Interchange Dextron III with V and VI, Synthetic, etc. ? | FerrariChat
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Interchange Dextron III with V and VI, Synthetic, etc. ?

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by TZ 750, Jan 24, 2014.

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  1. TZ 750

    TZ 750 Formula Junior

    Jul 18, 2009
    912
    #1 TZ 750, Jan 24, 2014
    Time for a transmission fluid change
    in my 1999 Ferrari 456 MGTA.

    I believe the fluid was changed at
    the 30K service about 5 years ago,
    which was only 4,000 miles back

    (This is NOT my only F-car,
    and NOT my DD.....)

    And yes, I know - change fluids every year, ......

    Anyway:

    The owner's manual calls out for DEXTRON III,
    which is hard to find in North Florida !

    Has the Dextron III been superseded by V or VI,
    and does somebody like Mobile1 make a synthetic
    that can be substituted for the "Old Dextron III ?"

    Thanks, Scott
     
  2. dersark_painclinic

    dersark_painclinic Formula Junior

    Mar 8, 2005
    981
    Glendale, CA
    Full Name:
    Lazik Der Sarkissian
    #2 dersark_painclinic, Jan 24, 2014
    The answer is NO. I learned the hard way. If you ask GM dealers they will tell you GM recommend to use Dextron VI for all our transmissions. GM does not care about you and me. I use to have 2004 GM truck with Alison transmission calls for Dextron III fluid. GM serviced the transmission with Dextron VI fluid and I did not know until I saw the service charges. Later on transmission started leaking. I did an extensive research and came across a bulleten by Alison that from 2006 on Alison transmissions came with new seales that comparable with Dextron VI fluid. GM decline the fact even showing them the bulleten. Calling Canadian oil company that make the fluid for GM and Alison company they approved the fact. Valvaline still makes Dextron III fluid available at any auto parts stores.
    Sark
     
  3. don_xvi

    don_xvi F1 Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    2,934
    Outside Detroit
    Full Name:
    Don the 16th
    #3 don_xvi, Jan 25, 2014
    I don't know of that specific issue, but definitely advise further research as I am aware that not all of these things are backward compatible.
     
  4. jacques

    jacques Formula Junior

    May 23, 2006
    877
    Los Angeles/Florida
    #4 jacques, Jan 25, 2014
    Amzoil make a great synthetic ATM fluid that works incredibly well in my 400i. When I rebuilt the T400, I put Amzoil in and have never looked back. With the shift kit and Amzoil, it's about as close to a stick shift that you can get. I hope that this is of some use to someone. Thank you. Jq.
     
  5. BEWKABAILEY

    BEWKABAILEY Karting

    Nov 1, 2004
    53
    Sydney Australia
    Full Name:
    Bradley Coleman
    #5 BEWKABAILEY, Jan 25, 2014
    Just reading about the crazy world of dextron to find there is no T it's dexron . I just cut and pasted the ...interesting the licence expired sill seems available I not sure ..

    Dexron-III[edit]
    In 1993, GM released new Dexron-III fluid. It is generally backward-compatible with transmissions using earlier Dexron fluids or Type-A/Suffix-A fluid.
    Dexron-VI[edit]
    The fluid specification for Dexron-VI was introduced in 2005, and was first used as the GM factory-fill automatic transmission fluid for model year 2006. All Dexron-III licenses expired permanently at the end of 2006, and GM now supports only Dexron-VI fluids for use in their automatic transmissions,[3] although fluids asserted by their manufacturers to meet Dexron-III standards continue to be sold under names such as Dex/Merc. These fluids are not regulated or endorsed by GM.[4]
    Dexron VI is of a slightly lower viscosity when new compared to the prior Dexron fluids (a maximum of 6.4 cSt at 100°C for Dexron VI and 7.5 cSt for Dexron III), but the allowed viscosity loss from shearing of the ATF during use is lower for Dexron VI, resulting in the same lowest allowed final viscosity for both Dexron III and VI (5.5 cSt).[5] The lower viscosity is intended to gain improvements in fuel economy by lessening parasitic drag in the transmission. Since Dexron VI is not allowed to thin out (lower its viscosity) as much as Dexron III during use, it requires the use of higher-quality, more shear-stable (less prone to thin ess in use) base oils.[4]
     

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