ATF is the acronym for automatic transmission fluid. Two specific types are suitable for use in the Jeep Cherokee II, based on the transmission that you have in your Cherokee. The most common transmission from 2001 to early 2011, the date of this writing, is the Aisin-Warner AW4. Prior to this, the common transmission was from the A900 series, which dates back to the 1960s. This series includes the A904, A998 and A999.
Aisin-Warner's AW4 is the standard transmission for smaller vehicles that use the 4.0 liter engine or smaller horsepower V-8 engines. This is common in the Cherokee, Wrangler and Liberty. The A900 series is for larger engines and is common in older models and Grand Cherokees that have large eight-cylinder engines.
The proper fluid for the Aisin-Warner AW4 is Mopar Dexron IIE/Mercon Automatic Transmission Fluid. you can get this from the dealer. It is advisable to change the filter if you are changing the fluids, since you will still have residual fluid in the filter.
The 900 series, which has been around with different names since the early 70's under the 40 RH series, will use Mopar ATF +4, Type 9602 Automatic Transmission Fluid. Since this is an interchangeable transmission for most Jeep products, it is best to check your owner's manual. If you have purchased the Jeep used, you will need to ask if the transmission is original or changed, and if there is any available paperwork on its maintenance and repair history. If you are not sure, you can take it to a Jeep dealer, where a certified technician can examine the transmission to determine which model is in your vehicle.
