Fluid Equivalence Ranking System

[g2020]

Determine how similar an aftermarket fluid is on paper...Quickly judge product documentation, on the label or from a website, based on eleven levels of OEM equivalence...Comply with manufacturer recommendations and warranty terms...The following ranking system can help you simplify this process.

Tables in this post:
Summary of Individual Levels of OEM Equivalence, Color-Coded by Type and Ranked by Degree of Equivalence

In this article, I use the OEM material standard number (starting with MS- or MS.) to determine equivalence to an OEM fluid. This does not reduce the importance of industry standards for / grades of a fluid. Meeting or exceeding the industry standard is at least as important as meeting or exceeding the OEM material standard. For example, Jeep recommends the use of API Certified, MS-6395, SAE 0W-20 (full synthetic) motor oil. With that said, the MS-number ensures that the right fluid goes into your vehicle.

Fluid Equivalence Ranking System
Ranked by degree of OEM equivalence
Lower number = Better match

Table of Contents

1. Individual Levels of OEM Equivalence, Grouped by Type

Type A - OEM​

1. OEM original​

2. Approved equivalent​

3. Licensed equivalent​

4. Licensor original​

Type B - Explicit equivalents​

5. Specific equivalent​

6. General equivalent​

Type C - Inferred equivalents​

7. Single-point inferred equivalent​

8. Multipoint inferred equivalent​

Type D - Lacking equivalents​

9. Partial equivalent​

Type E - Problematic equivalents​

10. Part number equivalent​

11. Claimed equivalent​

OEM vs. aftermarket:
- All equivalence levels other than numbers 1 & 2 describe an aftermarket fluid
Equivalence threshold:
- Fluid equivalence is acceptable for levels 1-8 / types A-C
- Fluid equivalence is questionable for levels 9-11 / types D-E

Notes:
- If applicable, an equivalent of any type must be included on a list of approved part number equivalents published by the component licensor; the list of ZF-approved lubricants & equivalents (see doc #1 in ATF Equivalents), for the automatic transmission, is the only such list published by a component licensor
- A list of FCA-licensed brands of ATF+4 is published by the Center for Quality Assurance (a dot com); based on results from Google AI, it appears that FCA US LLC has outsourced this QA licensing program to the Center for Quality Assurance to act as the independent administrator

1. Individual Levels of OEM Equivalence, Grouped by Type

Summary of Individual Levels of OEM Equivalence
Color-Coded by Type and Ranked by Degree of Equivalence
Lower number = Better match
- See details of each individual level of OEM equivalence below this table

Level of OEM Equivalence	Example	Application
1. OEM original	MOPAR DOT 3 Brake Fluid 04318080AD	Brakes
2. Approved equivalent	MOPAR 8 & 9 Speed ATF 68218925AB	Automatic transmission
3. Licensed equivalent	Valvoline ATF+4 822348	Transfer case & manual transmission
4. Licensor original	ZF LifeguardFluid 9, AA01.500.001	Automatic transmission
5. Specific equivalent	Mobil 1 EP Motor Oil 120903	Engine
6. General equivalent	AMSOIL Severe Gear Gear Lube SVLPK-EA	Differentials/axles
7. Single-point inferred equivalent	Prestone Max Coolant AF6900*	Radiator / cooling system
8. Multipoint inferred equivalent	Prestone Platinum Coolant AF2700*	Radiator / cooling system
9. Partial equivalent	Prestone DOT 3 Synthetic Brake Fluid AS400	Brakes
10. Part number equivalent	AMSOIL SS FE ATF ATLPK-EA	Automatic transmission
11. Claimed equivalent	"​	"​

- * Prestone coolant options AF6900 and AF2700 are compatible with OAT, but are not specifically compliant with MS.90032 or MS-12106; also see my post on PEAK Purple coolant and competing brands​

Type A - OEM

1. OEM original: An OEM-branded fluid, manufactured by or for the OEM, with the material standard (MS- or MS.) number printed on the label​

Example: MOPAR Motor Vehicle Brake Fluid, part number 04318080AD; DOT 3 (federal grade), SAE J1703 (industry standard), and MS.4574 (material standard)​

​

2. Approved equivalent: An OEM-branded fluid, manufactured under license by or for a licensee, with no material standard (MS- or MS.) number stated on the label or on the manufacturer's website​

Example: MOPAR 8 & 9 Speed ATF Automatic Transmission Fluid, part number 68218925AB; "ZF" is mentioned on the back label; ZF owns the formula and approves the compliance (see doc #1 in ATF Equivalents); there is no MS-number on the label because compliance is approved by the owner of the formula (ZF); MOPAR 68218925AB is a ZF-approved equivalent (see doc #1 in ATF Equivalents) to ZF LifeguardFluid 9​

