Redline D4 ATF - Type H?

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DABEAR95

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Hello everyone!

I would like to use the Redline D4 ATF in my 2005 Sierra 1500. I have had great luck with their gear lubes over the years. However, my owners manual mentioned a Dexron III type H fluid and I have been unable to find anything indicating it meets this type H requirment. Does anyone know? I have an email out to Redline but I thought I would toss this out to talk about it.

I'm coming up on 25K miles and plan to use the cooler method to change all the fluid from break in...

Then the only stock fluid will be the power steering an break fluid. I plan to change the break fluid every two years with my motive. Does anyone change the break fluid or just use a turkey baster to suck some out at oil change time?

Jason
cheers.gif
 
If it's a real DEXRON-IIIH it should, somewhere on the label or package, have a DEXRON license number like Hxxxxx.
If it doesn't have one it's not an approved fluid.
If you want a better fluid take a look at DEXRON-VI according to the GM release it's way better than DEXRON-IIH and fully backward compatable with earlier transmissions where fluids such as DEXRON-III was specified.
 
Use the Redline D4. GM H-spec added better basestocks to DexronIII. The boutique synthetic companies have been using the best basestocks decades ago.

Another option is the MPG improving DexronVI. If you can find an online GM parts dealer, you might be able to get a good deal on it shipped to your doorstep. But, I would just stick with the Redline.

You should bleed your brakes every year. You can siphon/refill your brake fluid several times a year. But, it is not a substitute to yearly brake bleeding.

You can siphon/refill your PSF a couple times a year. No need for a flush with regular maintenance.

Don't forget the coolant. Even though labelled an eternal fluid, it isn't. I'd consider doing a yearly radiator drain/refill to refresh the coolant additives. Might even want to add some GM coolant tabs. Not sure if your year/engine is one that eats gaskets.
 
The (H) revision of the Dexron-III spec is the newest spec for Dexron-III and required of all licensed Dexron-III ATFs produced after January 2005 (did I get the year right?) Anyway, all new Dexron-III ATFs will be only (H) these days.

Redline does not submit their ATFs to the transmission makers for licensing. Their ATFs are excellent, but not exactly the same spec.


Ken
 
Does that mean that they are scared that they might not meet the standard?
I would have thought that if they were so confident in their fluid that the best way to demonstrate that would be to have run the tests and be able to use the results to demonstrate how good the product performs. They would then have had the additional advantage of demonstrating a better product that was also licensed.
DEXRON-IIIH licenses expire at the end of this year, after that there will be no QC checking of fluids that claim DEXRON-III standard (all this is published information). The best thing to do is to go to the (higher)standard that GM do support which is DEXRON-VI.
In my view if someone doesn't have the courage to submit a product for testing and official approval we should be asking why.
 
To ask "why?" is 100% legitimate.
To imply without knowledge that they are "scared" or that the product is inferior sounds disingenuous.

There are many reasons lubricant manufacturers don't get certs. A lot of times it actually involves confidence on the part of the lube company. Through internal testing an internal lab (or with the additive companies) will be able to determine the fluid easily exceeds the standard.
 
Call me suspicious if you will but if it was me I would just want to prove it.
I don't see why anyone else would not see that in the same way, or regonize it as a marketing benefit if they can meet or exceed the specification requirements
 
Yep, and synthetics basestocks cost enough already. We biatch about the prices of the boutique fluids. Considering the low volume of sales, for a manufacturer to PAY for every single 'cert' is crazy. I don't want to pay $30 for a quart of Redline with manufacturer approvals. And, some of those MFG approvals are nothing to brag about. If they were, those manufacturers wouldn't need to change the number and letter designations every couple of years.
 
Thanks for your comments everyone!

UnDummy,
That was a typo, it was supposed to say does anyone change their power steering fluid or just use a turkey baster and suck some out at every oil change. I use my motive ever two years to change the brake fluid...

Jason
 
Does anyone have a part number for the GM fluid DEXRON-VI? I wonder what the base oil is compared to products such as Redline...

With my limited experience I would guess Redline was still a better product. After all, the new fluid is backwards compatible with Dexron III (H).

The truck is a 2005 Sierra 5.3L extended cab long bed and indicates 100K miles or 5 years for the coolant, IIRC. I was planning on every 3rd year or 50K miles. I wish GM used coolant like the G12 in my VW. At 80K miles the water pump and visible passages looked brand new.

At 22K miles all fluids have been changed early except the transmission, and power steering. Diffs and transfer case at 5K miles, oil was switched to full synthetic at 17K miles (Castrol 0w30) with 2 early changes and 3K OCI on Mobil 7500 until the switch to synthetic. I plan to do the transmission at 25K, 100K and every 100K thereafter for as many as I can get! :-)

I like the truck and hope that it lasts for my family. I see a ton of these trucks on the road but I have only seen one other 1500 long bed/ext cab. Bench seat, adjustable suspension, skid plates, towing package, sterring wheel controls, NO ONSTAR. Just the way I wanted.

Jason
 
GM partsdirect Dexron6 PNs
88861003
88861045
88861046

IMO, 100k isn't a good ATF OCI for a truck, especially if its worked.

If you plan on keeping the truck for a long time, toss out the owners manual and practice shorter maintenance change intervals on all fluids.
 
Dex IIIH bought more than upgraded baseoils. The additive package was also upgraded for improved durability.

G12/G12+ coolants are near identical to DexCool.
 
In most cases, products are not submitted for testing. The additive package with specified base oils are tested and passed, then any blender can buy this additive package and use the listed base oils, then pay the licensing fee to GM, Ford, whomever.

Amsoil, Redline, and others who say that their products are "recommended" for use when Dexron or other licensed products are specified are using ingredients that have not been tested for the licensing. This does not mean that the products are inferior...in these cases the products are superior, but likely sold in such limited quantities that the testing is not worth the money, or they don't want to spend the money, or won't meet the tests in a way they consider non-significant. For example, Allison Transmission's TES-295 test for their ATF costs $50,000 just to set up the test rig. Amsoil will never sell enough Torque-Drive ATF to cover this cost. Amsoil's engine oils have a phosphorus content too high to meet the spec, but do OK because of the low volatility of the oil. The specs do not allow for this trade-off, so Amsoil doesn't bother to test and fail their engine oils.


Ken
 
Quote:

In most cases, products are not submitted for testing. The additive package with specified base oils are tested and passed, then any blender can buy this additive package and use the listed base oils, then annually pay the licensing fee to GM, Ford, whomever. At some point the equipment maker can stop issuing the licenses...as GM did for Dexron-III(G), as Ford will do for Mercon, as GM may do for all Dexron-III ATFs.

Amsoil, Redline, and others who say that their products are "recommended" for use when Dexron or other licensed products are specified are using ingredients that have not been tested for the licensing. This does not mean that the products are inferior...in these cases the products are superior, but likely sold in such limited quantities that the testing is not worth the money, or they don't want to spend the money, or won't meet the tests in a way they consider non-significant. For example, Allison Transmission's TES-295 test for their ATF costs $50,000 just to set up the test rig. Amsoil will never sell enough Torque-Drive ATF to cover this cost. Amsoil's engine oils have a phosphorus content too high to meet the spec, but do OK because of the low volatility of the oil. The specs do not allow for this trade-off, so Amsoil doesn't bother to test and fail their engine oils.


Ken

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