Trans oil-just your thoughts

[vorsath]

I talked to a local shop that a lot of performance shops use for parts because they have a lot more knowledge and more stuff available for sale then other car parts stores. Anyway, I called them on the phone and asked if they have SPIII because from the dealer here it's $8/quart and that's a bit on the crazy side for soemthing that takes around 12 quarts. They said they can't get the mitsubishi montero sport spIII but they have the same thing made by Valvoline Max life. Keep in mind I just said it was a mintsubishi and he said "ah SPIII mitsubishi, this is a montero sport right? We don't have spIII but valvoline makes a synthetic that is the same thing, that's $4/quart and that the SPIII is actually made by Valvoline Max life for mistubishi." He has some kinda books he cross references and it says who makes the stuff and everything, and the SPIII is made by Max Life, but the max life brand is much less and the exact stuff.

I feel pretty safe with that...seeing how most stores don't have those books. In fact if you go to autozone or kragen they say that dextronIII is the same as SPIII and it's not. THey don't care any of the maxlife fluid that is designed for certain vehicles either like autoaide does either and have no book telling which fluids are equivalent to the dealer fluid.

He said they don't carry SPIII because the dealers won't let them carry the stuff with the same name on it as what the dealers have, but they get supplied directly from Valvoline and that they will give them the same stuff, just not the same name on the bottle. They also were given the books telling them which one to use as far as weights and everything per car/per year.

So the Max life in your opinions... the same stuff?

[iceytys]

Hmmm, I am curious to see some replies on this issue as well. I was just recently in Autozone picking up some fluid for my rear differential fluid change and while I was trying to decide on which type I was going with I was also looking at ATF oil since that will be my summer project along with my timing belt.

I noticed Castrol makes an ATF strictly for Imports (I believe it was $4.99 a qt), anyway when I read the back its say it meets Diamond SP II and SPIII standards. So I may go that route, however I am curious to see what the response is to your posting and my discovery.

I have always used Catrol in all my cars, so I try to stay brand loyal, and I agree $8 a quart, unless its like full synthetic is hwy robbery!!

[dtom815]

Valvoline is liscenced by Chrysler to make and sell their ATF+4 which is compatable. They sell it everywhere for about $5 a quart. Also O'reillys sells a house brand ATF+4, which i figure must be made by valvoline, as they are the only manufacturer liscenced to produce it. STAY AWAY from the stuff that meets multiple standards as you have a very PICKY transmission. Treat it right and it won't let you down.

[iceytys]

So now thats just confusing.....The book recommends "SP II M or equivalent" transmission fluid, yet you are recommending Valvoline ATF + 4. I went to both the Valvoline and Castrol sites, and they both make a ATF + 4. However both sites said they are specific to Chrysler vehicles???


So how does ATF + 4 fluid for a Chrysler vehicle translate to a picky MS Transmission???

Thanks

[mctweety]

If you want my $0.02:

DON'T DO IT!!!

There is NO equivalent for SPIII. Some oil manufacturers claim there oils are compatible with SPIII (like the one you mentioned from Valvoline), but they are NOT the same.

Valvoline DOES NOT MAKE the SPIII oil for Mitsubishi!!

Read my other post: msport97.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=7410&page=1#38142

Don't even think about any of the other stuff (Dextron, Mercon, etc.). I understand you want to save money. But putting your tranny at risk is just not a good idea.

SPII-M is an older version of SPIII and no longer available. It's not just the Montero Sport that uses it. Pretty much all Mitsu's do. Kia and Hyundai also have their versions of SPIII.

[dtom815]

For quite some time Chrysler used a boat load of Mitsubishi running gear, engines, transmissions, etc... Even entire re-branded cars, i.e. Dodge Stealth. You can even swap engines from many Chrysler products into your MS. The mitsubishi diamond III and Chrysler ATF+4 are the same fluid. Mitsu never liscenced the diamond III, so you can ONLY buy it at a dealership. You can get the ATF+4 at Wal Mart.

[mctweety]

dtom815: that is absolute NOT true! SPIII is NOT the same as ATF +4

Your "Chrysler" story is only partially true.
The older transmissions (up intil '99) used by Mitsubishi (and possibly Chrysler) were made by Aisin. Those are not as picky as the transmisions made by Mitsubishi and maybe those run on ATF+4. I still would not take that risk though. You save $40 bucks on the tranny flush...at best. Any idea how much a new transmission costs?

All 2000-up Montero's (like yours) had Mitsubishi's own transmission.

Your truck. Your money. You decide.

[Joel_CA]

Mar 29, 2010 21:04:04 GMT -5 dtom815 said:

For quite some time Chrysler used a boat load of Mitsubishi running gear, engines, transmissions, etc... Even entire re-branded cars, i.e. Dodge Stealth. You can even swap engines from many Chrysler products into your MS. The mitsubishi diamond III and Chrysler ATF+4 are the same fluid. Mitsu never liscenced the diamond III, so you can ONLY buy it at a dealership. You can get the ATF+4 at Wal Mart.

Things that make you go hmmmm:

Chrysler products that used a Mitsubishi powertrain such as Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler Avenger- etc all used Chrysler ATF+4 in their auto transmission. Exact same 3.0l V6 and trans as in the older Eclipse and Galant models.

As far as Multi Vehicle blends- Valvoline Maxlife claims to be compatible with both SPII AND SPIII - even though both fluids are not compatible to one another .