Notes:​

- MOPAR 68218925AB is an exact equivalent to ZF LifeguardFluid 9; ZF LifeguardFluid 8 is not an exact equivalent, but it is the original ZF-approved (see doc #1 in ATF Equivalents) and ZF-branded lubricant for the ZF 8HP50 / Chrysler 850RE automatic transmission​

- According to an informal survey of service managers at a major chain of dealerships, changing the fluid for the automatic transmission oneself (DIY) will void the warranty​

​

3. Licensed equivalent: An OEM-licensed fluid, manufactured under license from the OEM, with the material standard (MS- or MS.) number printed on the label​

Example: Valvoline ATF+4 Full Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF+4 is a licensed standard & trademark), part number 822348, MS-9602 (material standard)​

​

4. Licensor original: A component licensor-branded fluid, manufactured by or for the component licensor, with no material standard (MS- or MS.) number stated on the label or on the manufacturer's website​

Example: ZF LifeguardFluid 9, part number AA01.500.001, ZF approval number ZF005946; ZF owns the formula and approves the compliance (see doc #1 in ATF Equivalents); ZF approval number ZF005946 is the de facto material standard, and approved equivalents are restricted to vehicle OEM brands of ATF such as MOPAR 68218925AB​

- According to an informal survey of service managers at a major chain of dealerships, changing the fluid for the automatic transmission oneself (DIY) will void the warranty​

Type B - Explicit equivalents

5. Specific equivalent: An aftermarket fluid with the OEM material standard (MS- or MS.) number stated on the label or on the aftermarket manufacturer's website​

Example: Mobil 1 Extended Performance Advanced Full Synthetic Motor Oil SAE 0W-20, part number 120903; "MS-6395" is printed on the label​

Note: If applicable, an equivalent of any type must be included on a list of approved part number equivalents published by the component licensor​

​

6. General equivalent: An aftermarket fluid with a general OEM material standard compliance statement stated on the label or on the aftermarket manufacturer's website​

Example: AMSOIL Severe Gear 100% Synthetic Gear Lube SAE 75W-85, product code SVLPK-EA; statements on compliance (API GL-5, "Chrysler GL-5 based specifications") and inclusion of friction modifiers are provided on the data sheet and the website; specific compliance with MS-A0450 (for lubricant, SAE 75W-85), MS-8985 (for lubricant, SAE 75W-140), and MS.10111 (for friction modifier) is implied from the general compliance statement and can be confirmed by phone with this aftermarket manufacturer's technical team​

Note: With "Jeep 2000 & Newer" printed on the label, Prestone Platinum American Purple OAT-compatible 50/50 Anti-Freeze, part number AF2700, is also classified as a general equivalent​

Type C - Inferred equivalents

7. Single-point inferred equivalent: An aftermarket fluid that is specified for use, without any type of explicit OEM manufacturer compliance statement, on a web page or in a search tool on the aftermarket manufacturer's website​

Example: Prestone Max American Purple OAT-compatible 50/50 Prediluted Anti-Freeze + Coolant, part number AF6900; this is one of five antifreeze options for a 2020 Jeep Gladiator on the Prestone product finder; compliance with OEM material standard MS.90032 (from owner's manual), or MS-12106 (from label of MOPAR 68163849AC), is inferred from the match on the product finder​

​

Notes:​

- Prestone Max American Purple (AF6900) also qualifies as a general equivalent and a multipoint inferred equivalent​

- Prestone Platinum American Purple (AF2700) has similar characteristics to Prestone Max American Purple (AF6900), but AF2700 is not displayed as an option on the Prestone product finder and, therefore, does not qualify as a single-point inferred equivalent​

- When there are other, MS-compliant options available, there is no need to settle for anything other than a specific equivalent​

Note: If applicable, an equivalent of any type must be included on a list of approved part number equivalents published by the component licensor​

​

8. Multipoint inferred equivalent: An aftermarket fluid for which 1) all of two or more industry standards, federal grades, and/or other key measures meet or exceed those of the OEM original, but 2) compliance with the OEM material standard is not stated​

Example: Prestone Platinum American Purple OAT-compatible ASTM D3306 Type 3 50/50 Prediluted Anti-Freeze + Coolant -34°F to 265°F with Bitterant; up to earlier of 15 yrs or 350,000 mi, part number AF2700​

​

100% multipoint match:​

- Corrosion inhibitor: OAT-compatible (OAT-formulated is the key to MS-compliance)​

