trans filter/fluid change

[bass_caster]

00 tahoe nbs 4x4

i was considering changing the trans filter and fluid and replacing it with synthetic. any thoughts? any recommendations as far as brands go? also, how many time do i need to change it to get rid of all the old. the way i understand it, only about half of the fluid is drained when the pan is dropped. is that right? my last question, or maybe an assumption is that the synthetics are compatible with the real stuff and wont cause any issues when they eventually get mixed in a partial fluid change?? any help is appreciated.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by bass_caster

00 tahoe nbs 4x4

i was considering changing the trans filter and fluid and replacing it with synthetic. any thoughts? any recommendations as far as brands go? also, how many time do i need to change it to get rid of all the old. the way i understand it, only about half of the fluid is drained when the pan is dropped. is that right? my last question, or maybe an assumption is that the synthetics are compatible with the real stuff and wont cause any issues when they eventually get mixed in a partial fluid change?? any help is appreciated.

HOW MANY MILES ON IT?
Ever been serviced?
Is it giving you any problems?
GM does have a new synthetic fluid that they use to replace dexron 111.

But changing all fluid or going to synthetic at one time can/does stir up problems on a high mileage transmission.
Condsider age and mileage and transmission condition before changing over.

[MT-2500]

All DEXRON®-III licenses expired at the end of 2006 and will not be renewed. That's why you're seeing multi-use fluid.
Beyond that date GM will only support the use of DEXRON®-VI fluids for use in Hydra-Matic transmissions. Fluids sold in the market after that date bearing claims such as “suitable for use in DEXRON®-III applications” or similar wording should be avoided. DEXRON®-VI licensed fluids are fully backward compatible and can be used in all applications covered by earlier GM ATF specifications. The use of unlicensed fluids and/or non GM approved aftermarket additives may prove detrimental to transmission performance and void warranty coverage.
GM-approved brands of DEXRON®-VI * This list represents the companies who have conducted the appropriate testing and received GM approval. *Company name, license number, and brand name are shown.
DEXRON®-VI Service Fill Approved Fluids
Company***License Number***Trade Name
Advanced Lubrication Specialties*** ***
Allegheny Petroleum***J-60152***Altra DEXRON®-VI Transmission Fluid
American Agip Co. Inc.***J-60306 ***Agip DEXRON®-VI ATF
BP Lubricants USA, Inc.***J-60309 ***Castrol DEXRON®-VI ATF
Chevron Corporation***J-60005***Chevron ATF DEXRON®-VI
Chevron Corporation***J-60005***Havoline ATF DEXRON®-VI
Chevron Products Company***J-60308 ***Chevron ATF DEXRON®-VI
Chevron Products Company***J-60308 ***Havoline ATF DEXRON®-VI
Citgo Petroleum Corporation***J-60317 ***CITGO TRANSGARD DEXRON®-VI
ConocoPhillips***J-60004***ConocoPhillips Company DEXRON®-VI ATF
ConocoPhilips***J-60004***Kendall Motor Oil Company DEXRON®-VI ATF
ExxonMobil Corporation***J-60002***ExxonMobil IMP 6544
Fuchs Petrolub AG***J-60310 ***TITAN ATF 6000 SL
GMSPO***J-60301 ***GM Vehicle Care DEXRON®-VI ATF
GMSPO***J-60301 ***AC/Delco DEXRON®-VI ATF
Gulf Oil International***J-60304 ***Gulf DEXRON®-VI ATF
Gulf Oil International***J-60311 ***Gulf DEXRON®-VI ATF
Kuwait Petroleum***J-60314 ***Q8 Auto D VI
Lubricating Specialties Company***J-60322 ***Unitran DEXRON®-VI
Northland Products***J-60316 ***Northland DEXRON®-VI ATF
PDVSA Deltaven S.A.***J-60315 ***TRANSFLUIDO SINTEICO DVI
Penrite Oil Company Pty Limited***J-60302 ***Penrite ATF DX-VI
Penrite Oil Company Pty Limited***J-60312 ***Penrite ATF DX-VI
Petro-Canada Lubricants***J-60001***Petro-Canada DEXRON®-VI ATF
Pinnacle Oil, Inc.***J-60321***
Pinnacle Resources, Inc.***J-60320 ***
SK Corporation***J-60003***ZIC DEXRON®-VI
SOPUS Products***J-60307 ***
Valvoline***J-60151***Valvoline ATF DEXRON®-VI
Valvoline***J-60319***Valvoline ATF DEXRON®-VI
Valvoline (Australia) Pty Limited***J-60313 ***Valvoline ATF DEXRON®-VI
Warren Oil Company***J-60318***COASTAL DEXRON®-VI
Warren Oil Company***J-60318***WARREN DEXRON®-VI
Warren Oil Company***J-60318***LUBRIGUARD DEXRON®-VI
Warren Oil Company***J-60318***SERVICE PRO DEXRON®-VI

