ATF 4 Vs Dexron III: Which is the perfect Brand?

If you are looking for a great comparison of ATF 4 VS. Dexron III transmission fluid, you come to the right place. I’m here with years of car repairing and oil changing experience with hundreds of customers’ vehicles. From there, I find these two are two different transmission fluids that have other purposes & usages.

The transmission system needs different types of fluid under other conditions. If you consider the cold, you will need less viscosity fluid, whereas the high temperature will ask you to use a compatible transmission fluid. For now, you should keep reading and exploring this article to think about ATF 4 & Dexron III.

ATF 4 Vs. Dexron III: Which is the perfect Brand?

You cannot compare these brands; you must go through these two particular transmission fluids. They have distinct characteristics that will show you which is the best. Before that, I’d like to give you an overview of these fluids so you can have some basic ideas about these transmission fluids.

First off, the ATF 4 comes in a row. It’s a transmission fluid made of pure & fully synthetic formulation. You will get some premium additives in ATF 4 that will make the entire transmission system safe and ensure optimum performance from them. If you are worried about the wear & tear of your transmission system, you will find the ATF 4 a real blessing.

On the other hand, the Dexron III is a budget-friendly transmission fluid that will give you a go-to solution for your regular vehicles. The Dexron III is mainly made of 2 base oils & some additives to ensure the perfect lubrication of your transmission system. It will also help to protect the gears from wear & corrosion, but it will not last as long.

Let’s Compare ATF 4 Vs. Dexron III

• Flushing Requirements: ATF 4 and Dexron III are examples of automatic transmission fluids; nevertheless, these two fluids are distinct in terms of the viscosity and the quantity of friction modifier they contain.

The ATF 4 transmission fluid is a fully synthetic formulation that was designed specifically for use in Chrysler automobiles. As a result, it requires less frequent replacing. Transmission fluid that contains a synthetic blend and goes by the name Dexron III is frequently found in GM automobiles.

However, its boiling point is lower than that of ATF 4, although it provides excellent protection against wear and tear. As a direct consequence, it needs to be changed more frequently.

• Price: There is a significant disparity between the costs of purchasing ATF 4 and Dexron III, respectively. Dexron III’s price is slightly lower than that of ATF 4. This is because Dexron III is an oil of a lower quality, and as a result, it does not last nearly as long.

ATF 4 is oil of superior grade, and its effects are likely to have a long duration. Therefore, if you seek a more affordable alternative, Dexron III is the route you should take. ATF 4 is the product to use; however, if you want an oil of higher quality that will remain usable for a longer period of time.

• Duration of Service: ATF 4 has a significantly greater lifespan than Dexron III’s. This is because ATF 4 is a synthetic blend, whereas Dexron III is a fluid that is based on petroleum. ATF 4 is resistant to thermal breakdown and chemical degradation because it is designed to be so.

It is ideally suited for use in modern engines, which often operate at higher temperatures and place greater strain on their fluids.

• Cold Weather Performance: In a nutshell, Dexron III is a standard type of automatic transmission fluid, whereas ATF 4 is a synthetic type of fluid. To begin, the freezing point of Dexron III is lower than that of ATF 4. It means there is a greater potential for the Dexron III to freeze up in cold conditions, which can result in issues with the transmission.

Second, the viscosity of ATF 4 is generally higher than that of Dexron III. Because of this, it will flow more slowly, and there will be a reduced risk of it leaking when it is chilly outside. Third, ATF 4 performs more effectively in low-temperature environments due to its greater flash point.

Fourth, the resistance to corrosion offered by ATF 4 is superior to that of Dexron III. When considering performance in cold conditions, ATF 4 is the option that is superior overall. It has a lower risk of rusting, freezing up, leaking, and starting fires.

• Hot Weather Performance: Compared with ATF 4, Dexron III greatly outperforms it under hot weather conditions. This is due to the fact that Dexron III was developed expressly for usage in situations that are subjected to high temperatures, whereas ATF 4 was not.

As a direct consequence, Dexron III is far more equipped than ATF 4 to manage the higher temperatures that are typical in warm weather. Consequently, Dexron III is in a far better position than ATF 4 to keep its performance levels stable in settings when the temperature is high.

Which Wins Between ATF 4 Vs. Dexron III?

If you go through the comparison part, you can declare that ATF 4 is a clear winner. It will give you three things better than Dexron III: boiling point, service life or long-lasting, and cold weather transmission support. Although the price is higher than Dexron III, the ATF is still worth mentioning as your vehicle’s transmission fluid.

It has high-quality additives & synthetic combinations that will keep your transmission system sound & will support the entire system better than Dexron III. Moreover, you will find superior performance in cold weather using ATF 4 instead of Dexron III. These are the true reasons why I say that ATF 4 is the best, and it wins today.

ATF 4 Wins Here!

What Makes ATF 4 The Best Transmission Fluid?

Below are the valid reasons why ATF 4 is the best transmission fluid and how it outperforms the other budget-friendly fluids.

Superior Performance in Winter

You will get the best & superior performance in winter by using ATF 4 transmission fluid with a low viscosity level. Since it’s a synthetic blend, it will give you an easy start and move of every transmission gear without creating any corrosion. Synthetic fluids are consistently excellent in winter to save your transmission fluid.

Boiling Point

Considering both fluids’ boiling points, you will find that the ATF 4 has outperformed Dexron III. It will give you a long time to use the same transmission fluid without changing it. Or the frequency of changing fluid will be less if you use ATF 4 synthetic fluid. It’s another reason why it has become the best transmission fluid.

Service Life/Long Lasting

Long-lasting is a common characteristic of every high-quality & premium category transmission fluid. Applying ATF t will give you a very long time, months, or years of support without a single change. Since the boiling point is high, it will automatically save your cost and become an economical choice. It’s the only reason you should avoid using budget-friendly low-quality transmission fluids.

Why Does Dexron III Lose?

Dextron could be your go-to choice if you don’t have a sufficient budget for ATF 4 transmission fluid or any other premium-category fluids. It has some suitable additives to help you outperform in high-temperature. That’s the only point that will impress you and show why you should use this fluid.

Apart from that, you will not find a single reason to use Dexron III fluid instead of ATF 4 high-quality liquid. The Dexron has no synthetic oil and doesn’t have a long-lasting life cycle either. You need to change this fluid after a few weeks or a couple of months. And changing fluid is always a new cost for you.

On the other hand, the Dexron III will not help you in winter since it’s not synthetic and doesn’t contain quality additives to work under low or extreme weather. So, you must use a synthetic fluid like ATF 4 in winter to start and run your car smoothly.

For all these reasons, the ATF 4 is a clear winner here. Also, these are the same reasons why Dexron III loses.

Can You Mix ATF 4 with Dexron III?

Since they are transmission fluids, you can mix them, but it will be a very common mixture that will not maintain the standard. It will give you less performance than your expectations. So, avoid mixing a high-quality fluid with a low-quality liquid.

Is ATF 4 Better Than Dexron III?

OF COURSE, the ATF 4 is ten times better than Dexron III because of its superior performance in winter, long-lasting time, high-quality additives, and synthetic blend. You will miss them in Dexron. So, ATF 4 is better than Dexron III.

Closing Words

If you have any queries regarding ATF 4 Vs. Dexron III, I will request you to review this write-up again. I explained every factor clearly and showed you how ATF becomes the clear winner and why you should use ATF 4 in winter. I also explained when you could use Dexron III safely.