- Standard specification: ASTM D3306 Type 3 (function of ingredients)​

- Concentration (ethylene glycol): 50/50 Prediluted​

- Temperature range: -34°F to 265°F (function of ingredients)​

- Animal welfare additive: Embittered (required by law)​

- Limited warranty: Earlier of 15 yrs or 350,000 mi (better than OEM original)​

​

Note: OAT-compatible is not the same as OAT-formulated; the preceding multipoint match is acceptable, but it is not as specific/targeted as some other brands; for an in-depth review of OAT-formulated (and Prestone) options, see my post on PEAK Purple coolant​

​

Note: A single-point inferred equivalent is ranked higher than a multipoint inferred equivalent because the single point, a match on an aftermarket manufacturer's web page or search tool, validates the use of an aftermarket fluid for a specific group of vehicles; for a multipoint inferred equivalent, more info is required on the label or elsewhere to match the same degree of specificity​

Type D - Lacking equivalents

UPDATE related to section 7 (partial equivalent):
On December 12, 2024, I noticed a second listing for 2020 Jeep Gladiator on the Prestone product finder. The first, or original, listing that I noticed was Gladiator, and the second was Gladiator 6 Cylinder 3.6 Liters. There were no brake fluid results for Gladiator. However, there were two search results for Gladiator 6 Cylinder 3.6 Liters: Prestone MAX DOT 3 Brake Fluid ("best choice") and Prestone DOT 3 Brake Fluid.

9. Partial equivalent: An aftermarket fluid that complies with all requirements and recommendations listed in the owner's manual, but does not 1) have the OEM material standard (MS- or MS.) number printed on the label, or 2) appear as a matching product option on a web page / in a search tool on the aftermarket manufacturer's website​

​

Example, for Gladiator: Prestone Synthetic Brake Fluid, part number AS400; DOT 3 (federal grade), SAE J1703 (industry standard)​

Compliance gap: No reference to MS.4574 (OEM material standard number) on the label or on any Prestone web page; no brake fluid results for 2020 Jeep Gladiator from the Prestone product finder; as noted above, there were two brake fluid results for Gladiator 6 Cylinder 3.6 Liters (no comment on how diesel got left out)​

Note: If Prestone did not have a product finder, this product would be considered a level 8, multipoint inferred equivalent (but they do, and it did not display any brake fluid matches for 2020 Jeep Gladiator on the check date)​

Type E - Problematic equivalents

10. Part number equivalent: An aftermarket fluid for which its manufacturer lists a part number equivalence to the OEM original, either on the label or on its website​

Example: See last listing below​

Notes:​

1. Depending on the consumer protection laws in your country, part-to-part claimed equivalence can lead to the voiding of a warranty. Always check for a second equivalence rating of Type C or better, and verify equivalents using this forum and my posts on key info on, and links to prices of, fluids & filters.
2. This level of OEM equivalence would have been listed in the top eight if a misunderstanding, related to fluid equivalence, had not affected one of our own. His was a gnarly case.
3. The use of part-to-part equivalence by an aftermarket manufacturer as a promotional tool, without obtaining approval from the approver of the compliance (and elevating the product to a level 2 approved equivalent), can be misleading. Equivalent does not always mean compliant.

11. Claimed equivalent: An aftermarket fluid that its manufacturer claims is a part-to-part equivalent to the OEM original, but is not published on the list of approved equivalents managed by the approver of the compliance​

Example: AMSOIL Signature Series Fuel-Efficient 100% Synthetic ATF (ATF for automatic transmission), product code ATLPK-EA; on the data sheet, AMSOIL claims that product code ATLPK-EA is equivalent to MOPAR 68218925AB, but AMSOIL product code ATLPK-EA is not approved by ZF; ZF owns the formula and approves the compliance (see doc #1 in ATF Equivalents)​

Note: Depending on the consumer protection laws in your country, consider using a claimed equivalent fluid only after the warranty has expired​

2. References

https://www.amsoil.com/
https://www.amsoilcontent.com/ams/lit/g2043.pdf
https://www.amsoilcontent.com/ams/lit/g3110.pdf
https://www.centerforqa.com
https://www.centerforqa.com/licensed-atf4-brands/
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/jeep-screwed-us.42258/page-6
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...o-on-fluids-filters-for-jeep-gladiator.89959/
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...s-of-fluids-filters-for-jeep-gladiator.89283/
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...eze-coolant-equivalent-to-oem-original.90295/
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...lents-for-850re-automatic-transmission.90390/
https://prestone.com/products/
https://prestone.com/product/prestone-dot-3-brake-fluid/
https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemedia/lol-lubricants/lol-en/lol-te-ml-11-en.pdf

3. Other Posts by the Same Gladiator Owner

Fluid & Filter Series of Posts on Jeep Gladiator
This post is a collection of links to my articles on fluids & filters for a Jeep Gladiator

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