[MT-2500]

Here is some more to chew on, from GM, couldnt open the pdf for some reason, but here is the html version.* * http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache...nk&cd=48&gl=us

This is the html version of the file http://www.gm.com/automotive/gmpower...ase_31MY07.doc.
G o o g l e automatically generates html versions of documents as we crawl the web.
To link to or bookmark this page, use the following url: http://www.google.com/search?q=cache...nk&cd=48&gl=us

Google is neither affiliated with the authors of this page nor responsible for its content.
These search terms have been highlighted: ***dexron ***vi
*

General Motors DEXRON®-VI Global Service-Fill Specification

During early 2005 General Motors released a newly developed automatic transmission fluid (ATF) for the factory fill of all GM Powertrain stepped gear automatic transmissions. The new fluid provides significantly improved performance in terms of friction durability, viscosity stability, aeration and foam control and oxidation resistance. In addition, the fluid has the potential to enable improved fuel economy and extended drain intervals. Since the performance of the new fluid far exceeded that of the DEXRON®-III service-fill fluids available at the time it became necessary to upgrade the DEXRON® service-fill specification in order to ensure that similar fluids were available in the market for service situations.* This latest upgrade to the service- fill specification is designated DEXRON®-VI.

Since General Motors introduced the first ATF service-fill specification in 1949 it has been periodically necessary to upgrade the specification. This upgrading process ensures that available service fill fluids are of an appropriate quality for use in transmissions that have been designed around the factory fill fluid performance. It should be noted that, as with previous upgrades, DEXRON®-VI fluids are designed to be backward compatible with earlier transmission hardware. More importantly, earlier type fluids are not forward compatible with transmission hardware that was designed to use DEXRON®-VI fluid, i.e. DEXRON®-III is not compatible with the most recently designed transmissions, and the use of these earlier type fluids could result in transmission damage. All current calibrations and certification tests are now conducted with DEXRON®-VI ATF. DEXRON®-III fluids should not be used for these applications where the owners manual recommends the use of DEXRON®-VI. GM does not license or support obsolete ATF specifications or the use of fluids that are being marketed against cancelled specifications.

All DEXRON®-III licenses expire at the end of 2006 and will not be renewed. Beyond that date GM will only support the use of DEXRON®-VI fluids for use in Hydra-Matic transmissions. Fluids sold in the market after that date bearing claims such as “suitable for use in DEXRON®-III applications” or similar wording should be avoided. DEXRON®-VI licensed fluids are fully backward compatible and can be used in all applications covered by earlier GM ATF specifications.

The use of unlicensed fluids and/or non GM approved aftermarket additives may prove detrimental to transmission performance and void warranty coverage.

