Trans fluid service questions...

MRausch82 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 07, 2012 7:13 pm

My wife's tractor is coming up on 62K... we bought it at 47K in early August. The Jeep dealer that we bought it from says that the transmission was never serviced according to their records. I am planning to change the rear axle, front axle, and transfer case fluids shortly, and figured the transmission is in need as well. Question(s) are:
What brand ATF+4 should I go with? I seem to recall hearing it is all the same (Should I just go buy Walmart brand then?)
How many quarts do I need for the transmission if I drop the pan, etc? How many for the front axle? Rear axle? Transfer case?
I am thinking about using Mobil 1 75w90 for the rear axle... can't remember what the front axle calls for, and since the wife is at work tonight, I can't run out and look at the owners manual.
Lastly, any insights on changing the filter in the tranny? I see some places say there is also a spin on filter... do we have this? What transmission do we have? NAPA is of no help as they list several options. I may just get the OE kit at this point. Part numbers and suggestions would be super helpful if anyone has those handy. Thanks!

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 07, 2012 10:03 pm

Any ATF+4 from the below link will do as they are the only real ATF+4's on the market,all are the same but sold with another name.

http://www.centerforqa.com/licensedatf4brands.html

You have the 45RFE trans and yes it has 2 filters,one is a spin on filter.Make sure you get the updated spin on filter(dealer will have it) so might as well just get the kit from the dealership(cheap) and make sure you pick up a tube of there RTV for the trans pan as it is RTV.The OEM RTV for the pan is some great stuff.

MRausch82 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 07, 2012 10:17 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Any ATF+4 from the below link will do as they are the only real ATF+4's on the market,all are the same but sold with another name.

http://www.centerforqa.com/licensedatf4brands.html

You have the 45RFE trans and yes it has 2 filters,one is a spin on filter.Make sure you get the updated spin on filter(dealer will have it) so might as well just get the kit from the dealership(cheap) and make sure you pick up a tube of there RTV for the trans pan as it is RTV.The OEM RTV for the pan is some great stuff.

I was going to get the permatex transmission pan RTV as well as the gear oil RTV. They are supposed to be the same as the Mopar ones. Do you have a p/n for the updated kit? What is the difference with the updated filter? I am wondering if the NAPA parts are updated...

Cowpie1 · **Posted:** Sun Jan 08, 2012 12:32 am

You might also consider using one of the Lube Locker gaskets for the rear diff. They are reusable and save a lot of time after the initial installation compared to using RTV. I love the darn things. Have them on both my Liberty and my Cherokee. On my third drain and fill with one of the Lube Locker gaskets with no leakage.

http://lubelocker.com/products/products/5-chrysler

The Mobil synthetic 75w90 would work in the rear, but if you are towing or working the vehicle hard, it is preferable to use the 75w140, though some that might have documented good results towing with 75w90 might chime in. Go ahead and use 75w90 in the front diff. At least the front diff has drain and fill plugs and is an easy service item.

MRausch82 · **Posted:** Sun Jan 08, 2012 6:59 am

Cowpie1 wrote:

You might also consider using one of the Lube Locker gaskets for the rear diff. They are reusable and save a lot of time after the initial installation compared to using RTV. I love the darn things. Have them on both my Liberty and my Cherokee. On my third drain and fill with one of the Lube Locker gaskets with no leakage.

http://lubelocker.com/products/products/5-chrysler

The Mobil synthetic 75w90 would work in the rear, but if you are towing or working the vehicle hard, it is preferable to use the 75w140, though some that might have documented good results towing with 75w90 might chime in. Go ahead and use 75w90 in the front diff. At least the front diff has drain and fill plugs and is an easy service item.

Good advice on the LL gasket... I forgot about that! I wonder if there is something like that for the tranny. My 6.5 Silverado has a reusable gasket from the factory... makes the job a little nicer. I don't particularly like RTV. Always seems to be a source for leaks.

MRausch82 · **Posted:** Sun Jan 08, 2012 5:37 pm

Got Mobil 1 75w140 for the rear, some 75w90 Mobil 1 for the front diff, and 12 quarts of ATF+4 (Advance brand) from Advance today. Thanks to some coupon deals, I was able to get it all, plus a jug of white bottle power service diesel kleen for about $95. Will order a LL gasket later on tonight or tomorrow. Anyone know how much ATF is needed to drop the pan and replace the filters?

papaindigo · **Posted:** Sun Jan 08, 2012 6:07 pm

FSM says 5qts for a "service" fill but the FSM is not known for accuracy on capacities. I've seen reports as high as 8qts which may relate to a tranny with the torque converter drain back issue. Probably best to go with 5qts, crank it up, idle in neutral not park (it's not clear but the tranny either doesn't pump in park or only pumps in the low pump setting) for like 5 minutes to pump the system up, shut it down for a few minutes say 10 or so; then crank up and recheck level per Owner's Manual; add fluid as needed. Check again after a bit of driving.

