What Dexron III in your 4T65E?

[Blokey]

Since we bought my wife's '01 Olds Intrigue new, I've done 3 ATF drain (syphon actually!) & fills with RL D4 and I was all proud of myself for having switched out most of the OE ATF with synthetic.
Well recently, on rare occasion, the trans would do some firm upshifts instead of the "smooth-as-butta" shifts we're accustomed to and I started to wonder if using D4 was a good move.
This weekend, I dropped the trans pan (replacing it with an MSP pan with cooling tubes and a drain plug), replaced the filter and refilled the trans (~7.4 qts to be exact) with Mobil 1 ATF. So far so good but I'll see if this fixes the occasional hard shift problem. I hope it's not a more serious mechanical or electronic problem.

Those with 4T65E transmissions, what ATF are you using and how's your transmission running with it?
Thanks!!

 

[Gene K]

quote:

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Originally posted by Blokey:
Since we bought my wife's '01 Olds Intrigue new, I've done 3 ATF drain (syphon actually!) & fills with RL D4 and I was all proud of myself for having switched out most of the OE ATF with synthetic.
Well recently, on rare occasion, the trans would do some firm upshifts instead of the "smooth-as-butta" shifts we're accustomed to and I started to wonder if using D4 was a good move.
This weekend, I dropped the trans pan (replacing it with an MSP pan with cooling tubes and a drain plug), replaced the filter and refilled the trans (~7.4 qts to be exact) with Mobil 1 ATF. So far so good but I'll see if this fixes the occasional hard shift problem. I hope it's not a more serious mechanical or electronic problem.

Those with 4T65E transmissions, what ATF are you using and how's your transmission running with it?
Thanks!!

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Well not actually responding to your question but it may be that RL is formulated to give the clutches a more aggressive bite which will both firm the shifts and make the trans last longer. As a general rule the firmer the shift the less wear you are doing to the bands and clutches on each shift.

That said with proper maintenance a modern auto trans can still last hundreds of thousands with comfort biased programming.

Gene

 

[jthorner]

Mobil 1 ATF is working very well on our 2002 Olds Silhoette van, which I think has that transmission.

John

 

[Matt_S]

I'm also using M1. No problems at all. I can't say it's outstanding, but the transmission shifts as smooth as ever.

 

[nascarnation]

For "normal" driving any major brand Dex III will be fine, especially if you change every 30-50k miles. If you are doing towing or heavy stop-and-go in hot ambients, a syn Dex III like Mobil 1 or Allison (Castrol) TranSynd will be a plus. I couldn't tell from the RL website if the RL4 is actually licensed to meet Dex III or just claims equivalency.

 

[Blokey]

Thanks for the replies!

Gene K, I also read that firmer shifts are better for the transmission because the clutches are slipping for a shorter period of time but the hard shifting we were experiencing shudders the whole car, definitely not normal.

Don't quote me on this but I'm wondering if RL's D4 ATF wider usage applicability (from the list on the label) may mean that it might be pushing the spec limits for some of the Dexron III properties. I think M1 only claims DIII and MV compatibility. Maybe my trans is more sensitive to the physical properties of the ATF and the M1 I put in it is closer to the OE fluid.

I'm feeling better that others are reporting good results with Mobil 1 ATF in their 4T65Es. Time will tell...

 

[Matt_S]

Just FYI, M1 is Dexron III/Mercon, not Mercon V. Big difference.

Also, one of the nice things about the 4T65E is that you get 74% (7.4/10 qts) of the fluid on a simple pan drop. If you do two fluid changes this way, you'll get about 93% of the old fluid out, which should certainly solve your problem IF it can be solved by a fluid change.

 

[T-Keith]

A lot of the Club GP guys don't like Synthetic in the 4T65E, in fact at least one major rebuilder specifically says not to use it. Most complain about slipping clutches.


-T

 

[MolaKule]

Well, if you want a mid-cost partial-synthetic, then Schaeffer's #204S is available as well; I understand from one of the Schaeffer's guys it is now rated Dexron III(H).

 

[nascarnation]

quote:

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Originally posted by T-Keith:
A lot of the Club GP guys don't like Synthetic in the 4T65E, in fact at least one major rebuilder specifically says not to use it. Most complain about slipping clutches.


-T

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What brands are causing a problem?
If they are Dexron III licensed (not just claiming equivalency) I would be interested to know.

 

[jason07-1zzfe]

Red Line D4 is working awesomely in 2001 4T65E-HD. Shifting much quicker and more precise and firm. The OE fluid crapped out by 20k miles

 

[T-Keith]

quote:

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Originally posted by nascarnation:

quote:

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Originally posted by T-Keith:
A lot of the Club GP guys don't like Synthetic in the 4T65E, in fact at least one major rebuilder specifically says not to use it. Most complain about slipping clutches.


-T

---

What brands are causing a problem?
If they are Dexron III licensed (not just claiming equivalency) I would be interested to know.

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Most are using Mobil 1. Which they advertise as a "universal" fluid that meets DEXRON III specs. Other companies sell fluid under the "universal" label such as quaker state.

-T