I have a 02 olds alero with the 4t45e trans. This is the sealed trans. with no dipstick, and am just wondering what's the closest to original trans. fluid can I buy? I know I can use any Dex 6 but would like to just stick with whatever was put in from the factory, I'm just going to be changing the filter and fluid as I don't have a flush machine, I was considering using Valvoline MaxLife ATF or I can also get schaeffers atf also, if anybody has any suggestions please lmk. I would like to find the original atf poured in when it was new though and just stay with the original GM fluid, I called the local GM garage and they said just use any Dex 6? Thx.
ATF fluid help!
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i would use the dex 6 but any of the fluids you mentioned will be fine.I think you will need like 7qts.
Have you considered using Maxlife ATF? you didn't mention how many miles you have on it but I have used this fluid in many different vehicles with great success. Some don't like to use the DEX VI because it is very thin. At this point I am not sure how I feel about the new fluids for "vehicles that formerly spec Dex III"
As for doing the change you obviously have to drop the pan and change the filter. Then you have a fill plug/breather on top of the transmission case. You remove the overflow plug on the passenger's side of the transmission case above the pan and fill it till it overflows out of the plug hole above the pan. When that all drains off the excess put the plug back in. Make sure to heat it up to temp and open the plug again to make sure it is not overfilled when hot. Another thing I used to do with these transmissions when changing fluid is send an extra quart or two through the transmission with the overflow plug out since it is overflowing and pouring out the excess. I feel that if you pour in the extra fluid slowly it will circulate and mix with the fluid in the case before flowing out. I do not imagine that hurts and can get more of the old fluid out that way.
As for doing the change you obviously have to drop the pan and change the filter. Then you have a fill plug/breather on top of the transmission case. You remove the overflow plug on the passenger's side of the transmission case above the pan and fill it till it overflows out of the plug hole above the pan. When that all drains off the excess put the plug back in. Make sure to heat it up to temp and open the plug again to make sure it is not overfilled when hot. Another thing I used to do with these transmissions when changing fluid is send an extra quart or two through the transmission with the overflow plug out since it is overflowing and pouring out the excess. I feel that if you pour in the extra fluid slowly it will circulate and mix with the fluid in the case before flowing out. I do not imagine that hurts and can get more of the old fluid out that way.
GM recommends dex 6 in all the previous specs.I am getting ready to change the fluid in a 4T65HD a much more problematic trans than this one.I was going to use dex 6 but thought about maxlife because so many people like it here.What is so good about it guys whats in it ? Where can i buy it whats the price?
I have used Maxlife ATF in past with good results but if you could get it in your area I would us MD-III from Chevron if you search dexron III on Google you can find a lot of places to buy Dex III type fluid. If you use something other than Maxlife in this application Lubeguard red maybe beneficial, that is my theory at least.
Thanks for all the responses, the trans. Has over a hundred thousand miles and has never been done before, I do trans. Filter and fluid all day at work so I'm aware how to do the sealed transmissions but that post on how to is spot on thx. I will try to find the chevron dex three but if not just going to use the maxlife atf like planned, is there any difference in the trans. Filters at all? We usually get duralast stuff. But I'm more a fan of wix if they make them. After all I have wix oil fuel and air filters on it already lol.
Originally Posted By: boosted
Can I use the lubeguard red and maxlife atf also? What is thus lubeguard all about anyways? If I understood right the maxlife is dex 6 then? Thx
MaxLife is basically a brand of Dexron ATF (Dex 6 I think) but anything matching Dexron 6 would be a great match for your transmission since its all back-spec'd anyhow.
LubeGard Red is a magic unicorn everyone loves. Feel free to buy it and enjoy anything from better shifting and transmission life to absolutely nothing measureable.
But its not necessary, no.
Can I use the lubeguard red and maxlife atf also? What is thus lubeguard all about anyways? If I understood right the maxlife is dex 6 then? Thx
MaxLife is basically a brand of Dexron ATF (Dex 6 I think) but anything matching Dexron 6 would be a great match for your transmission since its all back-spec'd anyhow.
LubeGard Red is a magic unicorn everyone loves. Feel free to buy it and enjoy anything from better shifting and transmission life to absolutely nothing measureable.
But its not necessary, no.
The closest thing to what was originally filled is probably the obsolete Dex/Merc, Actually DexronIII which doesn't exactly exist anymore as a spec. I don't understand the logic of being willing to use Maxlife which is not as close to the original fill as DexVI. Both are thinner. I've used Maxlife and DexVI in that trans with success, but IMO DexVI is the best.
Well I'm going to take the pan off and just dump the fluid and stick it back on fill it back up with some cheap cam 2 trans. fluid run it for a little bit and take the pan back off and dump that stuff, hopefully this way I will get more of the old fluid out since i'm not doing a flush, going to stick a new filter on and fill it up with some Valvoline MaxLife and a bottle of the lubeguard red to thicken it up a little? and magic unicorn's are just a plus i guess, does anybody have a suggestion on tran's filter's? can I buy WIX filter or will any filter like duralast or something be good?
If your f body is a T56 (manual), DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT use Dex 6 in it!! (WAAYYY TOO THIN!!!)
I know this question/thread is about the Alero, but I was just warning you in case your Z28 was a manual gearbox, and you had plans to use Dex 6 in it instead of a Dex 3 rated fluid (or synthetic/manual transmission fluid equivalent).
I know this question/thread is about the Alero, but I was just warning you in case your Z28 was a manual gearbox, and you had plans to use Dex 6 in it instead of a Dex 3 rated fluid (or synthetic/manual transmission fluid equivalent).
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