I had to mix some of this with AMSoil ATD the other day. I can't find any info on it (not on their website). Does anyone know anything specific about it? Thanks.
Valvoline Full Synthetic DEX VI
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Nothing specific on it but my Valvoline Full Synthetic ATF+4 was prone to thickening in the winter that Mopar oil was not nearly as bad. Amsoil was fantastic and seemed like summer.
dnewton3
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ATD is the Torque-Drive, right? I don't think you're supposed to mix DEX VI into a TES-295 designed fluid. I can't speak to the chemistry issues, but perforamnce wise, Allison does not consider a NON-TES-295 worthy of the severe performance criteria. I would imagine Amsoil has the same view.
But then again, I'm not sure anyone really has a good answer yet as to how/why DEX VI exists, how is functions or anything else. Each time I ask a question about DEX VI, I get different answers from differnt people.
I know that the Schaeffers Oil website specifically says that their 204SAT is designed to meet the Allison TES295, although it's not licensed as far as I can tell from the Allison website. The Schaeffers web page also states that the TES-295 product is not recommended for DEX VI applications.
If you're running ATD, then ask an Amsoil rep about the DEX VI and TES-295 compatibility, but even their web page shows a difference in the two products.
Question: If DEX VI spec'd fluids and the TES-295 spec'd fluids were the same performance/chemistry wise, then why do several manufacturer make two distinct fluids?
Answer: because they are not the same. Some engineer somewhere either came up with a better idea, different idea, or was told by his boss to create something for a marketing ploy.
Any way I look at it, differences exist for a reason. Check out my recent thread "Schaeffers trans fluids" from a few days ago.
But then again, I'm not sure anyone really has a good answer yet as to how/why DEX VI exists, how is functions or anything else. Each time I ask a question about DEX VI, I get different answers from differnt people.
I know that the Schaeffers Oil website specifically says that their 204SAT is designed to meet the Allison TES295, although it's not licensed as far as I can tell from the Allison website. The Schaeffers web page also states that the TES-295 product is not recommended for DEX VI applications.
If you're running ATD, then ask an Amsoil rep about the DEX VI and TES-295 compatibility, but even their web page shows a difference in the two products.
Question: If DEX VI spec'd fluids and the TES-295 spec'd fluids were the same performance/chemistry wise, then why do several manufacturer make two distinct fluids?
Answer: because they are not the same. Some engineer somewhere either came up with a better idea, different idea, or was told by his boss to create something for a marketing ploy.
Any way I look at it, differences exist for a reason. Check out my recent thread "Schaeffers trans fluids" from a few days ago.
Thanks dnewton3. I sounds like you've done quite a bit of research so far on DEX VI and TES 295. I don't think my application is quite as convoluted though. It is a 2000 Toyota Tundra with a V-8. DEX II/III is the recommended fill as per the manual, but I was terribly disappointed in the performance over the years. Even with regular 15/30K servicing from the dealer, the transmission would ocassionally do a hard lock-up when shifting. So I considered an upgrade to 204SAT, LE 1150, or ATD. I contacted Pablo and went with the ATD because of the higher viscosity and absence of viscosity improvers. It's also a PAO synthetic formula. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough on hand to complete a transmission flush last Friday. I couldn't find anywhere to get Transynd locally, so I settled for some Valvoline synthetic DEX VI to top it off. The bottle said it was a DEX III substitute, as is ATD. I know they probably aren't chemically equivalent, but are most likely compatible. After about 50 miles of driving so far, the transmission runs better than it ever has since I bought it in 1999.
Thicken? Interesting. I picked the ATD because it was thicker than most already. How much did it (ATF+4) thicken and over what amount of miles?
What is the total capacity of the transmission, and how much Dexron VI did you use? If it is only a quart or two of Dexron VI in a 3+ gallon transmission, then I wouldn't be worried with it.
