Anyone else use this ATF in their Gladiator 8-speed?

[Hootbro]

Just to be clear, the parts guy 1st said it's a lifetime fluid. I replied, I know, just rather change it. He said ok, fluid per quart was 45 dollars each, I said Wow, Then he told me about BG products and said this is a substitute that works, and most people go with this. So I don't think they are trying to scam anybody. I did have the choice when I was a Ford tech, we would recommend Wynns products to people, especially the throttle body cleaner. I just like doing my research on things before I actually change them. I should have waited before I bought it, and the only thing that stops me is that you can't get it all out of the transmission. Years ago, Ford had a plug on the torque converter that would change that, also. I would rather have full synthetic fluid than a synthetic blend, which I have read Mopar is.

Are you able to return it for full refund?

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[smlobx]

Here’s a good deal on Mopar fluid…

https://www.amazon.com/Mopar-682180...&qid=1749950431&sprefix=Mopar+,aps,107&sr=8-1

 

[Hootbro]

Here’s a good deal on Mopar fluid…

https://www.amazon.com/Mopar-682180...&qid=1749950431&sprefix=Mopar+,aps,107&sr=8-1

That is ATF+4, not the correct fluid needed.

 

[DanJT]

Here you go. Last picture shows the part number.

That's exactly what I used when I just changed mine!!..

 

[WILDHOBO]

Here’s a good deal on Mopar fluid…

https://www.amazon.com/Mopar-68218057AB-Automatic-Transmission-Fluid/dp/B07VFJYQJ3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=15IFSRNQS5443&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hR4wBkbzBfR7BsgvcgrqV1OmBX68WTTCpPV4sLdCDYPdeA9i3lnX41w8MMcuWmpn8Lo94MTxPD7JS2fkAWVDmkbdj6YqEwL6GsLR-gTd6_fFiB0uuGqSh2xpeXV3uZcRFGvedROAYx7PDDwZ1TKUa4V0TWFQokMQ7l4x-i1gloZ7KZAohA2TTU3RgP-NW18waYQdHaqriwMCugf6hPsnM-lgs2gdxZSgG4Z6YgE6TLFwgvYDbbUq8KyqHun-w9GWiqzdwxNGVb1diRtUbliil-prg0yzdAkHwiYw9pBjznE.ZPvzy_ZDTtMOPnAxqqV11icszTIk2LNmlC7iPEHIYE8&dib_tag=se&keywords=mopar+atf+4+transmission+fluid&qid=1749950431&sprefix=Mopar+,aps,107&sr=8-1

Definitely don’t use this.

 

[WK2JT]

Definitely don’t use this.

But man that would have been one sweet deal!

 

[g2020]

Still confused about whether MOPAR 8 & 9 Speed ATF (68218925AB), for the automatic transmission, is synthetic or not? Influenced by regional regulations, ZF has published conflicting information over the years. From my perspective, there is not a clear answer.

• On each of the old bottles in the photos of ZF LifeguardFluid 8 and ZF LifeguardFluid 9 shown earlier in this thread, "synthetic" is printed on the label
• In each of the most recent PDS documents on ZF LifeguardFluid 8 and ZF LifeguardFluid 9 (both published in 2021, and both reposted to the ZF website in early 2025), each fluid is described as "semi-synthetic"
• It doesn't matter whether ZF LifeguardFluid 9 is a synthetic or a semi-synthetic: We need to use MOPAR 8 & 9 Speed ATF (68218925AB) or an "equivalent"
• Including MOPAR 68218925AB, there are three ZF-approved, exact-equivalent brands of ATF for the automatic transmission (commonly available in the U.S.): MOPAR 8 & 9 Speed ATF, ZF LifeguardFluid 9, and Honda ATF-Type 3.1 (BMW is excluded because their price is, well, for BMW owners)
  • Honda ATF-Type 3.1 sticks out like a sore thumb, but it is a ZF-approved, exact equivalent
  • MOPAR 8 & 9 Speed ATF and Honda ATF-Type 3.1 are exact equivalents to ZF LifeguardFluid 9 (and not the other way around); ZF LifeguardFluid 9 is the standard
• Although the chemistry is exactly the same, none of the the warranties on the three OEM brands, listed above, covers damage to other parts for DIY
• MOPAR 68218925AB has a 24-month warranty when the service is performed by an approved dealer
• Each aftermarket claimed equivalent, listed in the table in section 1.10.1 of Links to Prices, is a synthetic (as stated on each bottle)
• Three of the five aftermarket options, on the same list, publish a warranty that includes damage to other parts for DIY
• Although some aftermarket brands have a "good" warranty, the chemistry, or additive package, is not the same and mixing is permanent
• Mixing is permanent because each pan drop leaves about 1/3 of the old fluid in the transmission
• A transmission flush is not (as in never) recommended

For aftermarket, get a statement in writing, from a manager of the fluid manufacturer, that the warranty will be in full force for your individual case, including mileage, driving habits, and lab-tested condition of old ATF. Or, just stick with MOPAR, or a different ZF-approved equivalent, knowing that there is no warranty for DIY.

