The fluid has to meet certain standards which will be marked on the label in the form of a API rating. Your car manufacture will specify a certain rating. It is not there to make you pay more money it is there so the trans will last and the fluid will withstand breakdown. There are levels of the standard (+ - ) that have to be met so even in the same API rating some companies shoot for the high side and some cut cost and shoot for the minimum. There are the facts you decide what you want.
STICK WITH THE RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION FLUID. IF YOU'RE UNSURE, CHECK YOUR SERVICE MANUAL OR THE DEALER. THE GUY AT AUTOZONE WAS DOING YOU A FAVOR BY INFORMING YOU THAT THEIR FLUID IS CHEAP. IT'S CHEAPER IN THE LONG RUN, NOT TO COMPROMISE ON " CHEAP " WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR CAR. IN SOME CASES YOUR SAFETY IS AT RISK. ( BRAKES, ETC. ) IT'S CHEAPER TO SPEND THE ADDITIONAL MONEY THAN HAVE TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION. IF YOU SKIMP NOW, YOU'LL B E PAYING LATER.
Your car is your second largest investment. Look in the specifications pages of the glove compartment for the correct transmission fluid and filter if it is being changed.
I gotta do a transmission flush In my 98 Ford Mustang. I'm trying to be as frugal as I can and found transmission fluid at Autozone for $1.99 but employers there said it's cheap fluid. Does cheap transmission fluid make a difference? Or should I just go with the big guns at $5.99+?
