Servicing a 2001 GM 4L60-E, DEX III or VI?

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: scurvy
I really wish this old wives' tale would stop getting propagated.

If the transmission fails after a change with the proper fluid, it was going to fail anyway. You are always better off changing the fluid than you are not changing it.
THANK YOU!

I, too, get frustrated seeing that faulty advice time and again. Everyone seems to know someone whose barber's uncle's cousin's grocer said his transmission failed right after a fluid change.

 

[daman]

Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Originally Posted By: scurvy
I really wish this old wives' tale would stop getting propagated.

If the transmission fails after a change with the proper fluid, it was going to fail anyway. You are always better off changing the fluid than you are not changing it.
THANK YOU!

I, too, get frustrated seeing that faulty advice time and again. Everyone seems to know someone whose barber's uncle's cousin's grocer said his transmission failed right after a fluid change.

That or.. "you cant do a fluid change on a high mileage trans"

I get sick of hearing that one too. I've done so many services on high mileage transmissions I've lost count,never a problem here.

my last fluid exchange/line flush with DEX6 was on my '99 Z71 4L60E with 240,000 miles! that trans never shifted so smooth after that service it ws like a new trans.

 

[Bgallagher]

Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Originally Posted By: scurvy
I really wish this old wives' tale would stop getting propagated.

If the transmission fails after a change with the proper fluid, it was going to fail anyway. You are always better off changing the fluid than you are not changing it.
THANK YOU!

I, too, get frustrated seeing that faulty advice time and again. Everyone seems to know someone whose barber's uncle's cousin's grocer said his transmission failed right after a fluid change.

+1

 

[KeithKman]

Quick update:

The transmission shop was able to get the drain plug off. They did a pan drop, filter change, and added 5 quarts of DEX VI. I realize this is only ~33% new fluid in my transmission system.

I've noticed a HUGE difference. Shifts in the morning when it's ~39 degrees shifts a lot smoother. Selecting gears is smoother. Shifting in general at speed is smoother.

All in all, wish I changed my fluid sooner.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: friendly_jacek
+1

Either service correctly from the beginning or don't service at all. If you do service, do things slowly and don't shock the transmission as it will fail if week.


Opinion, not fact. We have cured many different car's trans issues with a simple fluid exchange done in the driveway with a bucket. Dirt simple and harms nothing. Many times these were ridiculously high mileage units that we purchase to turn for profit. A new trans was out of the question!

As noted above, if the trans is going to fail it will anyway.

Dex VI is a notably superior fluid if used in a healthy trans, and it really lasts in severe service compared to DexIII.

 

[Loobed]

Originally Posted By: KeithKman
I'm doing a pan drop, filter change, and replacing the 5 quarts I remove. I bought Valvoline DEX/MERC which is DEX III. Owners manual calls for DEX III but my understanding is DEX VI is the only GM certified spec now.

Should I take back the fluid I bought and get the DEX VI or can I run the DEX/MERC safely? I don't care about voiding warranty as the truck has over 100k miles. I've seen in other threads on here that when switching to VI the shifts have been a lot softer and some don't like the feeling.


your sig line says you have a 2001 Tahoe. You can run the DEX3 without a problem. I have a 2001 Sierra. I just did a pan drop. I filled it with Dex 6 because I got it for about $2 a quart on sale/rebate.

 

[KeithKman]

Originally Posted By: Loobed
Originally Posted By: KeithKman
I'm doing a pan drop, filter change, and replacing the 5 quarts I remove. I bought Valvoline DEX/MERC which is DEX III. Owners manual calls for DEX III but my understanding is DEX VI is the only GM certified spec now.

Should I take back the fluid I bought and get the DEX VI or can I run the DEX/MERC safely? I don't care about voiding warranty as the truck has over 100k miles. I've seen in other threads on here that when switching to VI the shifts have been a lot softer and some don't like the feeling.


your sig line says you have a 2001 Tahoe. You can run the DEX3 without a problem. I have a 2001 Sierra. I just did a pan drop. I filled it with Dex 6 because I got it for about $2 a quart on sale/rebate.


I did the same. Trans shifts great.

 

[Dr_No]

Originally Posted By: Oil Changer
Because Valvoline makes junk and his transmission will most likely fail soon after.

Originally Posted By: daman
Originally Posted By: Oil Changer
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Yes, Dex VI. No reason not to in a GM AT.


A BIG +1 to this! Stick with the Dexron VI and don't use Valvoline.


Why?


With 1000's of litres of their dexron/mercon that have passed through our tidy tanks we have not had any transmission complaints or failures.
With drum after drum services using MaxLife ATF we have not had any transmission complaints or failures.

 

[Whitewolf]

Originally Posted By: cchase
Originally Posted By: Grebbler
I was worried that Dex VI was spec'd for EPA reasons only when it first came out; or that it was too thin or had too much detergent and would plug filter/valve body when whatever deposits in there dissolved. Heck, varnish may be all that's allowing some of the worn seals in my transmission to function.


Dex VI starts at a lower viscosity than Dex III but also shears substantially less. Typically Dex VI's viscosity through service is actually higher than Dex III.


You are correct. A typical 'dexron-III' fluid would have sheared from about 7.8 cSt @ 100C down to about 4.2 in around 80,00 miles. A DEXRON-VI fluid will still be above 5.0 cSt after 150,000 miles!

 

[KeithKman]

A new huge Walmart opened by my house recently. Stopped by this weekend to pick some stuff up. Stopped by the automotive section. They didn't have any Valvoline DEX VI in stock. Actually, they didn't have any brand of DEX VI fluid.

This normal for Walmart?

 

[wirelessF]

No Supertech Dexron VI? The one near me carries Castrol and Supertech Dex6.

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: KeithKman
A new huge Walmart opened by my house recently. Stopped by this weekend to pick some stuff up. Stopped by the automotive section. They didn't have any Valvoline DEX VI in stock. Actually, they didn't have any brand of DEX VI fluid.

This normal for Walmart?

Yeah, transmission fluid at Walmart is rare but does appear on occasion. Walmart doesn't specialize an anything other than pricing. So they generally stick to high volume DIY auto supplies. If you don't see it, not many people are doing it/buying it. I bet if you looked there are topoff qts there somewhere.