AW4 Tranny Filter (Screen), Brass vs. Stainless

[Sparkman]

My '01 Cherokee is nearing 50k miles, and I doubt the transmission has every been serviced. The fluid looks and smells great and it drives perfectly. I checked the level and then put 6oz of Auto-Rx in it yesterday.

The dealer wants $67 for a new filter. My local Napa offers a brass screened version for $18, or a stainless screened version for $38. I have been very pleased with the transmission filters I have purchased at Napa in the past.

My instinct is to buy the stainless Napa filter. I would then use a Magnafine inline, and drain and fill 4 quarts of plain 'ole Mobil conventional Dexron III every 7500 miles when I change the oil. I am hoping this strategy would allow me to push the Magnefine changes out to every 50k (2 years), and never remove the pan again (a huge PITA). My driving is 90% highway at about 65MPH average speed. Any thoughts on this?

 

[RavenTai]

Without seeing them hard to say witch would be better really depends on the quality material the manufacturer used


I have seen very fine stainless mesh that is still fairly sturdy, a brass screen this fine would not be very durable so the brass filter is likely made courser.


Take a look at both of them and see, without seeing I would go for the stainless.


My Toyota (Lexus) A343 factory filter is a fine stainless mesh, that transmission is very reliable, don’t think I can say it is because of the filter but it is not hurting things, when I pulled the pan I cleaned both it and the pan with brake cleaner and reinstalled, not possible with paper filters.