Closest ATF to Dexron II?

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What's the closest ATF one can get to Dexron II.

Vehicle is a 1989 Dodge Colt (which is a Mitsuibishi). Factory service manual says Dexron II.

90K miles, fluid is brown and smells worn. Transmission shifts ok.
 
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Generic "DexMer" from anywhere.

Mobil ATF from target mets some (caterpillar?) spec that is a cut & paste of DexIII.

Yeah I know you typed "II" but III is quite close. There's someone on here with some honda Dex II in old, sealed bottles.
wink.gif
 
For what it's worth, I have a friend that has a Dex II application and it shifts as smooth as butter with Advance Auto store brand Dex/Merc.
 
Yep any major auto parts store dex merc would do the trick. The Mobil D/M at at target is one of the best mineral based Dexron/Mercon you get if you want something nice.
 
I have a 95 nissan that calls for dex II. I tried maxlife and the transmission hated it. Laggy shifts and popping out of 4th gear. I assumed maxlife was too thin for it so I pumped it out and filled with Castol Import multi-vehicle atf and it shifted better than I've ever remembered. I've tried other atfs like supertech dexIII and advance auto dex/merc they worked ok.
 
I have a 95 nissan that calls for dex II. I tried maxlife and the transmission hated it. Laggy shifts and popping out of 4th gear. I assumed maxlife was too thin for it so I pumped it out and filled with Castol Import multi-vehicle atf and it shifted better than I've ever remembered. I've tried other atfs like supertech dexIII and advance auto dex/merc they worked ok.
 
Originally Posted By: OceanRuns

90K miles, fluid is brown and smells worn. Transmission shifts ok.


Do yourself a favor and introduce the new fluid slowly. I would do a pan drop and filter and only replace what fluid you get out. I would not flush that trans. Once you have done the drop then do a drain fill every 5000 miles 3 more times.
 
Originally Posted By: friendly_jacek
Originally Posted By: Bottom_Feeder
Use MaxLife Dex/Merc and call it a day.

not in a manual tranny specifying dex.

Who said it was a manual?
 
What Doog said...I'd switch fluid a few times...


And not so much the fluid itself, but with the age of the car. Might shock it too much if you do a complete fluid drop. This way it won't mess with a build up there there or leak or who knows what....

Co worker just did that with a 93 Escort wagon his aunt gave him. Says the car shifts great now....
 
zzyzzx has it right. I have serviced a few cars requiring Dex II and put this stuff he has in the picture and it works fantastic.

Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
I use thin in my 1995 Escort, and I have over 216K miles on it's vintage 1995 automatic transmission:

IMG_0219edited.jpg
 
Any dex/merc would work. I have had good luck with the Supertech Dex for my Malibu but will be switching over to Maxlife. I think it will make a big difference with Maxlife versus the older Dex II. I would also plan on having it flushed or drain/fill a couple times to get the fluid fresh.
 
Originally Posted By: Bottom_Feeder
Originally Posted By: friendly_jacek
Originally Posted By: Bottom_Feeder
Use MaxLife Dex/Merc and call it a day.

not in a manual tranny specifying dex.

Who said it was a manual?


that's the thing, we don't know.
 
Originally Posted By: friendly_jacek
Originally Posted By: Bottom_Feeder
Originally Posted By: friendly_jacek
Originally Posted By: Bottom_Feeder
Use MaxLife Dex/Merc and call it a day.

not in a manual tranny specifying dex.

Who said it was a manual?


that's the thing, we don't know.


It's an auto, sorry if that was unclear.

3 speed auto.
 
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Originally Posted By: Doog
Originally Posted By: OceanRuns

90K miles, fluid is brown and smells worn. Transmission shifts ok.


Do yourself a favor and introduce the new fluid slowly. I would do a pan drop and filter and only replace what fluid you get out. I would not flush that trans. Once you have done the drop then do a drain fill every 5000 miles 3 more times.


Definitely using this method. The pan even has a drain bolt, which makes matters somewhat less messy.
 
Not really any need to introduce it slowly if you're using a mineral based dex merc, just do one drain and fill every 1000 miles until you get 3-4 under your belt then you can extend the intervals.
 
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