At last check, a transmission service at a dealer runs $1,200 to $1,500. This includes a 24-month warranty.

This and other info is summarized in a previous (shorter) reply in a different thread.

I also recommend reading the longer, but informative, post on ZF equivalents and key considerations.

 

[smlobx]

That is ATF+4, not the correct fluid needed.

My appologies!
This is the correct option…

https://www.amazon.com/Mopar-Chrysl...refix=mopar+transmission+fluid,aps,100&sr=8-1

 

[WILDHOBO]

Still confused about whether MOPAR 8 & 9 Speed ATF (68218925AB), for the automatic transmission, is synthetic or not? Influenced by regional regulations, ZF has published conflicting information over the years. From my perspective, there is not a clear answer.

• On each of the old bottles in the photos of ZF LifeguardFluid 8 and ZF LifeguardFluid 9 shown earlier in this thread, "synthetic" is printed on the label
• In each of the most recent PDS documents on ZF LifeguardFluid 8 and ZF LifeguardFluid 9 (both published in 2021, and both reposted to the ZF website in early 2025), each fluid is described as "semi-synthetic"
• It doesn't matter whether ZF LifeguardFluid 9 is a synthetic or a semi-synthetic: We need to use MOPAR 8 & 9 Speed ATF (68218925AB) or an "equivalent"
• Including MOPAR 68218925AB, there are three ZF-approved, exact-equivalent brands of ATF for the automatic transmission (commonly available in the U.S.): MOPAR 8 & 9 Speed ATF, ZF LifeguardFluid 9, and Honda ATF-Type 3.1 (BMW is excluded because their price is, well, for BMW owners)
  • Honda ATF-Type 3.1 sticks out like a sore thumb, but it is a ZF-approved, exact equivalent
  • MOPAR 8 & 9 Speed ATF and Honda ATF-Type 3.1 are exact equivalents to ZF LifeguardFluid 9 (and not the other way around); ZF LifeguardFluid 9 is the standard
• Although the chemistry is exactly the same, none of the the warranties on the three OEM brands, listed above, covers damage to other parts for DIY
• MOPAR 68218925AB has a 24-month warranty when the service is performed by an approved dealer
• Each aftermarket claimed equivalent, listed in the table in section 1.10.1 of Links to Prices, is a synthetic (as stated on each bottle)
• Three of the five aftermarket options, on the same list, publish a warranty that includes damage to other parts for DIY
• Although some aftermarket brands have a "good" warranty, the chemistry, or additive package, is not the same and mixing is permanent
• Mixing is permanent because each pan drop leaves about 1/3 of the old fluid in the transmission
• A transmission flush is not (as in never) recommended

For aftermarket, get a statement in writing, from a manager, that the warranty will be in full force for your individual case, including mileage, driving habits, and lab-tested condition of old ATF. Or, just stick with MOPAR, or a different ZF-approved equivalent, knowing that there is no warranty for DIY.

At last check, a transmission service at a dealer runs $1,200 to $1,500. This includes a 24-month warranty.

This and other info is summarized in a previous (shorter) reply in a different thread.

I also recommend reading the longer, but informative, post on ZF equivalents and key considerations.

But why? All have already said that the issue is mixing fluids. Who cares if another one is approved by ZF? Thst would be fine if the transmission were new and empty. But these are retaining approximately 3-4 quarts of fluid that you’re proposing mixing with something “equivalent”. It just doesn’t make sense.

Others, more experienced than me, have already answered your first question. All “synthetic” oil is partially synthetic. It all has some petroleum products. But what’s the difference? Just don’t mix the fluid with something else. Anything else. What’s the goal here?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Still confused about whether MOPAR 8 & 9 Speed ATF (68218925AB), for the automatic transmission, is synthetic or not? Influenced by regional regulations, ZF has published conflicting information over the years. From my perspective, there is not a clear answer.

• On each of the old bottles in the photos of ZF LifeguardFluid 8 and ZF LifeguardFluid 9 shown earlier in this thread, "synthetic" is printed on the label
• In each of the most recent PDS documents on ZF LifeguardFluid 8 and ZF LifeguardFluid 9 (both published in 2021, and both reposted to the ZF website in early 2025), each fluid is described as "semi-synthetic"
• It doesn't matter whether ZF LifeguardFluid 9 is a synthetic or a semi-synthetic: We need to use MOPAR 8 & 9 Speed ATF (68218925AB) or an "equivalent"
• Including MOPAR 68218925AB, there are three ZF-approved, exact-equivalent brands of ATF for the automatic transmission (commonly available in the U.S.): MOPAR 8 & 9 Speed ATF, ZF LifeguardFluid 9, and Honda ATF-Type 3.1 (BMW is excluded because their price is, well, for BMW owners)
  • Honda ATF-Type 3.1 sticks out like a sore thumb, but it is a ZF-approved, exact equivalent
  • MOPAR 8 & 9 Speed ATF and Honda ATF-Type 3.1 are exact equivalents to ZF LifeguardFluid 9 (and not the other way around); ZF LifeguardFluid 9 is the standard
• Although the chemistry is exactly the same, none of the the warranties on the three OEM brands, listed above, covers damage to other parts for DIY
• MOPAR 68218925AB has a 24-month warranty when the service is performed by an approved dealer
• Each aftermarket claimed equivalent, listed in the table in section 1.10.1 of Links to Prices, is a synthetic (as stated on each bottle)
• Three of the five aftermarket options, on the same list, publish a warranty that includes damage to other parts for DIY
• Although some aftermarket brands have a "good" warranty, the chemistry, or additive package, is not the same and mixing is permanent
• Mixing is permanent because each pan drop leaves about 1/3 of the old fluid in the transmission
• A transmission flush is not (as in never) recommended

