I am putting this in its own thread because how ATF fluids are labeled has been changed as a result of General Motors poor handling of the licensing of the name "Dexron".
Dexron is a specification put forth by General Motors for Transmission Fluid. Each new specification automatically includes the prior specification. So Dexron III fluid satisfies all requirements for Dexron II.
Periodically, we have had people ask the question "My manual says Dexron II, I can only find Dexron III, is this ok to use?" The answer is yes because of the later specification, includes the earlier.
Now we have a new issue. GM has put out Dexron VI. Where did Dexron IV and V go? GM was worried that people might get confused between the Ford Mercon V and their fluid, so they just skipped IV and V, go figure.
As part of putting out Dexron VI, GM has stopped licensing the use of the name Dexron III and doesn't want any bottles to reference it. So what has happened is that Dexron III fluids now say things like "for use in GM vehicles before 2005."
So what ATF do you use in your 80 series now?
1) Any fluid labled Dexron VI.
2) Multi vehicle ATF fluids that have some indication that they are "Dexron III" or "for use in GM vehicles 2005 or before."
Here is the actual GM press release, note what I have highlighted:
General Motors DEXRON®-VI Global Service-Fill Specification
During early 2005 General Motors released a newly developed automatic transmission fluid (ATF) for the factory fill of all GM Powertrain stepped gear automatic transmissions. The new fluid provides significantly improved performance in terms of friction durability, viscosity stability, aeration and foam control and oxidation resistance. In addition, the fluid has the potential to enable improved fuel economy and extended drain intervals. Since the performance of the new fluid far exceeded that of the DEXRON®-III service-fill fluids available at the time it became necessary to upgrade the DEXRON® service-fill specification in order to ensure that similar fluids were available in the market for service situations. This latest upgrade to the service- fill specification is designated DEXRON®-VI.
Since General Motors introduced the first ATF service-fill specification in 1949 it has been periodically necessary to upgrade the specification. This upgrading process ensures that available service fill fluids are of an appropriate quality for use in transmissions that have been designed around the factory fill fluid performance. It should be noted that, as with previous upgrades, DEXRON®-VI fluids are designed to be backward compatible with earlier transmission hardware. More importantly, earlier type fluids are not forward compatible with transmission hardware that was designed to use DEXRON®-VI fluid, i.e. DEXRON®-III is not compatible with the most recently designed transmissions, and the use of these earlier type fluids could result in transmission damage. All current calibrations and certification tests are now conducted with DEXRON®-VI ATF. DEXRON®-III fluids should not be used for these applications where the owners manual recommends the use of DEXRON®-VI. GM does not license or support obsolete ATF specifications or the use of fluids that are being marketed against cancelled specifications.
All DEXRON®-III licenses expire at the end of 2006 and will not be renewed. Beyond that date GM will only support the use of DEXRON®-VI fluids for use in Hydra-Matic transmissions. Fluids sold in the market after that date bearing claims such as “suitable for use in DEXRON®-III applications” or similar wording should be avoided. DEXRON®-VI licensed fluids are fully backward compatible and can be used in all applications covered by earlier GM ATF specifications.
The use of unlicensed fluids and/or non GM approved aftermarket additives may prove detrimental to transmission performance and void warranty coverage.
There is a published list of GM-approved brands of DEXRON®-VI (see page two of this release). This list represents the companies who have conducted the appropriate testing and received GM approval. Company name, license number, and brand name are shown. This list will be updated on a regular basis as more approved products are added.
Dexron is a specification put forth by General Motors for Transmission Fluid. Each new specification automatically includes the prior specification. So Dexron III fluid satisfies all requirements for Dexron II.
Periodically, we have had people ask the question "My manual says Dexron II, I can only find Dexron III, is this ok to use?" The answer is yes because of the later specification, includes the earlier.
Now we have a new issue. GM has put out Dexron VI. Where did Dexron IV and V go? GM was worried that people might get confused between the Ford Mercon V and their fluid, so they just skipped IV and V, go figure.
As part of putting out Dexron VI, GM has stopped licensing the use of the name Dexron III and doesn't want any bottles to reference it. So what has happened is that Dexron III fluids now say things like "for use in GM vehicles before 2005."
So what ATF do you use in your 80 series now?
1) Any fluid labled Dexron VI.
2) Multi vehicle ATF fluids that have some indication that they are "Dexron III" or "for use in GM vehicles 2005 or before."
Here is the actual GM press release, note what I have highlighted:
General Motors DEXRON®-VI Global Service-Fill Specification
During early 2005 General Motors released a newly developed automatic transmission fluid (ATF) for the factory fill of all GM Powertrain stepped gear automatic transmissions. The new fluid provides significantly improved performance in terms of friction durability, viscosity stability, aeration and foam control and oxidation resistance. In addition, the fluid has the potential to enable improved fuel economy and extended drain intervals. Since the performance of the new fluid far exceeded that of the DEXRON®-III service-fill fluids available at the time it became necessary to upgrade the DEXRON® service-fill specification in order to ensure that similar fluids were available in the market for service situations. This latest upgrade to the service- fill specification is designated DEXRON®-VI.
Since General Motors introduced the first ATF service-fill specification in 1949 it has been periodically necessary to upgrade the specification. This upgrading process ensures that available service fill fluids are of an appropriate quality for use in transmissions that have been designed around the factory fill fluid performance. It should be noted that, as with previous upgrades, DEXRON®-VI fluids are designed to be backward compatible with earlier transmission hardware. More importantly, earlier type fluids are not forward compatible with transmission hardware that was designed to use DEXRON®-VI fluid, i.e. DEXRON®-III is not compatible with the most recently designed transmissions, and the use of these earlier type fluids could result in transmission damage. All current calibrations and certification tests are now conducted with DEXRON®-VI ATF. DEXRON®-III fluids should not be used for these applications where the owners manual recommends the use of DEXRON®-VI. GM does not license or support obsolete ATF specifications or the use of fluids that are being marketed against cancelled specifications.
All DEXRON®-III licenses expire at the end of 2006 and will not be renewed. Beyond that date GM will only support the use of DEXRON®-VI fluids for use in Hydra-Matic transmissions. Fluids sold in the market after that date bearing claims such as “suitable for use in DEXRON®-III applications” or similar wording should be avoided. DEXRON®-VI licensed fluids are fully backward compatible and can be used in all applications covered by earlier GM ATF specifications.
The use of unlicensed fluids and/or non GM approved aftermarket additives may prove detrimental to transmission performance and void warranty coverage.
There is a published list of GM-approved brands of DEXRON®-VI (see page two of this release). This list represents the companies who have conducted the appropriate testing and received GM approval. Company name, license number, and brand name are shown. This list will be updated on a regular basis as more approved products are added.
Last edited:
