Auto trans fluid questions
White&Nerdy
Senior Wagonist
OK, I've been searching and reading, but haven't found the info I'm looking for, so I'll ask all my questions here and then it'll be saved in this one thread for posterity. 
The car: 89 RT4WD automatic.
I know how to check the fluid level - and to gather the info together, I'll describe it anyway. Park on a level surface. Within 1 minute of shutting the engine off, pull the dipstick on the transmission (top of the trans on the firewall side), wipe, dip, and read, just like an engine oil dipstick.
When I check the fluid level, what color should it be?
I know from having previously owned a Dodge Grand Caravan AWD that some manufacturers are VERY picky about what goes into their transmissions - only ATF+3 for the Dodge, for example, despite many non-factory sources saying the Dexron III is perfectly fine (it isn't, the tranny cooks even faster than usual, and that's saying something
). The manual (yes, my car actually came with one!) says to use Dexron II fluid. I haven't seen this around, but I have seen Dexron III. Can this be used instead? And/or, what would you recommend?
Finally, the root cause of all these questions. Particularly when cold, my transmission is sometimes sluggish popping into reverse, or it refuses to upshift unless I lift off the throttle entirely. Once warm, it shifts rather well. My previous questions are to help me check the basics - is the fluid clean? Is the level correct? I suppose my final question is do any of you have experience with this type of behavior, and if so, what can I do about it?
Thanks!
The car: 89 RT4WD automatic.
I know how to check the fluid level - and to gather the info together, I'll describe it anyway. Park on a level surface. Within 1 minute of shutting the engine off, pull the dipstick on the transmission (top of the trans on the firewall side), wipe, dip, and read, just like an engine oil dipstick.
When I check the fluid level, what color should it be?
I know from having previously owned a Dodge Grand Caravan AWD that some manufacturers are VERY picky about what goes into their transmissions - only ATF+3 for the Dodge, for example, despite many non-factory sources saying the Dexron III is perfectly fine (it isn't, the tranny cooks even faster than usual, and that's saying something
). The manual (yes, my car actually came with one!) says to use Dexron II fluid. I haven't seen this around, but I have seen Dexron III. Can this be used instead? And/or, what would you recommend?Finally, the root cause of all these questions. Particularly when cold, my transmission is sometimes sluggish popping into reverse, or it refuses to upshift unless I lift off the throttle entirely. Once warm, it shifts rather well. My previous questions are to help me check the basics - is the fluid clean? Is the level correct? I suppose my final question is do any of you have experience with this type of behavior, and if so, what can I do about it?
Thanks!
Comments
Probably best to go with the specified replacement