Hmmm...did not know the license and such had expired. Good to know. I will stick to reputable brands for Dexron III in my S-10 and the Red Witch. I may or may not consider switching to Dexron VI.
We shall see.

Good info, thanks for the knowledge.


Seth K. Pyle

 

There's been a lot of discussion of the various supercessions of the original Dexron over the decades. In each case, the new version is backward compatible with equipment requiring a previous iteration.

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My Honda Pilot DD has a factory recommendation for a Honda-branded fluid. They suggest that, if you are forced to top up with something different, you should completely flush and refill with the Honda fluid at the earliest possible opportunity. Meanwhile, out in the real marketplace, Valvoline MAX-Life full-synthetic ATF is listed as suitable for my Honda, meeting all the requirements of Honda's standard.

The Better News: It's Dexron through Dexron 6 and Mercon 6 compatible. And it's on the shelf at Walmart in gallons for about $25. The hot-rod Honda folks like it. It meets the most current and therefore all previous Dexron (GM) and Mercon (Ford) standards, so it will be the next fluid to go into the 928 gearbox at trans service time.

 

Is it "compatible with Dexron VI", or is it a licensed and approved Dexron VI? There can be a huge difference, and the sales weasels are very good at leading you to think that they said something that they didn't actually say...

GM says that the licenses and specs are much more tightly controlled with VI than ever before, and any legally licensed VI is equal to any other VI - which means that the Walmart house brand Dexron VI is as good as any.

 

What goes into making it Dexron/Mercon VI determines where it exceeds the minimum GM and Ford specifications. Stuff like flash point and therefore tolerance for heat varies a lot between the blue-bottle generic stuff and the red-bottle synthetic stuff. Ashland/Valvoline have been in the business long enough that I trust them when they say that their product meets or exceeds GM, Ford, etc, minimum standards.

My first 928 fluid change (at 22k) was with Mobil-1 synthetic, a product branded as meeting or exceeding Dexron-n standards. Shifting was definitely firmer, to the point that I was researching modulator adjustments to make it a bit less firm. Instead, at the next scheduled change (40k) I went with a conventional (not full synthetic) Castrol ATF that restored everything to as-new shift quality. I've been using that same Castrol ATF since then, with nothing to report on it except that it's red going in and coming out. However, since moving from a major metro area where virtually anything is available on a shelf, I have to go search out that Castrol fluid. At the same time, the Valvoline Max-Life product is available easily, and is doing a great job in the other two cars here that need ATF.

 

I changed to Redline D4 at last change, very happy.

 

I've used Redline type F with one qt. of K & W Trans-X since 1987 in mine. Has a stroker in it now & 175K with no problems & still chirps the tires when it shifts if I want it to.

Regards, Hammer

 

thanks for the inputs; transmission and TC drained, filter changed, new gasket and crush washers and refilled with fresh oil.

Sure a lot easier with a lift to add the oil and check level while running the car.

 

I notice that you weren't brave enough (or dumb enough) to say what ATF you used.
Probably a good thing - religious discussions get pretty heated...

 

I was actually thinking of closing the thread before comments from the Amsoil/Mobil 1 camps wrt which oil I used.

Being the smart guy I am, I'll close it now.