Dexron VI Drain and Refill

[2000LtdKen]

I recently bought my wife a used 2000 Tundra with 130k miles on it. So now we are a 2 Tundra family. I have been doing all of the maintenance on it such as timing belt and water pump, new brakes and an auto-rx treatment. Today I did a drain and refill on the transmission with Supertech Dexron VI. (4 quarts) I don't know what the service history on this was previously but the Dexron VI gives a really good shift and driveability. I think the shift is better than my Tundra with Mobil 1 Synthetic Fluid.

I have read over on the Bob is the Oil Guy website that Dexron VI is tightly controlled during manufacturing with quality base stocks and additive packages so I wasn't worried about buying the Supertech version. I also hear Dexron VI will last 2X as long in service. They are selling this at Wally World for $2.97 per quart.

I would be interested in anyone else's experience with Dexron VI.

Ken

[LifeTech]

interesting observation.
Dexron specs have been proven and used for many years, so I can see consistent properties attained along any Aftermarket Dexron alternative.

Although I like most M1 products, I don't feel that the M1 universal Dexron/Mercon alternative is great for any specific app. Albeit a Syn product.

[ddvk]

I think you will get the best answers to your questions related to oils from BIGOT.

My personal opinion is DexronVI will be too thin for the DexronIII application in the viscosity dept. Dexron VI is 6.0-6.5cSt and Dexron III is 7.0-8.0 cst....

I would not go DexronVI. I will for once disagree with LifeTech and stick with M1 MV syn ATF or choose the M1 Mercon V ATF (Mecon V is also quite a hard spec to meet wrt viscosity range variation, less Viscosity improvers (called VIs) than regular DexronIII/Mercon).

[2000LtdKen]

Originally Posted by ddvk

I think you will get the best answers to your questions related to oils from BIGOT.

My personal opinion is DexronVI will be too thin for the DexronIII application in the viscosity dept. Dexron VI is 6.0-6.5cSt and Dexron III is 7.0-8.0 cst....

I would not go DexronVI. I will for once disagree with LifeTech and stick with M1 MV syn ATF or choose the M1 Mercon V ATF (Mecon V is also quite a hard spec to meet wrt viscosity range variation, less Viscosity improvers (called VIs) than regular DexronIII/Mercon).

ddvk,

even though it is backwards compatible with dexron iii ?

Ken

[ddvk]

Actually if you read thro the Dexron VI spec, it clearly says the new spec isn't fully compatible with previous versions and it is specifically designed for AT from 2006 onwards (which are the 5sp and 6sp transmissions from GM). On the bottles of the Valvoline (which is the only Dexron VI, I have seen) it say it "can" be used. There is much subjective and speculative language out there..

But just based on vis #, I won't go thin from the get go till I have seen a UOA that DexronVI does hold up pretty well for about 30K miles.

I wouldn't want to stick something into a perfectly working tranny something that is new and don't have UOAs to back it up...

[Tones]

I agree. The Mobil 1 Dex III (now labeled Merc V) works fine. I see no reason to experiment. Have been doing drain-and-fills with the Mobil 1 and it works fine.