Neither Valvoline or Pennzoil have Dexron VI product data sheets on their web sites. Castrol does have a PDS. It is my understanding that all Dexron VI products should be quite similar as the base oils formulation is exacting and additive package can only be obtained from PetroCanada and Antron. You might PM Whitewolf and unDummy; they could provide you with more info as they are very knowledgeable about ATF.
dnewton3
Staff member
In no way am I an expert on fluids. I'm a mechanical engineer by education, but I'll defer to the chemical and industry guys for the technical data. I just like to ask questions and keep learning when I don't know the answers.
I don't think you hurt anything by mixing a small amount of DEX VI with the ATD, it's just that from what I can tell, they are compatible, but not necessarily complimentary. As an analogy, it would be kind of like grape juice and grapefruit juice; either one is ok on it's own, and you can mix them and they won't turn toxic, but they don't really compliment each other when mixed.
I don't think you hurt anything by mixing a small amount of DEX VI with the ATD, it's just that from what I can tell, they are compatible, but not necessarily complimentary. As an analogy, it would be kind of like grape juice and grapefruit juice; either one is ok on it's own, and you can mix them and they won't turn toxic, but they don't really compliment each other when mixed.
No issue with mixing the ATF's. My problem is that ATD is a long life fluid. DexronVI isn't. So, you just shortened your ATF OCI from 100k to 50k or whatever. What were your planned future ATF flushes?
You also thinned the 7.4cst ATD with 6.0cst DexronVI. So, depending on total capacity and amount used, you're probably around 7cst. Since neither fluid is suppose to shear much, its no biggee. Maybe you'll get an extra mile or 2 out of each tank of gas
Valvoline's tech info website has disappeared. It used to be easy to grab all their product info's and msds's. Now we're at the mercy of Valvoline's normal website which needs updating.
Since all DexronVI's should be similar, I would think that Valvoline VI looks close enough to these:
http://www.pzlqs.com/Tech/Pdsheet/DomesticMarketing/Gear&Transmission/Pdf/dexronVI.pdf
http://www.kendallmotoroil.com/NR/rdonly...xron_VI_ATF.pdf
http://www.petro-canada.ca/pdfs/IM_8017_E_v14.pdf
http://www.castrol.com/castrol/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9012227&contentId=7028225
You also thinned the 7.4cst ATD with 6.0cst DexronVI. So, depending on total capacity and amount used, you're probably around 7cst. Since neither fluid is suppose to shear much, its no biggee. Maybe you'll get an extra mile or 2 out of each tank of gas
Valvoline's tech info website has disappeared. It used to be easy to grab all their product info's and msds's. Now we're at the mercy of Valvoline's normal website which needs updating.
Since all DexronVI's should be similar, I would think that Valvoline VI looks close enough to these:
http://www.pzlqs.com/Tech/Pdsheet/DomesticMarketing/Gear&Transmission/Pdf/dexronVI.pdf
http://www.kendallmotoroil.com/NR/rdonly...xron_VI_ATF.pdf
http://www.petro-canada.ca/pdfs/IM_8017_E_v14.pdf
http://www.castrol.com/castrol/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9012227&contentId=7028225
Thanks for the inputs guys. I'm not sweating this mix, just wondering what the Valvoline stuff looks like on paper. To the best of my knowledge, there are 10.5 qts of ATD and 2.5 qts of DEX VI in my transmission. I plan to run this mix about 2-3 years (30K) unless the performance deteriorates. Then I'll flush it again with a 100% fill of ATD if all goes well. I know that ATD is probably overkill in the Tundra, but that's what I do...Thanks again.
BTW- I noticed that a bottle of Castrol syn DEX VI says "synthetic blend" in the fine print, but Valvoline states "full synthetic" only. Semantics? or just different DEX VI formulas?
BTW- I noticed that a bottle of Castrol syn DEX VI says "synthetic blend" in the fine print, but Valvoline states "full synthetic" only. Semantics? or just different DEX VI formulas?
http://www.gm.com/automotive/gmpowertrain/transmissions/
Kind of related but not exactly (sorry). I was just looking around for some more DEXRON-VI information and I noticed that they (GM) have upgraded their list of approved products.
Kind of related but not exactly (sorry). I was just looking around for some more DEXRON-VI information and I noticed that they (GM) have upgraded their list of approved products.
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