There is a published list of GM-approved brands of DEXRON®-VI (see page two of this release).* This list represents the companies who have conducted the appropriate testing and received GM approval.* Company name, license number, and brand name are shown.* This list will be updated on a regular basis as more approved products are added.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
DEXRON®-VI Service Fill Approved Fluids
Company ***License Number ***Trade Name
Advanced Lubrication Specialties ***J-60155 ***Advantage DEXRON®-VI
Allegheny Petroleum ***J-60152 ***Altra DEXRON®-VI Transmission Fluid
American Agip Co. Inc. ***J-60306 ***Agip DEXRON®-VI ATF
BP Lubricants USA, Inc. ***J-60309 ***Castrol DEXRON®-VI ATF
CAM2 Oil Products ***J-60327 ***CAM2 Synthetic ATF DEXRON®-VI
CAM2 Oil Products ***J-60329 ***CAM2 Synthetic ATF DEXRON®-VI
Carquest ***J-60323 ***Carquest DEXRON®-VI Full Synthetic ATF
Chevron Corporation ***J-60005 ***Chevron ATF DEXRON®-VI
Chevron Corporation ***J-60005 ***Havoline ATF DEXRON®-VI
Chevron Products Company ***J-60308 ***Chevron ATF DEXRON®-VI
Chevron Products Company ***J-60308 ***Havoline ATF DEXRON®-VI
Citgo Petroleum Corporation ***J-60317 ***CITGO TRANSGARD DEXRON®-VI
ConocoPhillips ***J-60004 ***ConocoPhillips Company DEXRON®-VI ATF
ConocoPhilips ***J-60004 ***Kendall Motor Oil Company DEXRON®-VI ATF
ExxonMobil Corporation ***J-60002 ***ExxonMobil IMP 6544
ExxonMobil Corporation ***J-60002 ***Mobil DEXRON®-VI ATF
Fuchs Petrolub AG ***J-60310 ***TITAN ATF 6000 SL
GMSPO ***J-60301 ***GM Vehicle Care DEXRON®-VI ATF
GMSPO ***J-60301 ***AC/Delco DEXRON®-VI ATF
Gulf Oil International ***J-60304 ***Gulf DEXRON®-VI ATF
Gulf Oil International ***J-60311 ***Gulf DEXRON®-VI ATF
Hicks Oil Inc. ***J-60326 ***Formula 500
Kuwait Petroleum ***J-60314 ***Q8 Auto D VI
Lubricating Specialties Company ***J-60322 ***Unitran DEXRON®-VI
Morris Lubricants ***J-60324 ****
Northland Products ***J-60316 ***Northland DEXRON®-VI ATF
PDVSA Deltaven S.A. ***J-60315 ***TRANSFLUIDO SINTEICO DVI
Penrite Oil Company Pty Limited ***J-60302 ***Penrite ATF DX-VI
Penrite Oil Company Pty Limited ***J-60312 ***Penrite ATF DX-VI
Petro-Canada Lubricants ***J-60001 ***Petro-Canada DEXRON®-VI ATF
Pinnacle Oil, Inc. ***J-60321 ****
Pinnacle Resources, Inc. ***J-60320 ***Multipurpose DEXRON®-VI ATF
Schaeffer Manufacturing Company ***J-60325 ***Schaeffer DEXRON®-VI ATF
Shell Lubricants ***J-60307 ***A/C Delco DEXRON®-VI ATF
Shell Lubricants ***J-60307 ***Quaker State ATF DEXRON®-VI
Shell Lubricants ***J-60307 ***Pennzoil DEXRON®-VI
Shell Lubricants ***J-60154 ***A/C Delco DEXRON®-VI ATF
Shell Lubricants ***J-60154 ***Quaker State ATF DEXRON®-VI
Shell Lubricants ***J-60154 ***Pennzoil DEXRON®-VI
SK Corporation ***J-60003 ***ZIC DEXRON®-VI
Smitty's Supply ***J-60153 ***Super S
Smitty's Supply ***J-60153 ***Sure Guard
Superior Lubricants ***J-60328 ***Tuxton DEXRON®-VI ATF
Total Lubrifiants ***J-60330 ****
Valvoline ***J-60151 ***Valvoline ATF DEXRON®-VI
Valvoline ***J-60319 ***Valvoline ATF DEXRON®-VI
Valvoline (Australia) Pty Limited ***J-60313 ***Valvoline ATF DEXRON®-VI
Warren Oil Company ***J-60318 ***COASTAL DEXRON®-VI
Warren Oil Company ***J-60318 ***WARREN DEXRON®-VI
Warren Oil Company ***J-60318 ***LUBRIGUARD DEXRON®-VI
Warren Oil Company ***J-60318 ***SERVICE PRO DEXRON®-VI