97 and 98 Montero Sports had a bullet proof Aisan Warner transmission that uses Dex II.

JJ

[vorsath]

Mar 29, 2010 21:29:48 GMT -5 Joel_CA said:

Mar 29, 2010 21:04:04 GMT -5 dtom815 said:

For quite some time Chrysler used a boat load of Mitsubishi running gear, engines, transmissions, etc... Even entire re-branded cars, i.e. Dodge Stealth. You can even swap engines from many Chrysler products into your MS. The mitsubishi diamond III and Chrysler ATF+4 are the same fluid. Mitsu never liscenced the diamond III, so you can ONLY buy it at a dealership. You can get the ATF+4 at Wal Mart.

Things that make you go hmmmm:

Chrysler products that used a Mitsubishi powertrain such as Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler Avenger- etc all used Chrysler ATF+4 in their auto transmission. Exact same 3.0l V6 and trans as in the older Eclipse and Galant models.

As far as Multi Vehicle blends- Valvoline Maxlife claims to be compatible with both SPII AND SPIII - even though both fluids are not compatible to one another .

97 and 98 Montero Sports had a bullet proof Aisan Warner transmission that uses Dex II.

JJ

So my gf's 98 montero sport trans is bullet proof and I can use dex II in it? Also, But using the valvoline max life III would be even better right? Seeing how it is basically the same as the SPIII...and the max life stuff this place caries is fully synthetic just like the spIII. Even though I might be able to use dex II in it, just to be on the safe side it won't hur to put the Valvoline max life mitsu III right?

[iceytys]

So I came across this thread on another site since this is such a hot button. I found it interesting reading, at least from a standpoint about the SP history.

www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1379934&page=1

At least when I break down and do my transmission flush this spring, Ill have a better understanding of what I am looking for at the parts store or online..........maybe! LOL

While we are on the subject, does anyone know the part # for the transmission filter?

I tried looking it up on the oem parts catalog online, but no dice!

[edcox]

I also thought about the going with the non-Mits fluid when I flushed mine this past summer. I had just a little slipping from time to time, nothing major, but I was looking at 150K it was time. Unfortunately I live an hour away from the nearest dealership, and I don't trust anyone else working on my vehicles but me, sorry if that offends. after reading about a few people that screwed their trans up with aftermarket fluids I went ahead and ordered a case of fluid and the filter/gasket from the dealer. Now have no slippage, no problems.

Spend the money and get the real fluid, unless you like to gamble. Maybe you will get lucky.

[Joel_CA]

Mar 30, 2010 2:59:46 GMT -5 vorsath said:

Mar 29, 2010 21:29:48 GMT -5 Joel_CA said:

Things that make you go hmmmm:

Chrysler products that used a Mitsubishi powertrain such as Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler Avenger- etc all used Chrysler ATF+4 in their auto transmission. Exact same 3.0l V6 and trans as in the older Eclipse and Galant models.

As far as Multi Vehicle blends- Valvoline Maxlife claims to be compatible with both SPII AND SPIII - even though both fluids are not compatible to one another .

97 and 98 Montero Sports had a bullet proof Aisan Warner transmission that uses Dex II.

JJ

So my gf's 98 montero sport trans is bullet proof and I can use dex II in it? Also, But using the valvoline max life III would be even better right? Seeing how it is basically the same as the SPIII...and the max life stuff this place caries is fully synthetic just like the spIII. Even though I might be able to use dex II in it, just to be on the safe side it won't hur to put the Valvoline max life mitsu III right?

You're overthinking the situation. There's no need to bring SPII or SPIII comparisons and their equivalents into it if you're referring to a 98 model. The 98 Montero Sport transmission calls for Dex II in the service manual- use it. Its cheap and its readily available. The AW transmission isn't very picky when it comes to fluid types- and 99's and newer Mitsubishi made transmissions are.



JJ

[vorsath]

Mar 31, 2010 21:38:41 GMT -5 Joel_CA said:

Mar 30, 2010 2:59:46 GMT -5 vorsath said:

So my gf's 98 montero sport trans is bullet proof and I can use dex II in it? Also, But using the valvoline max life III would be even better right? Seeing how it is basically the same as the SPIII...and the max life stuff this place caries is fully synthetic just like the spIII. Even though I might be able to use dex II in it, just to be on the safe side it won't hur to put the Valvoline max life mitsu III right?

You're overthinking the situation. There's no need to bring SPII or SPIII comparisons and their equivalents into it if you're referring to a 98 model. The 98 Montero Sport transmission calls for Dex II in the service manual- use it. Its cheap and its readily available. The AW transmission isn't very picky when it comes to fluid types- and 99's and newer Mitsubishi made transmissions are.



JJ

Thanks man, I frequently overthink when it comes to mitsubishi....probably because I'm used to the stealth . Much appreciated to everyone who helped and thanks again Joel. I'll go get the dex II

[vorsath]

lol, I know, I'm worrying too much about it. I went and got dexII at the store and they had dex/merc and the guy at the counter said it's the same stuff, it just says dex/merc but that is what you put in a vehicle needing dexII.

Is this correct? I bought it but if he was wrong I can take it back. So this is the stuff to use or I need to take it back and get dexII somewhere?

[bahnstoermer]

Saving $3-4 a quart on Trans Fluid isn't worth the risk of a tranny. Seriously... it's a pain, but get the right fluid. Trans problems just aren't worth it.