[nic walker]

Should not have waited till the last minute to ask this question .


Getting ready to do the FULL ATF/convertor (the F 14 procedure) fluid change. I have bee using the high mileage ATF 50,000 miles. Is it appropriate to to go back to conventional / normal ATF please?

(reason for the switch is bacisallly cost....the darn high mileage ATF is $5.00 a quart or $50.00 for the fluid change where as Advance Brand ATF is 11.99 a gallon or $36.00. The car has 130,000 miles on the clock). Replies / opinions appreciated, and thanks for reading,

Nic
(correction: Advance ATF cost $11.19 gallon or $33.57)

[Telco]

I see no reason why not, the only issue that I'd see would be if you were planning to use a synthetic trans fluid. I came here from the full size Chevy truck world, and from there found that GM RWD transmissions don't much care for synthetic fluid. No idea if the FWDs like it.

Another way of looking at the cost though, the difference is 16 bucks. If the fluid you were using was working for you, does 16 bucks really make that much of a difference on a yearly type service?

[sfair]

I would never recommend any other fluid but Dexron for your transmission. No synthetic, no universal, no long life, etc. When DexronVI is the recommended refill and one of the best for your transmission, why go with anything else?

[CHAS1]

After all my transmission problems last spring (Jasper rebuilt) (lets not go into that) my transmission man and others say Dextron III (Yes number 3) that is what is in your owners manual. Nothing else, stay away from 6 which is synthetic. No universal fluid. The only place I could find 3 was on Amazon. You can also locate it on ebay last time I looked.

[sfair]

Contacted Petro Canada engineering, personally, who had a major hand in Dexron VI development. As a requirement by GM, it was to be backwards compatible to all previous fills. That condition was met.
Researched a GM tech bulletin...stated that it was compatable for all GM Hydramatics back to 1949.
Have used it with no problems, so what can I say? (specifically in 4t60's)
Dexron III will surely be harder and harder to obtain with VI being the replacement.
As far as specifications go, VI blows III out of the water in all areas.

So, a person is free to fill with what they determine to fit the needs of their transmission, but probably in the future, there will be no option between III and VI.

[CHAS1]

I have 3 cases of Dexron III for my stash. After 5 transmissions last spring I am not looking for problems with my existing transmission. If would be a roll of the dice to change an older transmission over to Dexron VI in my opinion. (Why look for trouble)
Amazon is the only place I could find it after checking all local sources. Also check ebay. Their was some Penzoil Dexron III ATF last time I looked.
I do not want to rehash that Jasper Transmission mess BUT I proved to their senior management they were using OLD internal plunger seals that were not compatable with Dexron VI. Although they approved it.
One picture is worth a thousand words. When they saw the picture 's of the swolen seals they sent me a 100% refund.

[Richard D]

I would probably not use Advance Auto ATF under any circumstances unless I knew who made it and was sure it was GM approved. Same with my engine oil, I have had good luck with Penzoil so I will stick with them instead of using a generic store brand. Even if it makes no difference I feel better! Plus it is what, a buck a quart more?

[NTX5467]

At the present time, the only "approved" atf for GM vehicles is Dexron VI.

Licenses for Dexron III have expired from GM, just as the Ford Type F license expired from Ford years ago. An expired "liscense" does not mean the fluid is not still being built, just that it will meet the particular brand's "version" of the prior liscened formulation, which might be better than the OEM-supplied item anyway.

Dex VI is backwards compatible just as Dex III was backward compatible for prior Dexron versions and Type A. Dex VI is part-synthetic, not full synthetic. Same with the latest Mopar atf. Dex VI will last much longer than Dex III.

Dex III IS still available, but now branded as something of a Universal atf, but if you read the back of the bottle, you'll find that Dex III is the main spec that fluid is supposed to meet. Castrol and others have it and WalMart sells it. KEY is to read the bottle's description of what's in it!

The only thing the "50,000 Mile" fluid would have might be a tad more detergent additive plus a "seal softener" additive . . . both of which can be added to ANY fluid that is not marketed as "50,000+ mile fluid). If this particular fluid was stopping leaks, if you went back to normal fluid and some seeps started, then a bottle of additive should fix it.

In reality, though, if the fluid is changed reasonably often and the trans is not been continually overheated, the internal seals and such should be in reasonably good condition . . . remember that "transmission flush" does not always mean the internal filters are changed when that happens, only "flushed", unless you specify that it be changed after the flush treatment is complete. Make sure, also, that the flush machine operator is experienced and the machine will automatically replenish the trans with fresh fluid as the old fluid is removed! Some machines require active operator monitoring and that monitoring is to ensure that the front pump does not want for fluid . . . which can cause more problems than the flush was supposed to prevent.

Look around, you can find plenty of fluid for what you need. Dex III would be a default fluid, if that's what you want, just expect to have to read the back of the bottle to make sure that's the primary spec the newly-labeled fluid is meeting.

Enjoy!
NTX5467

[nic walker]

Thanks to all for your replies - greatly appreciated .

I have a quart of Advances ATF in front of me. he label in capital letters is "DEX III / M"

Also fron lable reads:
"Formulated for older model Ford and General Motors vehicles".
"Suitable for transmissions requiring DEXRON - III and MERCON automatic transmission fluid"
"Compare to Castrol"

There are not any "speccifications" per say on the back label, just a repeat of the front label.

I just changed the fluid, filter, and used Black RTV for the gasket and everthing is dry after 3 to 400 miles. The quart bottle readings seem to fall in line with NTX5467 and Charlie's comments, and is almost 1/2 the cost of the "High Mileage" name brands.

****Since a "F14 flush" requires about 12 quarts, I was thinking about maybe using 8 quarts of the Advance ATF, and 4 quarts of one of the Name Brand High Mileage ATF just to have a little bit of the seal softener. Any comments on mixing the two please????

Thanks,

Nic

[CHAS1]

Nic,
Wish you luck. You remember the dozen posts I had last spring when my transmission failed and had 5 Jasper units fail in a row on my 1989 Riviera. Thankfully I got a 100% refund. All my posts were removed at my requests because I was involved in a lawsuit. Jasper made a mistake by recommending VI in transnissions where plungers would swell up. Therefore I now have plenty of III for future service requirements. That is what in the owners manual and that is what I am using. GM may now recommend VI BUT YOU are the one that MAY have to deal with the problems. Others have changed to VI without a problem but I lost nearly the entire summer with my car.
The costs to properly service a transmission is MOUSE NUTS compared to the costs to replace it.
I was in for $2500 for Jasper. PLus paid another $2300 to get a independent rebuilder to get me back on the road while I waited refund check from Jasper. I also had my 1999 Riviera serviced with III as stated in the owners manual.
Good Luck
Charlie