[MT-2500]

Bulletin No.: 04-07-30-037D
Date: November 21, 2007
INFORMATION
Subject:
Release of DEXRON(R)-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF)

#Models
Attention: DEXRON(R)-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) is the only approved fluid for warranty repairs for General Motors transmissions/transaxles requiring DEXRON(R)-III and/or prior DEXRON(R) transmission fluids.
Supercede:
This bulletin is being revised to update model/model year information. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 04-07-30-037C (Section 07 - Transmission/Transaxle).
MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS/TRANSFER CASES and POWER STEERING
The content of this bulletin does not apply to manual transmissions or transfer cases. Any vehicle that previously required DEXRON(R)-III for a manual transmission or transfer case should now use P/N 88861800. This fluid is labeled Manual Transmission and Transfer Case Fluid. Power Steering Systems should now use P/N 9985010 labeled Power Steering Fluid.
Consult the Owner's Manual or Service Information (SI) for fluid recommendations.
Some of our customers and/or General Motors dealerships/Saturn Retailers may have some concerns with DEXRON(R)-VI and DEXRON(R)-III Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) and transmission warranty claims. DEXRON(R)-VI is the only approved fluid for warranty repairs for General Motors transmissions/transaxles requiring DEXRON(R)-III and/or prior DEXRON(R) transmission fluids. Please remember that the clean oil reservoirs of the J 45096 - Flushing and Flow Tester machine should be purged of DEXRON(R)-III and filled with DEXRON(R)-VI for testing, flushing or filling General Motors transmissions/transaxles.
DEXRON(R)-VI can be used in any proportion in past model vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission/transaxle in place of DEXRON(R)-III (i.e. topping off the fluid in the event of a repair or fluid change). DEXRON(R)-VI is also compatible with any former version of DEXRON(R) for use in automatic transmissions/transaxles.
DEXRON(R)-VI ATF
General Motors Powertrain has upgraded to DEXRON(R)-VI ATF with the start of 2006 vehicle production.
Current and prior automatic transmission models that had used DEXRON(R)-III must now only use DEXRON(R)-VI.
All 2006 and future model transmissions that use DEXRON(R)-VI are to be serviced ONLY with DEXRON(R)-VI fluid.

[777stickman]

MT: Great info and thanks...............777

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by bass_caster

00 tahoe nbs 4x4

i was considering changing the trans filter and fluid and replacing it with synthetic. any thoughts? any recommendations as far as brands go? also, how many time do i need to change it to get rid of all the old. the way i understand it, only about half of the fluid is drained when the pan is dropped. is that right? my last question, or maybe an assumption is that the synthetics are compatible with the real stuff and wont cause any issues when they eventually get mixed in a partial fluid change?? any help is appreciated.

on my 2000 silverado the transmission was serviced with mobil synthetic transmission fluid , this was done in 2001.. the reason I did this was because I always replace the transmission fluid when the first 20,ooomi comes up..this synthetic made a big difference..fast shifting smoother shifting and less drag..better MPG..dexron III spec was stopped because it was an issue with these transmissions..I have had no issues ...now over 125,000mi, and replaced fluid about 4x..ALSO NO LEAKS.

the new dexron VI is supposed to be the fix ...and is a good fluid also..
replacing the fluid if it has not been done ever could cause problems,,as mentioned debris can get loosened and valves can stick..

do not get the flush treatment because this can stir up even more debris..

if you clean the drain pan , and install the correct high quaility filter, you should be good ,,the after a few thousands miles do it again ..that way it will all be synthetic and the debris will be removed..


with a 4X4 you have other drive train fluids that need servicing . have you replaced these fluids yet ?

