2002 Olds Alero: MaxLife or Dexron VI?

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JHerriot

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Hi all,

I own a 2002 Olds Alero 3.4 with 150k miles. No fluid change since factory Dexron 3 fill. I am planning a pan drop and filter change. I am torn between Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Mercon and Mobil Super Dexron VI. Price doesn't matter so much as using the correct fluid in my old but well working transmission. I want it to work for a few more years.

What do you guys think?

Thanks.
 
Definitely DEX 6 it's an all around better built fluid, backwards compatible. that's all I use in my GM fleet.
 
Maxlife is a nice fluid and as already echoed, Dex VI is far better than dex 3. I have Maxlife in my Equinox and noticed a difference in the shift quality and cold weather drivability versus the old fluid
 
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
Try http://www.aleromod.com and see what they say.

Also check out this post there:
http://www.aleromod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38818


Hey thanks. I notice some resemblance between yourself and a poster in that thread! Haha. Aleromod is more of a ghost town now from what I see.

I'm a bit iffy on the Dorman pan and the drain bolt gasket failing and causing a leak. Would installing a drain bolt on the OEM pan be a risky maneuver?

Do you guys think a cooler line pump-out along with a pan drop and filter change would be a better idea?
 
Originally Posted By: JHerriot
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
Try http://www.aleromod.com and see what they say.

Also check out this post there:
http://www.aleromod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38818


Hey thanks. I notice some resemblance between yourself and a poster in that thread! Haha. Aleromod is more of a ghost town now from what I see.

I'm a bit iffy on the Dorman pan and the drain bolt gasket failing and causing a leak. Would installing a drain bolt on the OEM pan be a risky maneuver?

Do you guys think a cooler line pump-out along with a pan drop and filter change would be a better idea?

Yup try to get all of the old out.
 
Did Valvoline MaxLife Full Synthetic on my wife's Sienna. Went from feeling shifts to not feeling any shifting. Very smooth. Was 78,000 on it and the old stuff was nasty black.
Used valvoline dexron vi full synthetic for my Equinox but only because I had an extended warranty and I wanted to dot my i's.
58,000 on that and shifting is much better too. Go with maxlife.
 
Maxlife is great stuff and well-liked on here. It is specifically designed with high mileage in mind.

I also suggest you buy the Dorman transmission pan that includes a drain plug, to make future ATF changes much easier.
 
I suggest to try some maxlife 5w30. If it continues to burn at the same rate, change the oil and filter once a month until it starts to slow down. If no change is seen after 3 months, just use the cheapest HM 5w30/5w20 you can find.
 
Originally Posted By: mazdamonky
I suggest to try some maxlife 5w30. If it continues to burn at the same rate, change the oil and filter once a month until it starts to slow down. If no change is seen after 3 months, just use the cheapest HM 5w30/5w20 you can find.


Don't put Maxlife oil in your transmission!!!

I also suggest the Maxlife ATF. I've used in numerous times in two vehicles (a Toyota and a Honda) and they ran great.
 
I used Maxlife in my '03 Buick a few weeks ago. Trans is a 4t65e, probably same as yours. I did a pan drop and filter change, didn't worry about a flush. Will do a pan drop and fluid only a year or so from now, with Maxlife again. That will get most of the fluid. My transmission seems happy with the Maxlife, I noticed smoother shifts right away.
I like that Maxlife says it is formulated for higher mileage transmissions, and on-line reviews are very positive.
 
DexronVI is the "correct" fluid, which replaced DexronIII.

Maxlife Dex/Merc works particularly well with these transmissions, I use it personally in my Buick which has the same transmission. I consider Maxlife a superior fluid based on it using more synthetic oils and having better viscosity properties. Both are light years ahead of mineral DexronIII so you can't go wrong either way.

Be careful with cheap filters, almost all are made in China and some have very poor seal fitment. Napa should still be selling the made in the USA allomatic, or you can purchase it directly from triple edge website. Even the AC Delco part is made in China.
 
With that mileage and service history I'd do a pan drop with Maxlife. It will very likely make a difference and not run as much risk of shocking the transmission as a 100% flush.
 
Originally Posted By: Alex_V
With that mileage and service history I'd do a pan drop with Maxlife. It will very likely make a difference and not run as much risk of shocking the transmission as a 100% flush.


I don't agree with this idea. Old fluid isn't doing him any favors, it's sheared to an extremely low viscosity and has lost all the important properties that are needed to keep wear down.

No doubt there is a ton of accumulated wear metals and insolubles in the fluid, I would actually love to see a used oil analysis from it, but new fluid would be better.
 
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
DexronVI is the "correct" fluid, which replaced DexronIII.

Maxlife Dex/Merc works particularly well with these transmissions, I use it personally in my Buick which has the same transmission. I consider Maxlife a superior fluid based on it using more synthetic oils and having better viscosity properties. Both are light years ahead of mineral DexronIII so you can't go wrong either way.

Be careful with cheap filters, almost all are made in China and some have very poor seal fitment. Napa should still be selling the made in the USA allomatic, or you can purchase it directly from triple edge website. Even the AC Delco part is made in China.


I managed to find Valvoline MaxLife here at NAPA (Wal-Mart didn't have any). The Alero has the 4T45E. Is that much different than the 4T65E? I imagine then that the filter you quoted won't fit. I'll try for the Delco OE one if that is the case.
 
Originally Posted By: JHerriot
Would installing a drain bolt on the OEM pan be a risky maneuver?


Depends on how handy you are. There are youtube videos on how to do it with a welder.
 
The 4T45 uses a different filter, but if you have a Napa, ask to see their house filter and if it's made in usa I'd buy that, if it's China I'd try the delco.

Another interesting point about DexronVI is that it's all pretty much the same if it's legit licensed by GM, so you don't need to get name brand, the Walmart brand is just as good and about $4/ quart. If the Maxlife is available in the gallons for less than $20/jug id get that
 
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