Be sure to pay attention to whether the fluid is hot or cold. Rule of thumb if you can touch the fluid/stick without pain then the fluid is "cold" if it hurts it's hot.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 10, 2012 8:51 am

ONLY OEM trans filters. Too many people have had trans problems after installing non-OEM filters.

DOC

MRausch82 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 10, 2012 9:42 am

DOC4444 wrote:

ONLY OEM trans filters. Too many people have had trans probe after installing non-OEM filters.

DOC

Does anyone have the OE p/n's?

MRausch82 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2012 12:56 pm

Has anyone used the transmission pan gaskets or is RTV the way to go? NAPA has a pan gasket, and I am wondering if that is a better option. Got the LubeLocker gasket in the mail today.

ChesterCRD · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2012 1:04 pm

I use RTV, but let it cure before you add ATF. I have been told that gaskets don't seal well because the pan isn't reinforced around the lip to distribute pressure properly onto a gasket. I haven't tried one on my Jeep, but did on my caravan and switched back to RTV there due to a slow leak.

jeepdan · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2012 1:17 pm

ChesterCRD wrote:

I use RTV, but let it cure before you add ATF. I have been told that gaskets don't seal well because the pan isn't reinforced around the lip to distribute pressure properly onto a gasket. I haven't tried one on my Jeep, but did on my caravan and switched back to RTV there due to a slow leak.

That's correct. Jeep doesn't even offer a transmission pan gasket.

MRausch82 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2012 1:19 pm

jeepdan wrote:

ChesterCRD wrote:

I use RTV, but let it cure before you add ATF. I have been told that gaskets don't seal well because the pan isn't reinforced around the lip to distribute pressure properly onto a gasket. I haven't tried one on my Jeep, but did on my caravan and switched back to RTV there due to a slow leak.

That's correct. Jeep doesn't even offer a transmission pan gasket.

Good advice. I am going to call NAPA and order up some of permatex's new auto tranny RTV and try that stuff out.

Rabert · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:46 pm

Just replaced my transmission control solenoid. I bought the factory filters: the spin on part # is 5179267AC ($26) and the "pan filter" is 5013470AD ($36) from the Stealer. I used Wally Mart SuperTech ATF-4 to refill, seems like it took almost 9 quarts to get to full mark. But all seems fine so far no more P0700 codes and limp modes.

MRausch82 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:35 am

Rabert wrote:

Just replaced my transmission control solenoid. I bought the factory filters: the spin on part # is 5179267AC ($26) and the "pan filter" is 5013470AD ($36) from the Stealer. I used Wally Mart SuperTech ATF-4 to refill, seems like it took almost 9 quarts to get to full mark. But all seems fine so far no more P0700 codes and limp modes.

Wow! 9 quarts?! Stealer said FSM shows 5, but we know how they have been correct before :roll:

Glad I bought 12 quarts of Advance brand ATF+4...

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2012 11:55 am

MRausch82 wrote:

Rabert wrote:

Just replaced my transmission control solenoid. I bought the factory filters: the spin on part # is 5179267AC ($26) and the "pan filter" is 5013470AD ($36) from the Stealer. I used Wally Mart SuperTech ATF-4 to refill, seems like it took almost 9 quarts to get to full mark. But all seems fine so far no more P0700 codes and limp modes.

Wow! 9 quarts?! Stealer said FSM shows 5, but we know how they have been correct before :roll:

Glad I bought 12 quarts of Advance brand ATF+4...

He took a little more of the trans apart then just the filters,plus the longer you leave the pan off the more drains out.The 545RFE holds 14 some qts total.

Rabert · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2012 1:45 pm

"The 545RFE holds 14 some qts total."....that brings up a question, does the CRD actually have 54 RFE tranny? When I was getting the filters the dealer parts whiz said there was no 54 for the CRD. I was convinced there was, didn't want to argue with him, pig in the mud thing.........Thanks

MRausch82 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2012 1:57 pm

Rabert wrote:

"The 545RFE holds 14 some qts total."....that brings up a question, does the CRD actually have 54 RFE tranny? When I was getting the filters the dealer parts whiz said there was no 54 for the CRD. I was convinced there was, didn't want to argue with him, pig in the mud thing.........Thanks

My 2006 widow sticker says it's a 545. I guess I should leave the pan off a while to drain??

papaindigo · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:30 pm

Dealer parts "whiz" aside yes the US market KJ CRD came with a 545RFE 5-speed automatic transmission as the one and only transmisison; export market I don't know about. Sales code DGQ. Amazing how many parts whiz types cannot simply look in the book.

I doubt there is anyway to get all the fluid out short of a flush or pulling the tranny and torque converter.

Trans fluid service questions...

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