[bass_caster]

my 'hoe now has 205,000. the original transmission crapped out and was replaced at about 165,000 miles on it. i was really disappointed since i was religious about getting the transmission, transfer case, and rear diff fluids changed at 30,000 mile intervals since i did a fair amount of towing my boat. each time i had the dealership do the full transmission flush. anyways, the new transmission has the remainder of the miles so thats a bout 40,000. i am thinking of just dropping the pan and changing the filter/fluid myself to save some cash.

[bass_caster]

Originally Posted by j cAT

if you clean the drain pan , and install the correct high quaility filter, you should be good ,,the after a few thousands miles do it again ..that way it will all be synthetic and the debris will be removed..


with a 4X4 you have other drive train fluids that need servicing . have you replaced these fluids yet ?

2 follow ups...

what would be considered a quality filter... ac delco? purolator? something else? i dont mind paying a few bucks more if it does the job.

also, does the transfer case and rear diff fluids need to be changed as often as the trans fluid? if not, what would the mileage intervals be on that? and are synthetics better for those applications too?

[bass_caster]

Originally Posted by MT-2500

But changing all fluid or going to synthetic at one time can/does stir up problems on a high mileage transmission.
Condsider age and mileage and transmission condition before changing over.

what kind of probs can occur if the switch is made?

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by bass_caster

what kind of probs can occur if the switch is made?

with this transmission since it was replaced you should go ahead and replace the fluids/filter as you did before/or do it youself..as mt2500 stated the dexron III was around up until the last few years...and as GM stated in its explaination of this change to the dexronVI the III was causing transmission failures of a very high rate...


the replacement of the other drivetrain fluids is good to do at 30-40,ooomi..since you will be driving in snow /ice the componets get used often ,,,hopefully this year we up here get a break for once..

the napa filter I got was the same exact filter that is the gm filter OEM...this filter had even the same plastic number /letter stamping and with the rubber gasket was 23.oo approx..much cheaper than dealer last time dealership was 50.oo++ for filter...

I have never flushed any transmission,,this can cause failures....if the fluid is contaminated then flushing would be necessary..like coolant got into it etc...

the other preferred method would be to replace all the fluid at the transmission cooler ..using these lines you can drain out the circulating fluid and then add into the dip stick tube what comes out until 12 quarts are used ..then you got it all replaced..

replacing the transmission fluid to the new dexron or the mobil synthetic tranny fluids will cause no problems...these are fully compatible ...just that these will work much better...after you do this change over let the forum know if you see any changes..

[bass_caster]

i bought a napa fileter the other day for about $27 w/tax, now i just need to get the fluid. i'm down to mobil 1 or royal purple, then i found something on the royal purple website that i thought was alarming... the tech tip at the bottom...


Max ATF is recommended in vehicles requiring any of these automatic transmission fluids:

• Allison: C-4, TES-295, TES-389
• Audi G-052-025-A2
• BMW: LA2634, LT71141
• Chrysler: ATF+, ATF+2, ATF+3, ATF+4
• Ford: MERCON, MERCON V
• GM 9986195
• GM: DEXRON, DEXRON-II, DEXRON-IID, DEXRON-IIIG, DEXRON-IIIH
• Honda ATF-Z1 (except in CVT's)
• Hyundai: SP-II, SP-III
• JWS 3309
• Kia: SP-II, SP-III
• MAN 339F
• Mercedes Benz 236.x
• Mitsubishi Diamond: SP-II, SP-III
• Nissan: Matic-D, Matic-J, Matic-K
• Subaru ATF-HP
• Toyota: Type I, T-III, T-IV
• Voith: 55.6335.3x (G607), H55.6336.3x (G1363)
• Volvo: 97340 (Construction Equipment), 4-6 Speed AT
• VW TL52162
• ZF: TE-ML 14B, TE-ML 16L, TE-ML 17C

» back
Please note: Max ATF is not recommended or an approved warranty replacement for: Aisin Warner AW-1, Ford Type F, Ford Mercon SP & Mercon LV, GM Dexron VI, Mercedes Benz MB 236.12 & 236.14, Shell M1375.4 (ZF 6-Speed AT) and Toyota WS. Max ATF is not recommended for use in any CVT applications.





so i guess i will be using mobil 1 after reading this info