I have a '95 Saturn SC1 that calls for Dexron III. I was at Walmart this morning and they had both Valvoline ATF (blue jug) and Maxlife ATF (red jug), both within 50 cents of each other ($16.47 vs. $16.97).
Being fully synthetic, I figure the Maxlife is the better value, but is it best for my car? The Maxlife said it was also recommended for Merc LV; however, on another brand of ATF (Supertech or Castrol, I believe), it noted not to use their version of Dex if Merc LV was required. It also said their version was for GM cars before 2006.
I was just wanting clarification as to whether both of these are OK for my vehicle, or if I should stay away from the Maxlife.
Thanks,
Ryan
Help me select the correct Dex/Merc fluid.
- Thread starter reemoe2
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LAST CHANCE: MaxLife red jug (good for your Saturn) on sale at AutoZone through July. Buy some at the sale price while you can.
It was reduced $5 for 2 months. A synthetic for ~$11 a gallon is real good. Kira
Id stick with dex3 but then again, dex6 is synthetic and backwards compatible. I love those old saturns with the tranny cannister filter. The car will rot and the engine will die before the transmission fails no matter which you fluid you use.
They both will work fine in your application. I would choose the MaxLife since it's a full synthetic for virtually the same price of a conventional. Hopefully you can take advantage of Kira's suggestion. I owned a '92 SL2 since new which I scrapped just a few years ago with original tranny and engine using Dex III, mostly dino in the engine and OCOD's for most of it's life. We tend to overthink things around here.
Originally Posted By: Kira
LAST CHANCE: MaxLife red jug (good for your Saturn) on sale at AutoZone through July. Buy some at the sale price while you can.
It was reduced $5 for 2 months. A synthetic for ~$11 a gallon is real good. Kira
Saturn S-Series use Dexron III...
Look for the blue jug of Valvoline MaxLife in Maul-Mart...
http://www.walmart.com/msharbor/ip/15125788?&veh=mweb
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MolaKule
Staff member
Either one will work but MaxLife or DexronVI should last longer than a mineral-based Dexron III because of the base oils and the better anti-oxidant and friction modifier agents.
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/forums/16/1/ATF,_Differential,_Trans,_Brak
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...er_#Post3014880
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Dexron VI is too slippery...
Use Dexron III in GM prior to 2006
Option 3) The $12.00 bottle of Supertech Dex/Merc.
MrQuackers
Site Donor 2023
I stocked up on Mobil Dex/Merc for $1.59 per quart. Target closeout a while back. I have some Maxlife in the current mix and the TAAT is behaving itself. I will service other vehicles with my remaining VI Maxlife and use my other vast stock of Dex/Merc on the Satty.
Originally Posted By: MrQuackers
I stocked up on Mobil Dex/Merc for $1.59 per quart. Target closeout a while back. I have some Maxlife in the current mix and the TAAT is behaving itself. I will service other vehicles with my remaining VI Maxlife and use my other vast stock of Dex/Merc on the Satty.
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Option 3) The $12.00 bottle of Supertech Dex/Merc.
I used Dex III many times with a little Seafoam trans tune in my '96 years ago with no ill effects even though it had a slight bit of the 'reverse slam' valve body problem. The right fluid is still the Saturn transaxle fluid which was supposed to have some kind of additive in it as well. The Maxlife or IIRC using Hyundai SPIII or Mopar ATF+4 is something similar to the special Saturn stuff as well.
I'd believe the SPIII reccomendation especally as their trans design is very similar to the S-series in nature.
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Originally Posted By: Miller88
Option 3) The $12.00 bottle of Supertech Dex/Merc.
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