For aftermarket, get a statement in writing, from a manager, that the warranty will be in full force for your individual case, including mileage, driving habits, and lab-tested condition of old ATF. Or, just stick with MOPAR, or a different ZF-approved equivalent, knowing that there is no warranty for DIY.

At last check, a transmission service at a dealer runs $1,200 to $1,500. This includes a 24-month warranty.

This and other info is summarized in a previous (shorter) reply in a different thread.

I also recommend reading the longer, but informative, post on ZF equivalents and key considerations.

The clear answer is there as I stated. German rules regarding the base source.
By US standards and many others it is, but not by German rules.
So what you see from them depends on who it is published for.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

But why? All have already said that the issue is mixing fluids. Who cares if another one is approved by ZF? Thst would be fine if the transmission were new and empty. But these are retaining approximately 3-4 quarts of fluid that you’re proposing mixing with something “equivalent”. It just doesn’t make sense.

Others, more experienced than me, have already answered your first question. All “synthetic” oil is partially synthetic. It all has some petroleum products. But what’s the difference? Just don’t mix the fluid with something else. Anything else. What’s the goal here?

He went way off the grid there. None of that matters a lick. Buy ZF fluid on Amazon or on sale elsewhere and be done with it. Only GTL oils are not petroleum based.

 

[Hootbro]

For aftermarket, get a statement in writing, from a manager, that the warranty will be in full force for your individual case, including mileage, driving habits, and lab-tested condition of old ATF. Or, just stick with MOPAR, or a different ZF-approved equivalent, knowing that there is no warranty for DIY.

No manager of any shop is going to put anything in writing to that effect.

 

[WILDHOBO]

No manager of any shop is going to put anything in writing to that effect.

And it would hold zero water.

 

[g2020]

No manager of any shop is going to put anything in writing to that effect.

Clarification added: "...from a manager of the fluid manufacturer".

Answering WILDHOBO's question in post #69, the goals are to provide the published & dated facts from ZF in one place (had already been done before this thread started), and address chemistry vs. warranty. Unless you're willing to pay for a transmission service at the dealer, chemistry vs. warranty is always a trade-off in the case of ATF for the automatic transmission.

I think it's obvious that I agree we should use a ZF-approved equivalent, but I am not going have a bad word to say about using an aftermarket ATF with a "good" warranty. I would also suggest, as others have advised, doing multiple pan drops (over a short period of time or span of miles) to increase the concentration/mix of the new ATF.

Mentioning Honda ATF-Type 3.1 and warranty info is not going off the reservation. These topics are well within the boundaries of the reservation. They also have oil wells, giant wind turbines, and a very nice casino.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Bringing in another ATF like "Honda" just dilutes the discussion, doesn't add anything to it really.

but I am not going have a bad word to say about using an aftermarket ATF with a "good" warranty.

Warranty is a piece of paper. You have to get the oil company and the transmission repair/replacement shop to agree as to the cause and who is paying.
It's a pain in the ass to deal with yet another party's warranty - time and money and in the meantime, your vehicle is down while you try to fight through fine print and blame.
A company saying "if you use our fluid instead of what's recommended, we will guarantee you have no problems and even pay for repairs blah blah blah..........
Yeah, dealing with Safelite's guarantee is proof enough I don't want to have to mess with some other party's guarantee.


If you change the following percentage of ATF each time, here is a PERCENTAGE chart to see how many changes will be required to fully change the ATF:
35% of the total drained each time = 7 changes to achieve 95% new ATF
40% of the total drained each time = 6 changes to achieve 95% new ATF
45% of the total drained each time = 5 changes to achieve 95% new ATF
50% of the total drained each time = 4 changes to achieve 94% new ATF
55% of the total drained each time = 4 changes to achieve 96% new ATF

Who here wants to buy fluid for 4 changes.

It's bad enough to fight Jeep - but then bring in another company who says "it wasn't us, ours meets or beats specs" - or even if it's not under warranty - you still have to go through the process. You can't simply say "I used your fluid and now my transmission is dead" -

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