedes (they are expensive and very difficult to find). MBs have a very sharp/fine manual transmission. Check these oils but don't use them unless you are 100% sure what you do:

- Castrol AT Syntrans
- Mobil Trans MB
- Shell Transmission MB
- Esso gear oil MB317
- And in some case Shell ATF 3402 - M115 might be good too.

 

[KWIK96]

Thanks for all the advise guys, especially Tom.
Used Dexron 111 and have done several hundred miles since. Running like a Swiss clock!